Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1895-03-11

the ftstos there should be c3n1iitu-
tIonal provision rcquirlng muulclpnh'
tl,s and other subdivisions OF local
government 20 grant tle privilege
upon such petition % 10 bore named.
While Il ia generally admitted that
munioipslilics may adopt this tu.'
when they desire, by their governing
board. and that there BE- no iaif
and honest city council or town board
which would not prefer TO be advised
by n vote u the people on any or OIL
matters which might DO reached d.
this way rather than act wholly on lis
own motion, yot Il 10 urguei that ii
should bo accorded 10 the people ns o
matter Of constitutional night in The
local subdivisions ofllsIris.s,rfoc.n.t',
towns, cities aud couniics, aud would
be IN perfect noc9ri with advanced
ideas Of popular government
The tfond VI affairs iu this matter Of
referendum indicates ora engoruoss on
the part Of the people TO get cl5ter 20
legislative and Administrative tnAin
Than heretofore. Iti8a demand Tor q
more advanced application Of the doc.
uluo OF common consent than hps
bcon the general custom. Tho wiiiul.
ness with which legislative bodies
have ignored tho deslfea Of the
people anu have responded 90
Tho bidding Of politicians; the
tendency ,f town nud city aumlula.
uauOus 10 regard the wishes Of claa1ui
uthor than tho welfare Of tho MASSES;
tho pcrsIsttn,y wish which corruption
has controlled iu municipal aiiaifsi the
avlJcnccs alJ iuumatious Of bribery
aud Doodle; and the difficulty which
voters have in placing Ia oiicc mon
who arc b,auHcl enough to oyerIufn
ins un'aihfc,ary methods of their
pfoItce.son, make the people icol that
Ifis 10 ihoir interest that they should
nave formal opportunity 1i eEpfcfaing
thor desires on subjects 1f special im-
porlsucc TO them. Looking care.
July over the Held, 70 cannot
DO donicd that this sentiment 10 gaiu-
Ing ground, ma that q large proportion
Of the inhabitants wauta more direct
voice iu tho management OF local ai-
fairs particularly with regard to tho
handling VI funds which rs taAphyete
they contribute.
While the principle Of referendum
may be- regarded as comparatively new
Ia M application Ca the United States,
II 10 by no means a NOW idea or o. new
privilege Tor people residing on This
continent uudur a liberal aud en-.
lighlsned form Of government. lu fact
thoro was an enlarged use n 10 IN
ancient America, at tlmo when thc
enforcement OF tho rule was vastly
more dinlcult than now, before
the great agencies OF printing,
steam and electricity were made
10 tubsBtvo the common interest OF
man. 10 was centuries before the com.
moucemont Of the present era. and tho
HISTORIANS references 10 10, while ft-
quoni, ate btisf one oi these 90 typ-
ical when ho refers 10 King Messiah,
who was the founder " the Nephits
republic, aboliahing the kingdcm o.
which no was the last rclgniug 1Oyot-
oign. OF him II IL recorded that no
delivered biz people "irom all manner
Of bondage" and under bis arguments
In favor Of a republic they "beoams
exceedingly anxious that every man
should have AN equal chance through.
out all tho land" Moslah established
laws, "and they were Acknowledged
by tho people; Therefore they were
obliged 10 abide by the laws which ho
had made" ~ In that case, u, under
such local applications Of tho principle
Of referendum as may be made, the
people approve Of measures submitted,
they would be- bound 90 honor to abide
thereby; and Il nigh, DO that there
would bo Ices railing al and moro com.
menlation Tor the policy adopted with
respect 10 local administration Ia deal.
Ing With questions Of more than Ord.-
naTy Interest