Arizona republican., 1918-11-20
Don't worry because the tide is go
ing QUIT always comes back.
Anonymous.
Popular Legislation

According official election returns the people
Tor the first time voted heavily and fairly discrimn
atingy on the propositions submitted to them
Hitherto such proposed legislation was looked upon
with suspicion. Much of it in the beginning I'M
tried sociaIistc and revolutionary. 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 well ad
yertised and pretty well discussed. It proposed no
novelties and was generally not apparently intended
for the benefit of any class part of it plainly
constructive and part of it plainly intended to
remove existing defects effect reforms.
The Republican after a careful study of the pro-
positions recommended the ratification of all of them
except one the vaccination proposition
ing which it offered no recommendation 1t evil
that the 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 dstrcting amendment, but
doubtful of its adoption it obvious that
it would increase the republican representation in the
legislature Yet it appears to have carried easily
the strong democratic counties
The workmens Compensation Act which sup
ported, alone, has certainly failed We believe yet
we we believed through the campaign that it was a
good measure but when its opponents succeeded in
convincing the voters that it a class measure its
defeat was assured The almost solid strength of
organized labor thrown against it. 1t could have
survived that but voters generally either opposed it in
the belief that it fight between big employers
and their employees or else they applied the rule when
in doubt, etc. or else they did not vote at all
The very volumnous character of the proposed
amendment precuded intelligent popular discussion
Of it. 1t was attacked here and there and the weak
nesses and alleged inequites aimed at made to
appear characteristics of the whole bill 1t will prob
ably be impossible ever to secure such an amendment
by the initiating process
The restoration of the public contract system and
the repeal foolish the prohibition Of
contracts public work part did very
hopeful 1t expected that would the solid
opposition of organized labor. Perhaps it did, but it
had the support elements which purely political
questions aligned with organized labor.
curious thing appears to have happened to the
three public land measures Two of them amending
statutes with reference to the and leasing
the state lands The third was a proposed statutory
amendment to give effect to the foregoing measures
if adopted. The swo constitutional amendment have
been adopted by good margins. They received sup
port in localities where none was expected. But the
necessary, effective statutory amendment is in
doubt 1t the last in the long list and the
voters appear to have grown weary before reaching
it, either did not vote or registered their doubt
concerning it by voting No
There appears to have been little opposition to
the measures known as the gaming and
the red light abatement laws.
In the whole list there were, we suppose only two
measures which the people voted with strong con-
victions. the capital punishment and the workmen's
compensation acts.