The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1893-06-21
tate to talk of "boodle," bribery and
corruption openly upon the 1sor of

corruption openly upon the 1scr of
To remedy this evil for farcical
legislation the principal remedy sug-
gested is the initiative and the re-
ferendum as in vogue in SwitZer-
land, both in the cantOnal and fed
eral governments. 1t is generally
conceded that the Inauguration of the
referendum should precede the adop-
ltion of the initiative, and no better
plan has been suggested than the
one to which the Tribune recently
called attention.
AS an experiment this plan could
probably be tested without any pre-
paratOry legislation, which could
follow as found to be necessary.
Briefly, the plan suggested in the
Tribune was as follows: Let the
legislature meet and introduce, in
the first two weeks, all the bills
which are to be acted upon during
the session. Let these bills all be
printed for circulation among the
people, and then let the legislature
adjourn, each member going to the
most central place in his district
where he could meet his constitu-
ents and thoroughly discuss the
measures proposed. At the close of
the recess each member would take
his seat with knowledge of the SEN
timents of his constituents and the
people would be advised as to what
legislation was proposed.
Something must be done and the
sooner the people determine what it
shall be the better. The referen-
dunn, modified from the Swiss to
suit American needs seems to be en-
tirely practical and may be a solu-
tiOn.
secured the unanimous passage of
a resolution by the senate, during it's
last session, requesting the attorney
general to prepare and present to the
next session of the legislature, a full
report of the workings of the system
in Switzerland, with suggestions
as to how it could be made applicable
to the condition of affairs in Mime
sofa. This will bring the matter be-
fore the next legislature in an au-
thoritative fashion, and compel con-
sideration.
/ am beginning to think that we
will need a constitutional convention
to thoroughly revise our present con-
stitution. States grow as men grow;
and the clothes that fitted the boy
are too tight and skinny for the
man. Besides the thoughts of all
thinking people are advancing.
Magazines like the great liberal re-
view, The Arena, of Boston are doing
great work by making their col
umns a forum, wherein all sides of all
questions may be heard. Our ideas
of the purposes of government are
not what they were twenty years ago.
But the first requisite of good gov
ernment, under the Swiss system
or any other,-is the intelligent con-
sideration of public affairs by the
voters. AS it is now thousands upon
thousands vote for constitutional
amendments without any inquiry as
to their nature or effects. The Refer
endum will be of no avail with such
a people. If the inha bitantS of the
states are to remain free they must
study, read and think; and there is
no better means to those ends than
societies like the Farmers Alliance,
the K. of L., the Industrial League,
ETC., etc. And so, friends, I would
urge that YOU take the livelieSt kind
of interest in all public affairs, and
that you stir up your friends and
neighbors to do likewise. Remember
the tremendous objects at stake:
the preservation of constitutional
liberty and personal happiness on
earth for you and yours. I'D.