The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1897-11-18
Initiative
AND
Referendum
TAMPIco, Nov. 10, 1897.

u
our government, if not, why continue
further discussion. Of the theory, TO the
exclusion Of practical reforms.
SUBSCRIBER.
1t is hardly worth while to ask the
question whether the American people
are not fitted to govern themselves and
yet IL it is answered in the affirma-
tive there is no argument left against the
principles of Direct Legislation. AS
matter of fact there is 90 little ground for
an argument against the Initiative and
Referendum that the opposition has con-
cluded that silence is the strongest
weapon they can use.
In order that the masses of our people
may be governed for the benefit OF the
few, it is necessary that the many have
no direct hand in their own governing.
1t is necessary that the many delegate
to representatives the art of governing,
and that such representatives should be
influenced 30 as to become the represen-
tstives of the few, in order that govern
ing may be carried on for the advantage
OF rulers, not of ruled, for it is folly to
suppose that men, directly governing
themselves, would govern themselves
knowingly to their own detriment and
the profit OF others.
Hence the opposition to direct legisla-
ton among those who design to make OF
our government an instrument for the
oppression of the many aud the enrich
ment OF the few; an opposition that is
covert, for to avow it would be to make
it ineffective. In order to promote the
governing OF our people by the few and
for the few and to promote legislation
that will impoversh and weaken the
many but aggrandize the few in riches
and power, it is necessary that law-mak-
ing should be entrusted to representa-
tves, that those representatives should
be put more and more out of touch with
the people and more in touch with the
few, that those representatives should be
removed further and further from respon-
sibility to the people and that their doings
should be hidden and not subject to re.
view. So We have demanded for extend
ed tenure OF Office. We have opposition to
the selection OF senators by popular VOTE
We have opposition to the selection OF
judges other than by appointment, We
have above all opposition to the referen-
dunn which would make all laws passed
by legislative bodies subject to review
and reversal by higher court, the court
OF the whole people entering verdict
through the ballot box.
Formerly the president of the United
States was chosen by electors selected in
greater part by the state legislatures
Gradually this choosing of the president
through the medium OF electors fell into
mere form, and now he is practically
voted for directly by the people of all the
states. South Carolina and Nebraska
have gone in advance OF their sister states
and now practically choose their United
States Senators by popular vote. In the
small towns OF New England we see the
people governing themselves in local
matters. passing their own local laws,
voting their own local improvements,
voting taxes and the expenditure Of
money. All this they do in town meet
ings and not through representatives.
Thus we have the psople deciding for
themselves what is good for them in mat
tiers OF local government and what is not,
and not delegating this decision to repre-
sentatives.
The referendum is not novel. We
have it in practice. We only need to ex-
tend it and systematic it 80 that the
people may call it into operation to veto
any obnoxious law. Referendum means
simply referring to the people for final
judgment. The national constitution
and nearly all our state constitutions
were referred to the people for approval
or rejection and being 30 adopted they
have greater force than mere statute laws,
they have the force of the referendum.
And as it was with the original drafts of
the constitutions, 80 it is with amend
ments.
So, also, do we often refer to the people
questions of increased indebtedness. This
again is the referendum.
We repeat, the referendum is not novel
In our government. The trouble is that
1t is only possible for politicians to appeal
TO it, that the people cannot. To put it
in the power Of the people to appeal to
the referendum. and 80 reverse obnoxious
laws Of legislative bodies, is the present
need. And how can this be done, how
is it proposed that it should be done ?
Simply that the right be conferred upon
any considerable body Of voters, say
per cent. Of the body of registered voters,
to demand by petition the submission Of
any act of legislation to popular vote.
Thus it would be put in the power of the
people to reject obnoxious laws.
And now as to the initiative: how