Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1917-01-22
GRAYCO CRAVATS
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cure the effectiveness of the prohibi-
ton amendment. The Republican
doubts whether the present legislature
has a majority of members who are
willing to assume their responsibilities
along this line. and yet it urges that
these members shall do something
that they have no right to do, going
far beyond the powers granted to them
by the original prohibition amendment
Both the prohibition amendments.
were made by direct political action.
of the people of Arizona, without the,
interDosition of the legislature. | hold
that the people of Arizona are a force
greatly superior to any set of legis-
lators and that any attempt of the
latter to assume the power to nullify
thu action of the electors or even to
take any action upon constitutional or
statutory measures initiated and car
ried by the electors, is q dangerous in
vason Of popular rights. The records
of past legislatures. both during our
statehood and under territorial gov
eminent, justify the distrust that
many people feel towards legislative
bodies. | base this statement upon
the fact that at the election of 1914
the people of Arizona carried the fol-
lowing amendment 10 the constitution,
which is now in force:
ticle w OF the constitution of the.
state of Arizona. providing that the,
veto power of the governor, or the.
power of the legislature. to repeal or
amend shall not extend to initiative,
or referendum measure as approved by
/ a majority vote of the qualified cleo
/ tors"
| If the legislature does not possess
| the power to repeal or amend the
| nr-ic -r1o1
could possibly be gained by the pres
ent legislature passing the words or
| even the substance of the original
| prohibition amendment or of the sec
ond prohibition amendment as mat
ter of statutory law? Has it been the
right legally to do so. inasmuch as
the amendment of 1914 above quoted
in spirit forbids such legislation medd
ling
rhe people of Arizona have now
twice plainly manifested. through their
use of the initiative power, their utter
ahhorence of the liquor traffic. They
have rendered this traffic to be a
thing Of outlawry. leaving it no SEM
blance of legal standing.
Should a fight be made upon our
! prohibition amendments by the liquor
dealers, whom Mr.. Baxter and The
! Repu olican evidently fear, will make
technicality indicated, the liquor men
would simply be throwing good money
| after bad. I very much doubt that
such a contest will be initiated by
these gentry. But if it should be
made, there is no doubt that the
proper state authorities will take the
necessary legal precautions to uphold
the validity of the amendments.
Don't you think you are giving this;
matter too much Importance when.
your article admits that there is
doubtful ground for the attack of these
outlaws upon the right of Arizona s
people to make laws for themselves?
Why set up boyle man.
Thanking you for giving this article
publication I am
Respectfully yours,
II. F. KANE.
Phoenix. Ariz., Jan. 30. 1917.
Whether or not the legislation sug-
gested may be necessary, it is GER
tainly within the power, and properly
so. for the Legislature TO enact it if IL
should be necessary. 1t could not he
regarded as an invasion of the func-
tions of the people but would be an
accomplishment of something the peo-
pie themselves wanted to do and tried
to do. Thare is no assumption any
} where that the people of Arizona. are
|, NOT supreme over the legislature. Even
the liquor dealers do not question
: their power to enact prohibition. The
| only question is, Have the people had
the matter submitted to them as the
, law requires it shall be submitted
I'D