Page:The Wisconsin idea (IA cu31924032449252).pdf/145

 so under this resolution, the people will allow the legislature to act upon the measures as a matter of convenience. If the legislature passes something which the people do not want, they will overturn that measure if they so desire, or if the legislature fails to pass something which the people do want, they can remove it from the hands of the legislature and refuse to accept the report of the legislature upon the matter. We have in this joint resolution a new principle applied to the initiative and referendum. It does not contain the "direct drive" or "direct legislation" proposition of the Oregon law, but it does contain that which is fully as strong and which has some essential features making the whole proposition more harmonious. It is a strong aid to representative government and at the same time a vigorous method of directly expressing the popular will. An organization which puts a bill before the legislature can take it out just as it was put in, but it must give a public hearing for so many months to all parties interested. Naturally if a part of the legislature is defeated on some big proposition that portion will say to the rest, "We will go out to the people and ask the people's support upon this matter and they will decide between us."

The initiative and referendum plan herein described has yet to pass the 1913 legislature and be accepted by the people before it becomes a part of the Wisconsin