Bisbee daily review., 1918-11-23
POPULAR LEGISLATION
(Phoenix Republican, }

According to official election returns, the people for the first time voted heavily and fairly discriminatingly on the various propositions submitted to them. Hitherto, such proposed legislation was looked upon with suspicion. Much of it was in the beginning untried, socialistic and revolu- tionary Those who did not understand it did generally not vote, though many persons adopted the safe rule of When in doubt, vote 'No.
 This year the proposed legislation was advertised and pretty well discussed. It proposed no novelties and was generally not apparently intended for the benefit of any class. A part of 1t was plainly con- structive and part of it was plainly in- tended to remove existing defects or effect reforms.
 The Republican after careful study of the propositions recommended the ratifi- cation of all of them except one, the anti vaccination proposition concerning which, 1t offered no recommendation. It was evi- dent that the measure for the restoration of capital punishment would be adopted and that has been done overwhelmingly
 The next of most general importance seemed to us to be the legislative district ing amendment, but we were doubtful of its adoption, since 1t was obvious that 1t would increase the republican representa- ton in the legislature Yet 1t appears to have carried easily, even in the strong dem ocratic counties.
 The workmen compensation act which we supported, alone, has certainly failed. We believe yet, as we believed through the campaign that it was good measure, but when its opponents succeeded in convinc- ing the voters that it was class measure, its defeat was assured The almost solid strength of organized labor was thrown against it. It could have survived that but voters generally either opposed 1t in the be- lief that it was fight between big employ CTS and their employees, or else they applied the rule When in doubt, etc. or else they did not vote at all.
 The very voluminous character of the proposed amendment precluded an intelli- gent popular discussion of 1t. It was attack ed here and there and the weakness, and al- legged inequities aimed at were made to ap- pear characteristic of the whole bill. It will probably be impossible ever to secure such an amendment by the initiating process.
 The restoration of the public contract system and the repeal of the foolish law which the prohibition of contracts for pub lie was a part, did not seem very hopeful. It was expected that 1t would have the solid opposition of organized labor. Perhaps it did, but 1t had the support of elements which on purely political questions were aligned with organized labor.
 A curious thing appears to have hap pened to the three public land measures. Two of them amending the statutes with reference to the sale and leasing of the state lands The third was proposed statutory amendment to give effect to the foregoing measures, if adopted The two constitu- tional amendments have been adopted by good margins They received support in localities where none was expected. but the necessary, effective statutory amend ment Is in doubt It was the last one in the long list and the voters appear to have grown weary before reaching it, and either did not vote or registered their doubt con corning it by voting No.
 There appears to have been little oppo- sition to the referred measures, known as the anti-gaming and the red light abate- ment laws.
 In the whole list there were, we suppose, only two measures on which the people voted with strong convictions, the capital punishment and the workmen' compensa- ton acts.