1914 Texas Proposition 1

1914 Texas Proposition 1
November 3, 1914[1]
Results
Choice
 Votes %
Yes 62,371 48.29%
No 66,785 51.71%

Proposition 1 appeared on the November 3, 1914, ballot in the state of Texas as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment. The amendment proposed that citizens of Texas be given the ability to initiate state laws by gathering the signatures of twenty percent of voters, and thereafter by having the petition be decided by all voters via referendum. The amendment also would have allowed for veto referendums with the same 20% signature requirement. The measure narrowly failed, with about 51.7% of voters opposed.

Background

Legislative passage

Senate Joint Resolution No. 12 (SJR 12) placed the amendment on the ballot. The Texas Senate passed SJR 12 by a 21–7 vote on March 3, 1913,[2] and the Texas House, on March 31, passed SJR 12, with amendments to the resolution, by a 98–29 vote.[3] The Texas Senate concurred with the House's amendments by a 23–6 vote the same day, March 31.[4] The House's change to the resolution was authored by Representative Tarver; it deleted from the resolution language stating that the power to enact or reject laws was "independent of the legislature".[3]

When adopted by the Texas House, some representatives wrote a reason for their vote in the House Journal; Representative Taylor said he voted in favor so that the people could decide the issue themselves, but that he reserved to himself "the right to vote and work against its adoption." Representative Lane also voted in favor but believed that the amendment was an "impracticable and dangerous experiment".[3]

State comparison

The requirement to gather 20% of Texas voters' signatures would have been the highest number of signatures needed for the initiative and referendum process compared to any other state.[5]

Contents and amendment

Ballot wording

On the ballot, voters were provided with the following two options:[6]

For the amendment to Section 1, of Article 3, of the Constitution of the State of Texas, providing for the initiative and referendum.
Against the amendment to Section 1, Article 3, of the Constitution of the State of Texas, providing for the initiative and referendum.

Amendment language

The measure proposed that constitution be amended to add Section 1 to Article 3:[7]

Section 1. The legislative power of this State shall be vested in a Senate and House of Representatives, which, together, shall be styled “The Legislature of the State of Texas,” but the people reserve to themselves, power, as herein provided, to propose laws and to enact or reject the same at the polls, and to approve or reject at the polls any law, or any part of any law, enacted by the Legislature. The Legislature shall provide by law for submitting to the vote of the people, upon the petition of twenty per cent. of the qualified voters of the State the enactment of laws and the approval or rejection of any law enacted by the Legislature.

Results

By county

134 counties voted in favor of the amendment, 108 counties voted against, 9 counties cast no votes, and Hutchinson County's vote was tied.[1] The highest level of support came from Winkler County, with 100% of its 3 votes cast in favor, and the lowest level came from Willacy County, with 3.23% of its votes in favor.[1]

By congressional district

Five congressional districts voted in favor, and 11 voted against. District 12 had the highest percentage of votes in favor, with 55.59% in favor, and District 10 had the lowest, with 36.77% in favor.[8] A map showing the districts in effect at the time of the referendum can be viewed here.

Analysis

Rural and urban vote

In general, urban voters backed the amendment, while rural voters opposed it.[9][10][11] Analysis from newspapers shows that rural voters may have been what caused the amendment to fail.[9][11]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Weinert, Ferdinand C. (1914). "Biennial report of the Secretary of State of the State of Texas = 1914". p. 217. Retrieved August 6, 2026 – via HathiTrust.
  2. ↑ "Senate Journal" (PDF). Texas Legislative Reference Library. March 3, 1913. p. 726. Retrieved August 6, 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 "House Journal" (PDF). Texas Legislative Reference Library. March 31, 1913. pp. 1859–1860. Retrieved August 6, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Senate Journal" (PDF). Texas Legislative Reference Library. March 31, 1913. pp. 1512–1513. Retrieved August 6, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Texas". Initiative & Referendum Institute. Retrieved August 6, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Official Ballot". The Hondo Anvil Herald. October 24, 1914. Retrieved August 2, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ Wortham, John L. (1913). "The Laws of Texas". Volume 16. p. 464. Retrieved August 7, 2026.
  8. 1 2 "1914 Texas Proposition 1 by CD". Google Sheets. Retrieved August 6, 2026.
  9. 1 2 "The Amendments". Waco Tribune-Herald. November 7, 1914. Retrieved August 7, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "All the Amendments Defeated in Texas". Waxahachie Daily Light. November 4, 1914. Retrieved August 7, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. 1 2 "All Amendments Defeated—Initiative and Referendum Vote Is Largest". Austin American. November 5, 1914. Retrieved August 7, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
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