Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1941-06-12
Government Issues
BY Hjalmar Petersen.
A Lame Excuse

In the Drle1 question ana answer
period after the talk given in the st.
Paul auditorium by the First Lady
of the Land, one person asked as to
how the Presidents wife stood on the
question of a referendum vote on
war;
Mrs. Roosevelt answered that in
order to have such a referendum
we would have to look for a new form
of government.
It is true that so far as national
questions are concerned the people
of our country vote altogether only
on the selection of president and
vice-president every four years. But
certainly we do not have to change
our form of government to extend
that vote to other questions. In fact
it would be an extension of
democracy.
In state affairs the voters express
their choice directly on amendments
to the constitution. When the federal
constitution is to be altered bill
for an amendment is introduced in
Congress-, which must be passed by
a two-thirds vote of both Houses and
signed by the President. If it is
adopted by three-fourths of the State
Legislatures it becomes an amend
ment to the federal constitution. But
there is no direct vote by the people
on that amendment.
We have Representatives and sena-
tors in our state lawmaking bodies,
because the people cannot vote on
!. every public question that is to be
decided. Likewise at the nations CAPT.
tol we have representatives and sena-
tors to enact laws, appropriate money
and make other decisions, including
the all important question of war
We have those State Legislatures and
the national Congress for convenience
for expediency, and because the peo-
pie cannot continually be going to
the polls to vote on all questions. 1t is
representative form of government
that we enjoy.
AS yet the constitution does not
give the electorate vote on the
question of our country going to war
The constitution says that war is de.
clared by Congress. But, certainly
there could be nothing wrong in ar
expression by the people on that mo-
mentous question. Under our con-
stitution it could now be only any
advisory referendum, but if IS pei
cent of the voters cast their votes
against declaration of war, we can
be quite sure that Congress would not
reverse that expression by the people
and declare war;
Nor would we have to change our
form of government to provide vote
by the people on the issue of q
declaration of war. AS above stated
that decision now rests with Congress
but if the constitution were amended
to provide vote by the people on the
question of declaration of war, such
vote could be had.
And why should the people moi
vote on the most important question
that could possibly be presented, a
question of life and death?
No, we would not have to change
our form of government, but. through
an advisory referendum by the peo-
pie, or an amendment of the con-
stitution and then a direct vote by
the people, we would simply be en-
larging and extending our democracy
1t would still be representative form
of government.
What is wanted is not "Galluping'
straw votes, but a bona-fide express
sion through referendum by all the
voters. How some politicians dodge
a real indication of the will of the
people!