Pocahontas star herald., 1916-10-13

morality aud sobnety, this proposed
"initiatiye" measure is very bad,
/ vet tho fight by the liquor interests
! for its adoption Is in the open.
! Yet, upon reading the proposed
posed Amendment No. Is TO the
state constitution, which Is also to
be voted on At the coming Noyem
| Der election, | am constrained TO
think that perhaps this open fight
Tor the adoption of said proposed
| Act No. 2, Is for the purpose Of
detraotiug the attention OF the peo
pie from the subtle dangers lurking
| m said proposed Amendment No,
lis. This proposed amendment
contains almost as many words As
does the present entire constitution,
vet, il appears 10 me that the brain
that conceived il made use o. the
most Of these many words Tor the
purpose, not Of calculation, but for
the purpose Of the most effectively
coueealing the "nigger in the
woodpile" in said proposed amend
ment. Let me specially direct the
attention OF the voters TO the fol
lowing paragraphs contained m said
amendment:
"The Initiative and Referendum
powers Of the people are hereby
further reserved TO the legal
voters Of each munioip alIty
aud county as to all local,
special aud municipal legis-
ton OF every character in aud for
their respective municipalities and
Counties
"Counties, cities aud towns may
provide for the exercise Of the lni-
tiative and Referendum As to their
local legislation. Petitions shall
be filed with The county or city
clerk. Not more than ten per cent
Of the legal voters Of any county or
city or town may be required TO
order the Referendum, not more
than fifteen per cent Of the legal
voters Of any such county, clty or
town, shall be required to propose
any measure by initiative petition.
"In counties or municipalities
the number Of signatures required
on petition shall be computed
upon the vote cast for the Office of
county Judge or mayor az the last
preceding election"
Adopt this proposed amendment
10 the constitution aud you will
have an opportunity OF voting on
the liquor question every time a
petition may be filed with the coun-
iy Judge Of your county, or the
mayor Of your town, as the case
may be, containing a number OF
signatures Of NOT TO EXCEED
fifteen per cent-not Of the quall-
he'd voters, but not to exceed ff
teen per cent of the number OF
votes cast at the last preceding cleo
tion for county judge or mayor
II should be noticed that the peli.
lion is all right under thus proposed
amendment, il II contains not To
exceed fifteen per cent. Therefore,
should this amendment be adopted,
any number Of signatures, no mat.
I er how small, would be sufficient
to require the county Judge, il a
county matter, or the mayor, if a
matter, TO call an eleC
tion. Ana 1t should be borne IN
mind that in adopting this you are
It a part Of the constitution
aud not a mere piece Of legislation
that can be amended or repealed a.
leisure. 1t Is much harder TO
amend the constitution.
If you want TO save your county
or towns illimitable expense from
useless elections, aud at the same
time keep it upon that high moral
plane which 1t now enjoys, be sure
you vote NO on both the so called
Local Option measure, which is
designated Act No. 2, ana Amend
ment No. 10.
Respectfully,