Initiative and Referendum

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1912 edition. Excerpt: ... of their opponents are equally exaggerated. The value of each depends mainly upon the way it is applied and upon the extent and complexity of the governmental unit to which it is allied. Every one is agreed that there must be a popular Referendum on such a fundamental matter as a constitutional change, and in New York State we already have what is really a Referendum on various other propositions by which the state or one of its local subdivisions passes upon the propriety of action which implies the spending of money, permission to establish a trolley line system or something of the kind. Aloreover, where popular interest is sufficiently keen, as it has been in the case of certain amendments to the national constitution at various times in the past, we see what is practically the Initiative under another name. I believe that it would be a good thing to have the principle of the Initiative and Referendum applied in most of our states, always provided that it be so safeguarded as to prevent its being used either wantonly or in a spirit of levity. In other words, if the legislature fails to act one way or the other on some bill as to which there is a genuine popular demand, then there should unquestionably be power in the people through the Initiative to compel such action. Similarly, on any bill important enough to arouse genuine public interest there should be power for the people to insist upon the bill being referred to popular vote, so that the constituents may authoritatively determine whether or not their representatives have misrepresented them. But if it is rendered too easy to invoke either process, the result can only be mischievous. The movement for direct popular government in Oregon was in part the inevitable consequence of the gross...