Evening journal., 1917-03-22
SENATE Rejects
REFERENDUM PLAN
Senator Wharton Says 1t
Would Practically Give
Wilmington Control
OF State
SENATOR GORMLEY
FOR 1T; TELLS WHY
STAFF Correspondent.

oldH Correspondent.
DOVER, March 22.-The Senate yes
terday afternoon, by vote Of IA to 3,
killed the House bill amending the
Constitution by providing for the
initiative and referendum. This bill
had passed the house. William W.
Knowles. who advocated the bill in a
short address, said there are only four
States that have not adopted the in
itiative and referendum.
The vote on the bill follows:
Yeas Goymley, Hollett and Muir
ply
Nays-Webb. Hoffecker. Hickman,
Newton, Brown, Frazier, Walker,
Long, Pool. Joseph. Hart, Mitchell,
Wharton and President Pro TEN. Bar
. uard
Senator Wharton made a long
speech opposing the bill, while Senator
Gormley made a speech in favor OF T.
Senator GOrmley's stand for the bill
was great surprise to most every
one, as the Wilmington Senator was
strongly against the same measure
two years ago. Mr.. Gormley, however,
made his position perfectly clear
when during his speech he made TINS
statement: Il reverse myself on this
important question at this time be-
cause OF the fact that we were recent
" confronted with the spectacle OF
the passage of a measure by this Sen
ate which plainly said it is not what
the city of Wilmington wants but
what we shall give her.
Senator Gormley was referring 10
the passage BY the two houses OF the
Wilmington resubmission bill, not
withstanding the fact that winning
ton does not want to vote on tho ques-
ton at this time. IL was pracucally
serving notice, said Senator CORN
ley, that might is right IN the Dela'
ware Legislature. In concluding sen
ator GOrmley said:
Il want to see the time come when
mans vote in Wilmington Will be
r,ortb as much as a vote in Kent and
Sussex county and therefore nave
reversed myself on this bill
Senator Walker made long speech
against the bill, claiming there Is ne
demand for such a measure at tnR
time.
Senator Walker at the conclusion o.
his address asked Mr.. Knowles II II
case this bill should pass. what law
he would advocate. Mr.. Knowles sal'
he would advocate a law that woul'
make it crime to even carry a vote
TO the polls in an automobile OF u
persuade in any way voter as TO III
vote. The vo.e was then taken oi
the bill. o.,,- ~,
bill. said IT,.
drugs for a healthy man. lie only PR
scribes for the sick.
lilo dr1fpg-uOOl thing
when the system is out of shape, bu
bad things where there is no real nee
for them.
THE growth of the initiative an
referendum was due to the fact tina
the citizens OF certain of the state
of this Union believed that their iei
islators had not carried out the WI
of the people. They believed tan
with some reasonl. that many meal
ures which the people wanted we're nc
enacted into law, and that man
others which the people did not wan
were put on the statute books.
IF the people had believed tins
their legislatures had carried out thel
will there would have been no reaso
for demand for the initiative an
referendum.
"Tbe important question then to b
considered by this present General A
sembly is whether the Delaware Lei
islatures have been guilty Of ignorin
the wishes of our people. II the
have not it would seem as unnecessaT
TO pass this constitutional amendmel
as IL would be to prescribe medicir
for a we'll man. In other words.
our little State afflicted with this pa
ticular political disease? Ny obseiV
ton and my experience in this Sena
convinces me that Delaware is fr'
from this particular malady. do Mt
know OF any cases where a DelaWal
Legislature has refused or neglect'
10 pass any bill for which there WI
a real public demand.
my observation is that all Of
are anxious to follow the will of q
people and to carry out their wishe
/ believe that many legislators oft'
vote for or against measures not
cause of their personal wishes, or the
personal judgments, but simply al
solely because they thought the pc
pie desired them to do so.
IF I am right in my belief (and
ask anyone here to cite me instanc
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