St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-03-10
Walter It. MiIIss- Remedy for Present
Political Evils.

large crowd was present at Market hall
last night to hear Walter Thomas Mills on the
subject of Direct Legislation Mr.. Mills
audience was closely attentive, and approved
of his ideas and assertions by frequent ap-
plause and cheers. The speaker commenced
by quoting from volume published by him
in 1877, in which he stated that free govern
ment involved the ability of the common citi-
zen, both to make issues for settlement and
to help settle issues when made. That this
is possible only when the citizen could vote
directly on each measure proposed separate
from every other measure, and not compli-
Gated with any candidates. He contended that
the initiative and referendum as really prac-
ticed in the early New England town meet
ing, and as frequently tried by special legis-
lation had justified the claim that if the peo-
pie voted directly for each measure great
questions could be speedily settled, and if
they voted directly for candidates with spe-
cial questions not involved, not only would
they have their way with regard to the pub
lie measures, but would have a better op-
portunity for voting for and electing the best
men as candidates.
He also contended that instead of involving
continuous fight for elevating political pets
to Office the great man would be merged in a
great people. The masses would have an OPP
portunity to speak their ideas without first
embodying them in the personality of some
ambitious citizen and involving the veal or
woe of important public measures with the
personal destiny of some scheming candi-
date.
He also argued that municipal government
would be greatly improved when important
ordinances were subject to public approval at
an election if necessary, and that legislation
would be greatly simpliied when important
laws were secured only by popular majorities
In this country only great public issues are
in point. Not even one question can be
named upon which public thought has ex-
pressed itself, at the end of the deter
mined fight between the people of this coun-
try along the line of principles, has eliminated
in anything that has settled one question.
1t has been because we have all agreed all
been in favor of the same thing. We could
not find anything to divide about. The rea-
son is that we have been fighting along line
! that has made it absolutely impossible for us
to vote the thing we thought and put our
ideas into laws without putting our parties
out of power 1t was impossible to properly
judge political party by Its candidates or by
its histories. Each party has made serious
mistakes and IL they were to be judged by
the mistakes they so made you would have
to throw all political parties overheard. Is
there any way by which. it shall be possible
for to vote directly? Instead of putting all
which not one man out of hundred would
agree, let them be submitted to popular
vote, and if the majority of the people want
thing let them have it. If the people in
this country want the Mills bill or the Will
son bill. high tariff or no tariff, let the peo-
any candidates and what the people say on
that question let that be the rule BY that
method they will vote their question up out of
sight, will vote it down out of sight or
through generations After Mr. Mills had fin
ished Louis Nash, who was on the platform,
| challenged any one of the committee of
! eighty which was selected in this city to fur
nish candidates for the people, to reply to
| any of Mr.. Mills remarks. No one, how
evr, ventured to come forth, and. after Mr..
| Mills discussed his colony in Illinois, the
| meeting adjourned