and the most vicious," remarks President Butler.[1] In view of the diverse forms which the initiative takes in the several states, this condemnation is altogether too sweeping. One's judgment should be governed by the concrete form which the initiative takes. In Oregon, a measure goes directly to the voters in the form in which it is initiated. In Ohio, it is first considered by the legislature. If not enacted into law within four months, or if passed in an amended form, it is submitted to the people in either its original or its amended form, provided a supplementary petition "signed by not less than three per centum of the electors in addition to those signing the original petition" is filed with the secretary of state. In Oregon, eight per cent, of the legal voters are required to initiate a measure; in Wyoming, the plan submitted to the voters in 1912 required twenty-five per cent. In Missouri, an initiative petition must be signed "by not more than eight per cent, of the voters in each of at least two thirds of the congressional districts in the State." The larger the population of a state the more difficult it is to secure the required number of petitioners. In Michigan, more than twenty per cent, of the voters "voting for secretary of state at the preceding election of such officer" are required to initiate a constitutional amendment. The petition must be signed at a regular registration or election place and the signatures must be verified by the registration or election officers. No amendment can be submitted to the people if the legislature disapproves. Finally, an affirmative vote of not less than one third of the highest vote cast at the election for any office is required to adopt such an amendment.[2] A movement that is marked by so many signs of caution offers little occasion for alarm to the owners of property. A common objection to the referendum and the initiative is that they will destroy representative government. By a similar course of reasoning, namely, by excluding everything but one fact from the mental horizon, one might prove that the earth is destined soon to fall into the sun. I am not aware that the most radical advocates of direct democracy propose to do away with representative government. The yearly grist of legislation is so large as to render such a thing impossible. The chief object of direct democracy is to render our representatives more truly representative. If our legislative bodies were the deliberative bodies they are supposed to be, the demand for the referendum and the initiative would hardly have arisen. Many bills are originated by interests outside of the legislature and are rushed through in the closing days of the session without opportunity for amendment or debate. Instances of minority rule through laws enacted by a majority
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THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY
