The Louisiana populist., 1895-11-15
DIRECT LAW-MAKING.
INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM.
GREATEST OF REFORMS.
Introduce This System and Strike at
the Roots - Party Tyranny, and stop
Extravags = 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. NJ. 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:
i. The right to approve or reject pro-
posed state laws shall rest with 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
state shall lin addition to being ex-
ercised by members of the senate and
the house of assembly, rest with any
proportion of the citizens of the state,
between 5 and % 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, Tin addition to being ex-
ercised by members of it's legislative
body as at presentD rest with any pro-
portion OF its citizens, between and
25 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 10
mandatory, but regulated by constitu-
tional provisions.
!. The referendum acts as a 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 it's 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 great and beneficial
reform. 1t is admitted that it is our
implies another duty embodied in the
right to approve or reject the laws
that we must obey, both before and
after legislation, IL necessary, and the
ultimate ratification should rest with
the clear majority Of all the voters
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 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
| l-1 80; ;Ch hn lot nd
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
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 100000 an increase of
the suffrage to over seven times the
previous franchise.
All this was accomplished because
private canvass proved the truth Of
the fact that the whole people were
clamorous for it; 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.
nrf tho ov;gtanoa 80 xb;c f,,I