The courier-index., 1918-11-22

mise. In our democratic form of gov ernment, now being accepted by the world. the two sides to any question strive to secure their position, and when the minority fails, the rule of tfe majority must meet with ready acquiesence. Otherwise anarchy would rule, for anarchy is only the rule of the Bolshevistic minority.
 But it is admitted by those who oppose the new constitution that it is a great improvement over the old one. That being true, the people themselves have an unlimited re- course for it's amendment. Remedies may be applied in most effective manner. with a concession in behalf of the minority that should appeal to all fair minded citizens. Necessarily restrictions are provided that amend ments may not be made so easy as to nullify the stability insured by d fundamental alw. Eight per cent of the qualified voters may initiate law, but it is provided, to prevent a small unit from ruling. that the sign CTS of the petition shall be so distrib- uted that from each of twenty coun- ties there shall be petitions bearing the signatures of not less than four per cent of the electors of the county The governor cannot veto an act passed by the people.
 
 As the returns from the recent geli- eral election are made known, the election stands out more clearly in class by itself. The vote cast was probably the smallest of any election in several generations, and the actual figures have been the slowest in be- ing reported.
 There are several contributing causes, the chief of which is the fact that there was no opposition and a consequent lack of partisan interest. Another is that the mind of the peo- ple was so thoroughly absorbed in the war and war activities, that they could have little though of other things. In England, politics was vol. untarily adjourned for three years,
  beginning to come to the front again | Doubtless the erstwhile favorite pastime of the free and unfettered Arkansas citizen will soon reassert itself, but it is not likely that it will attain the full swing of partisan ran cor for several years. Fortunately for the state, the old system of political int discard with kings and thrones, and military tyranny and other things.
 sRss
 One of the effects of the small vote cast on November 5 will be the reduction of the number of jus tices of the peace to figure that will be satisfactory to even the most peace system.
 For instance, in November, 1916 there were S,849 votes cast for gov ernor in Pulaski county. At the rate of one for each two hundred electors that would entitle Pulaski county to forty four justices, which number was elected last week. Of course a ma JoiitS Oi tncni, eSpcCldliy III IHe Clly, are non-active, serving only in the quorum court But last week there were only 2,267 votes cast in the county, or eleven justices of the peace. The law provides, however, < that no township shall have less than two. Little Rock, with population of 100000. will be reduced to about half dozen justices, and the balance of power will be in the hands of the rural townships.
 The new constitution, providing for woman suffrage, and thereby doubl- ing the electorate. increases the ra- tion to one justice to each four hun tfred electors.
 The small vote will also have a bearing upon the number of delegates fn the state convention. The ratio is variable and is fixed by the party