Arizona republican., 1916-07-15
Where the People
 May Have Hearing
The Initiative And Roforo,d,n,

TO the Editor of the Reprbliran.
 Sir:-l note the article ir the Pc publican of the 1lth entitled "Tho Initiative and the Referondum- in answer to my article entitled How T. 1 Works '
 The author is mistaken in presum- ing that was actuated by my u.tcr- Tor motive laying bare some of inc ugly facts concerning the workings or the Initiative. The evils of direct leSisi2tGn will never he ccrrestcd if they are not exposed to the gazo of those who have the power to remedy thrm | am quite sure that the evils or indirect legislation were handled without gloves by those who favored Inc institution of the Initiative rho Initiative is not q thing SD sacred that 1t Is above ard hevond criticism. The fountain hoaG of all of the evils | that afilict both direct and ind;rec; legislation lies in the culpahle ir difference and careiessnes O. the vo. i CTS; in the almost complest absence | or sense of responsibility towards | their duties as citizens. No system | however theoretically perfect in it's | conception can accomplish anything in itself. It will fail miserably if the exc cutior of is requirements is placed m the hands If those who are indifferent and Irresponsible Even the most per fectly designed structure becomes shak}' and unsafe 1T it's foundation is unsonnd; a house buildcd upon the sands.
 Had the voters exercised as much care in the selection Of their repre- scntariVcs as they usually manifest in the purchasing of a horse the Initia tive would never have becn thought of. The same Indifference, folly and ignorance that fills the legislative halls with glad handlers" good mix CTS. good fellows" and gum shoe i politicians makes the Initiative 4 farce Legislators selected by an in- competent electorate is sure to be ir- competent, sure 10 bc controlled by in- fluencc that appeal .o selfishnes al opposed to public benefits
 The blatant political orator of every party shrieks about the conbinatic 1 and powerful individuals and corpor- ations whose purposes are to misiead the people. to defeat their will and f, enrich themselves by proving upoE tho vitals of the state. If the orator i. eloquent the hearers are sure that tho source of the evils that affict thom i. located. l have vet to hear the pub. lie who has the nerve. if he has th, understanding to tell the voters plain | ha ( themselves: that when ever the tim comes that each one individually vii attend studiously and conscientiousl to his or her duties of citizenship tn power of the evilly disposed :ndiYid uals or corporations will evaporate an they will become as harmless as dis tiled water
 The healthy human body resists tn attacks of pathoFeric germs $ would the healthy body politics h stcelcd against graft trading. Iog-roll ing and political trickery that has de stroycd the faith of many in democrat io self government The seekers afte special privileges can profit nothin with honest, capable, public spirite legislators and officials A ma known for his honestv is never tcoul led by the attention Of the brbe give though the latter masquerades i many forms and costumes The brill giver is rarely fool He tilis onI that soil wherein the seed of evil wi grow
 hold that it is eas-er and simple for the voter to got an undcrstandin of the character and qualifications | candidate for office than it is fc the voter to disentancle the .ntricaciC of 2 proposed law and it's relations other laws It is task that is entire
 y foreign to his experience and or that taxes to the limit the capab!itic of those who have devoted their live to the stu6v of law. In his dealing with his fellow men every voter hS acquired some knowledge of the art judging others. In some measure h daily experiences have fitted him f' the task Of selecting public official but little or nothing in his experien' has rendered his judgment of law
 value. Whenever it is exercised h
 judgment of laws is liable to be man fested iii the most cratic maner b.
 cause it is unguided by experience
 The Initiative is an attempt
 evade an onerous responsibility by III