Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1895-10-23
DIRECT LAW-MAKING.
INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM.
GREATEST OF REFORMS.
Introduce This System and Strike at
the Roots of Party Tyranny, and Stop
Extravaganza, CupIditY and Political
Bribery.


Of government which is being agitated
from one ocean to the other, and adopt
ed by great many labor organizations
Is becoming more and more popular
every day, and means that the people
shall rule and settle all questions, ma
tional, state and county. The U. M. B.
Press, Of Tacoma, Wash, says, the
form Of the initiative and referendum,
as proposed and formulated by the "Di-
rect Legislation League" as an amend
ment to the constitution of any state
and which might be used, is given as
follows:
1. The right to approve or reject pro-
posed state laws shall rest with a ma
Jority of the citizens of the state. The
right to approve or reject the proposed
law OF political subdivision of the state,
such as county, city, town, township,
borough or village, shall rest with the
majority of the citizens of such subdi-
vision. The method of such approval
or rejection shall be that known as the
referendum.
2. The right to propose laws of the
ON~NN OAAoAA Nln 10 DcluS CA
ercised by members of the senate and
the house Of assembly, rest with any
proportion OF the citizens of the state,
between and 25 per cent, which may
be determined by statute law. The
right to propose laws of any political
subdivision of that state (such as coun-
ty, city, town, township, borough, or
village) shall, lin addition to being ex-
ercised by members of its legislative
body as at presently rest with any pro-
portion of its citizens, between and
20 per cent, which may be determined
by law of such political subdivision.
The method to be employed in so pro-
posing measures shall be known as the
initiative.
The operation of the initiative is
mandatory, but regulated by constitu-
tional provisions.
The referendum acts as constitu-
tional limitation of legislative and ex-
ecutive power; and by virtue of this
power proposed legislation by the peo-
pies representatives is referred back
to them for Endorsement or rejection
under the operation of legal provisions.
OF all the reforms In our political
machinery this surely is the best and
foremost in its ameliorating and re-
forming power. 1t is an effective
means Of removing the whole train of
social and political evils that burden
the people, and would do much to re-
store to them their long lost rights.
The introduction, then, of the initia-
tive and referendum into our political
system would be a great and beneficial
reform. 1t is admitted that 1t is our
duty to obey the laws, but that duty
implies another duty embodied in the
right to approve or reject the laws
that we must obey, both before and
after legislation. if necessary, and the
ultimate ratification should rest with
the clear majority of all the voters
Of the nation, state or other sub-divis-
ions of these.
Introduce this system and strike at
the roots of party tyranny, and stop ex-
travagance, cupidity and political rob-
berry and lay an ak of economy to the
very roots of scheming corruption.
In 1893 the city of Haverhill, Mass.
by a unanimous vote adopted direct
legislation through the initiative and
referendum; secured by the persistence
and take-no-denial attitude of the
workingmen, demanding justice and
fair play as supreme qualities that
should distinguish the legislative and
executive power of their public serv-
ants. BY the adoption of this one prin-
ciple they secured a common ground
in regard to all abuses, monopolies and
a common plank upon which all reform
parties can stand.
This grand theory of political ma
chinery and of sovereign power in the
hands Of the people, wherein it has had
practical operation, has proven in two
hemispheres a most thorough and
peaceful revolutionary institution. AS
regards the initiative, it has been used
in our own country since before its ex-
istence as a nation.
In Belgium, 1892. through the use OF
the referendum. the law of suffrage
was completely changed for the better
Before that year the suffrage was re-
stricted to 100000 votes. BY the use
of the referendum the people forced
the enactment of reformed law in
creasing it to 10000 an increase OF
the suffrage to over seven times the
previous franchise.
All this was accomplished because
a private canvass proved the truth OF
the fact that the whole people were
clamorous for 1t; and by their uncom-
promising attitude they dominated the
senate. the aristocracy, the army, the
time-serving legal lights and royalty
itself. The sovereign will of the peo-
pie, interpreted by its vote, overcame
every obstacle in a country hereto the
scene Of riot, bloodshed and tumultu.
GUS agitation.
But the existence Of this powerful
agency does not mean that any and al
measures that seek legislation must be
submitted to vote of the people, bu
1t does mean that the power exists, and
that when the people wish to do sc
they can demand popular vote on any
measure that they consider likely to bt
hurtful, II II should become statutory
There is no such weapon in the hand.
Of the people against the politicians 8.
peaceful as this one may be made. /
includes every reform in the circle O.
its grasp.
Dump your surplus silver at thil
ofice please.