Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-01-16
DIRECT LEGISLATION.
THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE TO IN
ITlATE AND PASS UPON LAWS.

The Only Simon Pure Democracy-Absurd
and Untenable Objections Raised to the
Referendum-A Principle Which Is Rap
idly Calming an Army of Supporters.
During the past twelve months agita-
ton in favor of direct legislation by the
people has been steadily gathering force
until now it is considered paramount
issue by many of the leaders of reform
in the United States, as we'll as by the
rank and file of the great labor move
ment. This increased interest is due to
several causes, but to none other so much
as to the publication and circulation of
Mr.. j. w. Sullivan's book, Direct Legis-
lation," and the able articles written by
this gentleman in The Twentieth Cen
tury and supported by his indefatigable
efforts as propagandist by personal let
ters and word of mouth. OIhers have
made valuable contributions in various
ways to this work, but in naming Mr..
Sullivan particularly l feel that 1 am
simply giving Caesar his just due.
In referring to the past year 1 do not
mean to convey the idea that the prin-
ciples of direct Legislation were un-
known and not advocated in this coun-
try prior to year ago. Such an init
nation would be untruthful and an act
of injustice to great many veteran re-
formers. My own personal knowledge
of the advocacy of the "initiative and
referendum"-as it was then called-by
g., loa ,l,o
fifteen years. The principle has been
part of the socialistic programme since
the first declaration was given out by
American socialists, but as one of the
older advocates l freely admit that
more has been done to bring the idea
before the people within the past year
than in all the years before, and the in
dications are that the near future con-
talns even brighter prospects.
At the recent session of the general
assembly the Knights of Labor incor-
porated a direct legislation plank in its
platform. The Central Labor union of
New York has adopted it as one of the
demands to be made before the state
constitutional convention, and central
and local labor organizations all over
the country have taken action favorable
to this reform. In New Jersey there is
state organization of some strength
called "the Peoples union," which has
but one plank in its platform, and that
direct legislation plank. The Peo-
pies party national convention at Oma-
ha last July adopted a resolution com
mandatory of such a change in the
method of legislating, and in several
states the party platforms were radical
upon the subject. The reform press of
the country is fast taking up the ques-
tion, and altogether great headway is
being made by this the only sound prin-
ciple of lawmaking.
Now what is meant by direct legisla-
tion, or the initiative and referendum?
1t is very easily understood. Those who
read or hear the words for the first time
are prone to think they have struck some
terribly complex propositions sort of
high class Chinese puzzle. Two minutes
of investigation disabuse their minds,
and the whole thing becomes as simple
as A B G. Direct legislation, with the
three small but powerful words, "by the
people," added, means that the people
shall make their own laws. The init
atiye means that force shall be given to
the present perverted right of petition;
that the people shall have the right
which must be respected-to propose
laws. The referendum means that all
proposed laws must be submitted to the
people for their approval or disapproval,
and that any measure against which
majority of all the votes deposited are
cast shall not become law.
An otherwise intelligent reporter said
to me one evening at the conclusion of
an address in which l had said few
words for direct legislation: That's all
very pretty in sentiment, Buchanan, but
it will not work. It's too cumbersome.
And that is the standard objection raised
by those who dread changes in our pres
ent system and never investigate a pro-
posal until forced to do so. "Why.
you'd have us voting all the time. Look
at the number of bills introduced in con-
gress during one session, to say nothing
of the state legislatures" says one. All,
there's the rub. Ninety-nine out of one
hundred of these bills are for the pur-
pose of bolstering up unwise or crooked
Legislation that has gone before, or are
in the interest of schemes which the
people would repudiate if given the op-
portunity, even under our present sys-
tenn. Not one out of one hundred would
be introduced if the people had the right
to initiate and vote upon laws.
Then if we had the initiative and re-
ferendum it does not follow that any
Tom, Dick or Harry could compel the
consideration of any crotchet, or that
the expense and annoyance of an cleo
tion should be borne for every measure
proposed. The principle being adopted,
the rules for its operation would be con-
structed with due regard for the rights
of the majority, and a reasonable per.
centage of the voters would be required
to support measure before it would be
considered. On the other hand, it is