The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1920-11-16

the effort has been made successfully
for the modification of the constitu-
tions of many of our states to the enc
that there shall be recognition of the
principles of initiative and referen-
dunn to the extent that the amend
ments have been adopted. The Su-
preme Court of the United States has
not found that they are not in har-
mony with republican government
Several of the states have chosen to
avail themselves quite actively of the
initiative and referendum principles
pended their enthusiasm by the at
tainment of recognition Of the prin-
ciples and have permitted the amend
ments of constitutions guaranteeing
the same to remain as dead letters
| For my part, doubt if there is any
great good to be attained through the
referendum that will be at all justi-
! fled in view of the unquestioned evils
that will result.
Take this body of teachers; prob
ably 600 men and women are as
sembled here. You could draft set
of resolutions without calling upon
a committee to represent you in the
drafting of the same. Your chair
man could announce that the time had
come for the preparation of the reso-
lutions. You could appoint a sccre-
tary. Members of the audience could
propose 500 or 1000 resolutions. You
could propose amendments. You
could debate these resolutions from
now until for your adjournment, and
I doubt if at that period you would
have come to so satisfactory a con-
clusion as you could attain, if you
were to name a committee of three or
five who would assume the work of
preparing the resolutions that you
might desire to adopt. The first plan
is in general way analogous to the
plan of the referendum or the plan Of
the initiative. 1t is the plan that
contemplates the action on minute
matters by multitude of people. I
very heartily agree with the prooo-
sition of referring matters that are
of such concern that they may be re-
garded as principles to referendum
vote, as for instance, an amendment
to the Constitution. But do not he
lieve that any good can come from re-
ferring bills that involve vast
amount of detail work to popular vote.
That is not to say that the men and
women who make up the electorate
are not as capable as those who may
be chosen to represent them in lcgis-
lative capacity. Let us admit that
any like number of members Of a
legislature could be chosen over and
over again who would do as we'll as
those who may be chosen. The fact
still remains that a limited number of
persons intrusted with the response
bility of working out the details of
program can do the work infinitely
better than it can be done through a
large number attempting to assume
The task
Go back then to my Illustration /
this body of teachers. Your
committee Of three probably as indi- I
yiduals represents no higher scholar |
ship. no better ability in drafting, no
more comprehensive view touching
he sentiment of the teachers of this I
than 300 other committees
hat you could name from your num-
Der. Nevertheless the fact remains
hat the committee that you may
lame will be better able to work out
he thought that is in your mind than
would this entire body of teachers or
han would a committee of so or rs
selected from among you
The members of the Congress of
he United States and the members
# legislatures of the states ocupy
Of the relationship of com
nittees to the people Of the country.
Is committees they still are too
arge; hence it is that they find more
satisfactory service can be had in the
rafting of legislation when they in
urn refer the matter to committees
rom among themselves, and these
ommittees in turn often pass on the
especially of detail
york, to subcommittee but in the
nd the action that the subcommittee
nd the full committee shall take be-
ONES the action, if it shall be rati-
led, of the legislative body. If the
york of the subcommittee ,r the full
ommittee shall not be satisfactory,
he efforts Of the subcommittee or
f the full committee are brushed
side, and the committee is giving a
learer understanding of what is OK
ected, or new committee is ap-
ointed to take charge of the propo
ition.
After all, am frank to say that
do not believe there is as much Of
lerit in the proposition of initiative
nd referendum as those who urge
hese principles seem to believe. Nor
gain do I believe that there is as