The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-01-16
FOUR PARTIES ARE
DECLARED EXTINCT
Progressive, Independence League.
American ard Socialist Labor
Ruled Out of New York.

ALBANY, \. Y, Jan. 16.-The Ma
tional Progressive, Independence
League. American and Socialist Labor
parties went out Of existence in this
state at the last election by reason of
their failure to poll for their candidate
for governor the 10000 votes required
by the election law.
An opinion rendered by ATTORNEY.
General Woodbury. has brought to light
this wholesale extinction of political
parties. The ruling was to the effect
that voters enrolled in any of these
extinct parties were entitled to have
their names and party affiliations des-
ignated upon the enrolment books
which are now in process of prepare
ton, Notwithstanding the fact that
none of these parties will participate
in the primaries next fall.
A bill which would enable the elect
ors enrolled in these parties to re-en.
roll in one of the four remaining par.
ties in time to participate in the fall
primaries has been introduced in the
legislature. The enactment of this
legislation is agitated by election of
ficials in all parts of the state
The tendency on the part of some
common councils and other local legis.
lative bodies to shift the burden OF
responsibility for acts which local
charters cast upon the governing bod
les themselves has been curbed bv
another opinion of Attorney General
Woodbury.. The procedure which this
ruling seeks 10 correct is known rs
advisory referendum and is de
signed to ascertain the sentiment OF
the voters upon proposal before the
common council or governing body OF
the municipality acts.
Attorney General Woodbury. has
ruled that. the local councils must find
some authority for such referendums
in the local charter or conferred in
some express terms or BY reasonable
intendment in some other law He
points out that no such authority is
found in the home rule act of 1913, and
that the legislature having permitted
such referendum in certain specific in.
stances has by implication denied it in
others.
The Attorney General calls attention
to the recent court OF appeals decision
Nhl1H NC1iAhcu 10 PANt oH VI Odutt
Interpretation to the home rule act OF
o general welfare clause in the
Buffalo charter which conferred pow.
ers equally as broad az those conferred
in the home rule act. namely the
power to deal with matters of purely
local concern. In connection with
tho proposal that the legislature
has by Implication denied the
right to such q referendum except
where expressly permitted, Attornc7-
General Woodbury. points to the con.
clusion Of the court of appeals in tho
Buffalo ease from which he quotes:
Ever since the referendum has
found recognition in the political svs
tenn Of this state il has been the pol
ley of the legislature to deal with il
directly and in express terms and not
delegate the right to inferior legisla
tive bodies.
The latest opinion was rendered in
response TO inquiries from the munic-
inal officers Of Mount Vernon regard
ing the legality of an advisory refer.
endum designed to ascertain the will
of the electors on bond issue. The
Attorney-General held that such a ref.
erendum would be illegal and invalid.