Arizona republican., 1921-06-11
SATURDAY MORNING, JUNE II. 1921
Condor IS the brightest gem ot criticism. Disroei.
Popular Rule

Popular Rule We have been deeply interested in discussion between the Kansas city Star and William Allen White regarding the initiative and referendum especially with reference tthe referendum which the star stated abused, that is. nisused that 1t ought to be abolished. This is the moro interesting to just at this time.
 It should be stated that the Star is great ad- mrer of MT. white who served his apprenticeship is an alma mater For twenty years more or since MT. White has risen to national emnence he and the star have fought shoulder shoulder for reform md the field of their most pronounced has been the state of Kansas
 Both were early advocates of popular govern ment. But while the Star says that the initiative has worked very well. the referendum has been abused in the state Missouri that the state would be better off without it, MT. White takes the opposfte ground The Star has shown that since the l. { R. amendment to the constitution of the state 1908, fifteen propositions have been laid before the people the by initiative and five by from the legislature. All of them but have defeated, that providing for calling vote of the people next August the convoking Of state constitutional convention.
 Among the measures Constitution n prohibition. suffrage, "fun crew" bill workmen's compensation, road Improvement bonds. Ievies educational purposes for the abolition of various boards and commissions the county unit dram shop bill, authorizing grand juries to bal lot boxes and compare ballots with the registra- tion nsts to discover frauds.
 It will be observed that these proposed Serred measures in the very nature of them lmical to the interests tons. others to the liquor traffic and others to politicians MT. white admits the initiative and referendum lmperfectly employed, and says that the most inn perfect is made under the law of Missouri. Pop Zu-- tered under the Massachusetts law where the egis- future exercises certain surveillance over egis- Ntve activities of the people But his contention is that the principle of the rule of the majority must De maintained the peoples of the initiative made intelligent
 The Star has abandoned theory for present facts MT. White stin cngs to theory filled with hope for the future That is the point of division
 Our experience with popular rule has been much the same as that of which the Star complains. We have initiated which first carried by the prevailing radical sentiment the but they usually found to be defective. unskilfuly drawn or unconstitutional Under the Massa- chusetts law these would not likely have allowed go before the people Under and the Missouri laws anything be submitted if the requiste number of signatures is obtained
 But the important referred laws that have defeated in this state have defeated by special interests. by politicians corporations. labor organizations We do not to say that all any these acts should have been approved by the people. We only mentioning the fact that they were defeated-but by majorities In all the rule of the majority failed it will prob ably always fail In the years since adopted the initiative and referendum popular interest in popu- lar has decreased. At every election the ratio of who vote initiative and referred those attend the polls has essened; ir cases where interest is stimulated for against measure by powerful corporations, by labor organ izations, by politicians or by some other powerful organized influence.
 We believed. the advocates of pop ular government believed. that interest and ntel Rence would grow with the of it. It appears tha too much was expected of human nature.
 With money enough behind it or against it arr bill. however good however bad may be passe or defeated a popular election. Not dollar nee be spent in bribery. in the actual corruption ot voter only necessary to have organization and organizations cost money.-to get enous voters to constitute sufficient minority of voter to overcome the smaller. unsolicited unorganzet opposing minority.
 T.at is the way it works in Arizona That is tn way u wF,rks in oregon and the it will every where until the people have some how undergone fundamental miraculous change
 Wholly irrevelant Statement
 We are told in the way of an argumel