People's voice., 1895-05-02
HOW WEMAYPR0SPER
THE INITIATIVE AND REFER
ENDUM EXPLAINED.
Shall the People Rule?-An Important
Question Representative
Instead of Making Laws for the Peo-
pie, Make Laws for Themselves.


Ihave wondered many time why the
rank and file of reformers do not pay
more attention to the important sub
ject Of direct legislation in other
words, the initiative and referendum.
My dear friend, do you want free sill
yer? Do you want government banks?
Do you want fifty dollars per capita?
DO you want decrease in your taxa
ton, or government ownership of rail-
roads? Well, how are you going to get
these reforms? You have been limiting
to your rulers for some time that you
wanted these things and have not made
much headway. The trouble is that
instead of going in quest of the treas
ure yourself, you sent some one else.
Miles Standish sent John Alden to
court Priscilla for him. John forgot
that he was representative and
courted the girl for himself. Miles
Standish should have done his own
courting and the American people
should make their own laws.
The initiative is the right of petition.
Under the system of direct legislation
given per cent of the people can petit
ton for any desired law, and when their
petition is received the legislative
power, congress or the state legisla-
ture as the case may be, must prepare
bill containing all the provisions
asked for in the petition and submit
the same to the people at the next
regular election. This submission to
the people is the referendum. The
people vote the bill in or vote it down.
the majority of the actual people thus
saying what laws they will have. Under
this system all laws originate with the
people and are approved by the people.
Suppose that at the coming national
election the pOpulists should elect a
majority of both national houses of
congress and also get their man safely
seated in the presidential chair. They
would no doubt institute I lumber or
grand reforms. But if they leave the
people in their present pOwerless con-
dition, succeeding administrations
could in a very few years kill every
good law they have made and wipe out
all traces Of their reforms.
The American people are to-day
practically powerless. They have
handed over their power to their So
called representatives These represen-
tatives can make just as many bad laws
as they please, and the only redress
that the people have is to vote them
down when they again present them
selves as candidates for office. This is
rather poor redress when we consider
that If we vote guilty offlceholder
down, the man we put in his place has
the same power and opportunity to do
mischief that he had. The referendum
is the remedy.
The agitation and education upon
this section of the Omaha platform or
more properly its appended resolutions.
can not be too thorough or reach too
far. If the people are fortunate enough
to elect the officehOlders of the next
administration this is one of the very
first reforms they should establish.
For direct legislation means the tri-
umph of all other reforms, Just as
rapidly as the people can comprehend
them. 1t is not only the instrument for
procuring every desired reform but is
also the most direct means of repeating
every undesirable law. 1t will forever
put a stop to the legal steals and bunco
games that now make up about nine
tenths Of the work of the average legis-
lative body.
1t will not only decrease the number
of salaried officers but it will also re-
duce all the expenses of the govern
ment. When she enjoys this system
America will cease to be representa-
tive oligarchy and will become real
republic in which the people actually
rule. If then a bond issue is proposed
the people will have chance to vote
as to whether they desire to be robbed
in this fashion.
And the best part of it all is that it
will bring the actual facts of govern
ment before the people and compel
them to consider, think, and reason.
They will thus learn to vote for meas
ures instead of screeching themselves
hoarse for individuals who would not,
in y,napv nioIy thon, 80, o,,4 e