The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1916-02-26
STRANGE FORCES SUCCEED IN PREVENTING
REFERENDUM ELECTION ON AR4fORY SALE

One of Duluth's best known lawyers said day
after nquiring how the referendum petition going
ut will not make any difference how many names you
for petition there forces this town who
will to that referendum proposition on the
of the arnory gets to the people,"
We though at the time that our lawyer friend was
putting it rather strong We did not think there was
any force IN Duluth stronger powerful than the
people, We believed If there was doubt about the
construction of the city charter in the application
referendum the court would give the petitioners the
benefit of the doubt.
If the matter at issue but the passage of
dnance to determine police regulation the people would
have remedy if the court held that referendum petit
ton was insufficient to repeal the ordinance by the
pcation of the initiative provision of the charter
In the matter of the armory ordinance every bridge
is burned behind the people by Judge Dancers decision
The title to the armory will into the hands of the
Shrners 1t will do good to initiate ordinance
repeal the ordinance it is doubtful if any
court would hold that the Shriners could be
deed back the armory after securing title thereto
SO it is indeed unfortunate for the referendum aye
for commission government that Judge Dancer decided
that the petition for the peoples veto of the
armory was insufficient and could sufficient
under the ten-day provision of the charter
The armory ordinance passed Jan. 5. Within 80
days or this date petitions containing the of 1455
qualified electors filed with the city clerk in pro-
test against the passage of the ordinance
were IlleQ as required section 81
OF the city charter which reads in part follows:
"No ordinance passed by the council shall go into
effect before 80 days from the time pubica-
tlon except when otherwise required by the general
laws of the state, by the provisions of this charter
If during said 80 days petition signed by quail
fled electors of the city equal in at least
0) cenum of the total ballots at the last
cedng general municipal election protesting against
passage of such ordinance be presented the council
the shall thereupon be suspended going into
operaton and it shall be the duty the council to
consider such ordinance, and if the be entirely
repealed the council shall submit the ordinance pro-
vided in Section SO of this charter vote of the
tors OF the CitX either at the next municipal
election Or at special election called that purpose
and such ordinance shall become operative unless
majority of the qualified electors voting on the
shall vote in favor thereof The provisions Sections
dtons OF the petition and the mode of vercaon cer
ttlcation and filing shall be substantially followed with
such notifications the nature of the requres
There were 5000 votes at the last general
municipal election The petition the names of
1855 electors containing considerable more than ten
per cent OF the total number of
on Section so of the city charter which is referred
in Section So. reads in part as follows:
"Wthin tn days from the date of filing such pc
ttlon the clerk shall ascertain from voters register
whether not said petition signed by the requisite
number of qualified electors The clerk shall attach to