Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1897-02-11
DIRECT Legislation.
\ QUESTION THAT WILL SOON
BE DISCUSSED.
What Is the Initiative and What the Refer
endum. A Brief Definition of Fech. As
Yet They arc but By-mArks With the
People.

enNun. "A BRIEF DennlIlOn OF room As |
Yet They arc but By-mArks With the
People.
Had free silver coinage been sub
mitted direct to the people in the last
election, untrammeled by party big
otary and prejudice, there is no reason
to doubt that it would have carried by
a large majority. So with the ques-
tions of postal savings banks, an in
come tax, and many other reforms now
being discussed by nearly all up-to-
date voters.
Is there any method by which lnde-
pendent measures, or issues. can be
submitted directly to the people for
their rejection or adoption? Yes, such
a system has been thoroughly tested
for more than twenty years by the re-
public of Switzerland, and is known as
Direct Legislation, Through the Initia-
tive and Referendum.
1t is without doubt the most practi-
cal system yet divised by which the
''rule of the people" 'can be secured
and maintained-in spite of the cor
rupting influence of the money power
Briefly, the system may be described
as follows:
What is the initiative?
1t may be defined as an institution
by which certain percentage of the
voters can initiate, or propose, laws
say from to 20 per cent.
The initiative gives the people the
power to originate laws. 1t gives the
people the power to compel the legisla-
ture, either State or National, to put
in form all such laws as they may iri-
tiate or demand by preliminary vote.
1t is q constitutional demand by GER
tain percentage of the people.
What is the referendum?
1t is an institution by which all pro-
,osed laws are referred to the people
for final acceptance or rejection. 1t is
the peoples Thou shalt" and Thou
shalt not" 1t affords every voter the
opportunity at the ballot box to regis
ter Eyes" or mo" on every important
law by which he is to be governed. 1t
gives the people the final veto power
on all laws.
What is direct legislation?
By this important system the people
vote direct on all important laws,
hence it is called direct legislation,
1t will be seen that this system pro-
vidcs very simple method for the
"rule of the people" without wholly
depending on the honesty and intelli
gence of the politicians as we now
do. 1t gives the people chance tc
start and stop all laws-a privilege nc
other form of government has ever al.
lowed.
Free government is safe only when
the people rule absolutely. For this
reason believe the time has come
when a change in orr present system
is imperative.
If we had perfect monetary system
and perfect tariff system to-day,
would prosperity come to the masses?
Are there not many other important
reforms that must be secured before
tho grasp Of organized greed can be
loosened on the throat of humanity?
Then why shall we not work for the
reform of all reforms, that will give
the people the power TO secure all
needed changes, independent Of parties
or politicians?
If we had direct legislation-the ini-
tiAtive and referendum-free silver
coinage would be an assured fact. Ev-
cry patriot of every party should be a
direct legislationist. In my judgment
direct Legislation is the most important
Of all reforms today, because it would
help secure almost every other reform.
Henry f. Allen.