The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1922-07-14
SHALL THE PEOPLE
HAVE VOICE?


1t is noticeable, it is even laughable,
to hear the Referendum condemned by
Republicans of the state of Missouri
and through Republican and Mug
wump" newspapers since that piece OF
legislation known as the Redistrictlng
bill has been tied up through the ref
erendum and will be submitted to the
people this fall for approval or disap-
prevail.
The same group is almost solidly
against the primary system. In fact,
they are against anything that Will
tend to give the great mass OF people
any say-so in what shall and shall not
be done. The party of special privi-
leges cannot stand to see the common
people enjoy any authority whatso-
ever.
The re-districting bill is know to
have been one of the most high-handed
attempts to control the state for the
Republican party forevermore ever at
tempted and the Republican state ad-
ministration knows full well what will
happen to it when submitted to the
people. They have tried every way
to prevent its being referred. Gov
Hyde made trip to Washington to
have legislation passed that would
deprive Missouri Of one Of her repre-
sentatives in Congress and place the
redistricting of the state in the hands
of the state administration instead Of
the legislature.
Failing in this, there is now move
ment afoot to put through a re-dis-
tricting via the initiative. The petit
ton was carried in Worth county and
we are informed, the required number
of signers received. We are perfectly
willing that the state be redistricted
if the people want it. Either the mi.
tiative or the referendum is a way Of
determining whether they want it OF
not. But we are certain that the peo-
pie do not want the state redistricted
in accordance with the pending bill
that is to be referred to the people.
We are not willing that the bill be
put through without the people have
a chance to approve or disapprove;
we are against any move to repeal the
referendum or primary law or any
other law that gives the people voice
in law making or naming candidates
for office. The Democratic party is a
party Of the people and stands ready
for its constituents to pass judgment
on anything it does.
If some legislation is defeated
through the referendum it will be be-
cause it is bad and the people do not
want it or because the people do not
understand it. The political party
that is afraid to face the people with
one of its pet measures either has lit
tie faith. in such measure or has little
faith in Its ability to educate the peo-
pie to it. To make them believe in it
To make them understand it.
The initiative, the referendum, the
primary law, were all regarded at the
time of their adoption as progressive
and hailed as a victory for the people
The fact that legislative act design.
ed to give a party political control is
held up does not change them. The
fact that some political boss has beer
thwarted in his efforts to control oil
some candidate has been disappointed
is not sufficient reason for removing
the primary law. These measures still
stand as a memorial that the people
have been given the right to pass
judgement on laws enacted by legisla.
lures and on the merits of politica
aspirants. And not until the people
are ready to deny themselves thi:
voice in political government will they
be done away with.-Worth County
Times.