The record-union., 1897-04-24

making farm implements and were
reckoned as part of the rural popula-
ton are now working in some big fac
tory in the city But notwithstanding
these apparently sufficient reasons,
there is yet so much room in the coun-
try out here in the West that it really
looks as though thousands who crowd
to the cities would be better off in the
country.
THE WAR.
Riverside Enterprise: The Turks
and Greeks are killing each other, but
still, according to law, there is no war.
To the men who are killed this is a
distinction without a difference, but the
difference is large in the estimation of
the diplomatists, who, after all, will
have more to do with the terms of set
Element than the men who do the fight
ing and dying.
ELECTING SENATORS.
Stockton independents: The sooner
Congress submits to the people con-
stitutiona1 amendment for the election
OF Senators by the people, the sooner
Will scandals and corruption be re-
duced. The Kentucky deadlock and its
attendant scandals could not occur
were itnot for the continuance Of the old
system, for which there never was any
good reason. When that mode of elect
ing Senators was adopted there was
widespread doubt of the common peo-
pie" and their fitness for self govern-
ment. During more than a century the
gap between the common people" and
the ''patrician'' has been closing and
ri RI
mark difference What was intended
to be a check on sudden popular
| changes has become an offense to the
people of all classes and the Kentucky
scandal is only the last example of a
long series that has brought disgrace
on the system and the people. If the
people could vote on an amendment
10 wipe out the source of these scan
dalS they would make short work of
it, but Congress is so slow to move
that there seems little hope of the re-
form being effected for several years.
This slothfulness gives strong color to
the oft-repeated assertion that Sena-
tors and those who aspire to seats in
/ the Senate prefer the present system
because money can help them more
than can their merits
THE REFERENDUM.
Modesto News: Did you ever think
that England has a sort of referen-
DUN? When the Government fails to
command a majority of the House of
Commons the Prime Minister and Cab
met resign, Parliament is dissolved and
the question or questions at issue are
referred to the people in new elections.
AS a consequence, England is making
more progress toward government by
the people and justice toward the
masses than we are They already
| have Government telegraph, Govern
ment savings banks, etc, and we, too,
would have them without further de-
lay if we had any way to get the eX-
preston of the voters on these ques-
tons? Why can't we have a way? We
have had many Doodle" Congresses,
doodle. Legislatures and Doodle" City
Councils that should have been dis
solved. But, no: we elect a man for a
certain term, and all the legal powers
in the country can't get him out until
his term expires. Here is where the
| imperative mandate Ct mes in. It gives
the people the power to recall any pub
lie officer at any time in the following
way: Any constituent may, at any time,
draw up a document demanding the
removal of said officer When this
document is signed by a majority of
the voters in the territory which elect
ed such officer his office shall be de-
clared vacant 1t can be filed again
by appointment or by new election.
Shall we have it9