Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-02-09
! The War Referendum --ImpradicabIe and Dangerous

The proposal OF a referendum vote on war by The
United STATES is not new, and il is still as impracti
cable sas when first brought forward
In various texts il has been before peace societies
Which usually Endorsed il enthusiastically; before
political societies-which looked at il askanee be
cause.thes could not foresee its political conse-
quences; and before congressman most of whom
saw its nselessness.
4 referendum on war involves red tape and delay
fatal 20 any nation unless the opposing nation is
also going through the procedure. IL invites
and encourages The eper-ready enemies of govern
ent 10 air their fantastic theories in an effort TO
sideffack fe main issue II ties the hands of mill.
tafy organization while political organization tries
10 carry through vast scheme of vote.casting and
yoteeountng.
TO suggest that the nited States should take a
coantry,Eide vote, on war while Germany is AT full
liberty to rush her military preparation. and at full
liberty to strike ships and seamen and passen-
gers at any time is TO suggest the course of folly
rs make that suggestion at this particular time is to
encourage Germany in the belief that there is such
iternal. dssension in the United States the German
gsernment y safe in pushing its program Of ruth
lessness
Dn April % of last year Senator la Toilette of
WISCONSIN introduced in the upper house the fol-
lowing bill wh iehwas read twice and referred TO the
committee on the census:
-. $780, A Bill to authorize the Director of the
Buleau Of the Census under certain conditions TO
prepare and distribute blank ballots and to receive
and count marked ballots and report to Congress
tie result Min advisory vote
This iS fhe latest concrete proposal of referen-
dun votesanMaE Since the subject of a war refer
eflnm has been brought to the front by the German
American Alliance let MS see precisely what steps
arcSproposed under the plebiscite plan Briefly here
are The fseyieionss of the. La Toilette bill; 8
II shespresidenf shall sever diplomatic relations
with any foreign government a referendum vote
shlllf fakef provided one per cent Of the qualified
electors in each of 25 states shall file with the census
director duly verified petitions asking for the war
referendum.
THE census director must verify petitions to see
fh they are bona ide and that the signers are en-
titl&d to vose An affidavit must be appended TO
earn petition from qualified voter saying that ne
;sHfersonally acquainted with all the persons who
h,fe signed the petition and knows them TO be yeti
efn the districts they are represented to reside IN
The anidav!t itself is an involved affair
INhen enough duiy eXecuteu pr,lliohs nav e
ID The census director to make up the requisite per
cent he must have printed and sent to every post
muster in the United States, within ten days. a SUI
hcent nu nber of blank ballots to enable every voter
10 EAST his ballot in the referendum These bal
lots must be distributed by postoices city delivery.
rural free delivery and other postal facilities No
fitss must be putup BY he postal officials every
where of the referendum proposed Ballots are to
hehstributed through carrier services for period
OF Ave days
Fifteen days from the beginning of the distribu-
f64 az ballots are allowed for taking the referen
T0TITICIANs REACHING FOR THE JUDI
CIARY