The Mena weekly star. (Mena, Ark.) 1904-1977, 1921-01-06
I. What is the Initiative?


A. 1t is the right of certain per-
centage of the voters to propose a
law, ordinance, or constitutional
amendment to be submitted foS action
at the polls.
q. Why is the Initiative needed to
preserve our government of, for and
by the people?
A. Without the Initiative the Leg
Iislature can block the will of the peo-
pie by refusing to act. By the Initia-
tive, the people can secure needed
legislation in a peaceful and orderly
way IN site of corrupt influences that
have thwarted the voters and defeated
the interests of the community.
q. Would the Initiative result in
the demand for a number of unneces-
sary or foolish laws?
Experience in Switzerland and in
our Western states, where they have
this law, proves that it is wise and
conservative, and much better than
that provided by final vote of the few
men largely under the influence of
private or special interests, now in
operation in this country. A small
body of men may agree on bad leg
islation where it would be impossible
to get majority of the people in
favor of it. 1t has been proven by
use that people will not ask for the
passage of law unless they are con-
WINGED that it is needed.
q. Is there anything in the Initial
tive Nom American?
A. No. 1t has been in use in
America from the earliest days and is
still in use where the New England
town meeting system prevails. Here
any ten citizens may. by petition,
which is nothing more or less than
the Initiative, bring measures before
the voters for consideration at the
town meeting.
The Initiative in Arkansas adopts
this well-established principle for the
entire state.
Q. Is the Initiative Democratic in
A. certainly. 1t is the most per-
feet form of democratic government
and the only one that makes it pos
sible for the citizens as whole to
unite and secure legislation they de-
sire.
q. Does it change the present sys-
tenn of government?
A. Not at all, for the representa-
tive character of the government still
remains. The people have simply re-
served for themselves a larger share
of legislative power but they have
not overthrow the republican sys-
tenn of government or substitute an
other in it's place.
q. Does the Initiative take from
the peoples representatives (our leg
islators) any rights or powers that
properly belong to them?
A. No. By the Initiative the peo-
pie are enabled more thoroly to con-
troll their representatives, who are, or
should be, servants and not masters
of the people.
q. What class of people oppose
the Initiative, and why?
A. Those who don't trust the peo-
pie; those who have interest opposed
to the people.
@. What class favors the Initia-
tive?
A. Those favor the Initiative who
desire a real peoples government in
stead of q sham peoples government:
those who desire that the I,erisla-
ture elected by the people shall be
representative; those who desire to
terminate the private monopoly of
lawmakers; those who desire to kill
the corporation lobby and abolish boss
rule and machine government; those
who desire TO bring better men into
politics; to simplify elections, to stop
class legislation, to elevate the press
and educate the peopole, to open the
door of progress to all wise measures
Of reform, to establish a reasonable
safety valve for discomfort, and make
state government in harmony with
the fundamental principles of demo-
crazy.
In SIX PARTS-PART III.
q. What is meant by the Refer
endum7
A. 1t IS now used in Arkansas in
submitting amendments to the Con-
stitution and such other questions as
the Legislature may wish to nave act
ed upon direct by the people Ameud-
ment No. 13 further extends the pow
er Of the Referendum by giving a GER
tain percentage Of the voters right
to demand that laws enacted shall be
submitted to the people for shem TO
pass upon, and that. any law can BE
held in allegiance until the people have
voted upon the question.
O. Are all laws to be made by the
people?
A.. No. It is very seldom that the
people would wish to pass upon a law
enacted by the Legislature. 1t Is only
when law a considerable number Of
the people believe is bad has been
passed that there will be demand for
i TO be referred to the action of the
people.
~. Is this principle American
A. To be sure. From the earliest
days of the Colonial government in
the New England States the people
not only voted directly for measures
but practically all the laws were n,ads
by direct vote of the citinas. This
practice Is continued to the present
time in the smaller towns, but in the
city and State government the growth