Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-02-09
THE WAR REFERENDUM.

THE WAR REFERENDl vi.
The PROPOSAL Of referendum vote on war by the
United States is not new and it is still as mpracti
cable as when first brought forward.
In various texts il has been before peace societies
which usually Endorsed it enthusiastically before
political societies-which looked al il askance be-
cause they could not foresee its political conse-
quences; and before congressman. most of whom
saw its uselessness.
referendum on war involves red tape and delay
fatal TO any nation unless the opposing nation is
also going through the same procedure. 1t invites
and encourages the ever-rpady enemies of govern
incnt to air their fantastic theories in effort TO
sidetrack the main issue 1t ties the hands OF mill
tary organization while political organization tries
10 carry through vast scheme of vote casting and
Sote-counting.
To suggest that the United States should take
cOuntry.wide vote on war while Germany is at full
liberty to rush her military preparation and at full
liberty to strike our ships and seamen and passen
gers at any time is to suggest the course of folly
TO make that suggestion at this particular time is to
encourage Germany in the belief that there is such
thermal dissepsion in the United States the German
goycrnment is safe in pushing its progran of ruth
lesARcss
Cf April % Of last year Senator La Toilette ol
Netonsin introduced in the upper house the ior
lowing bill which was read twice and referred TO the
committee on the census:
- 570G "a Bill to authorize the director OF the
Bureau of the Census under certain conditions to
preare and distribute blank ballots and to receive
and count marked ballots and report 10 Congress
the result q an advisory vote.
his is the latest concrete proposal of reieren-
.clst l.s1.A 49, fnp.
en6m has been brought to the front by the German
American Alliance, LET us precisely what steps
areBroposed under the plebscte plan Briefly, here
,.,,s the proyisisas of the La Follettc bill:
If-tle- president shall sever diplomatic relations
with s,sr foseien yernnent, "a reterendum vote
.hali ~ te gF6vided one per cent OF the quiiIfied
etors in each of % states shall file with the census
direftor duly verified petitions asking for the war
Referendum.
1he census director must verify petitions to see
fht they are bona fide and that the signers are en-
filled to vote. An afRdayit must be appended to
each pettion from a qualified voter saving thar he
a personally acquainted with all the persons VINO
have signed the petition and knows them to De vot
ers in the districts they are represented TO reside IN
The afidavit itself is an involved affair
When enough duly executed petitions have come
- the census director to make up the requisite per
cent. he must have printed and sent to every post
master IN the United States within ten days, SUI
fcnt nu nber of blank ballots to enable every voter
10 east his ballot in the war referendum These bal
lots must be distributed by postofees, city delivery
rural free delivery and other postal facilities No
tices must be putsnp by the postaf officials every
where Of the referendum proposed. Ballots are to
i distributed through carrier services for period
OF five days.
Fifteen days. from the beginning OF the dstriDn-
ton of ballots allowed for taking the reiereA