Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1897-06-03
The Referendum.

The Referendum.
If the referendum was in force, nc
ordinance, contract or other measure
after passing the city council would
go into effect under reasonable time,
which, in my opinion, should not be
less than thirty or more than sixty
days for city matter IT, during that
time, a reasonable minority of the peO-
pie should petition for its reference to
poll of the people, it would be voted
on by the people after fit time for
discussion, and a majority against
would prevent its passage. The per-
centage petitioning should be of such
a size as to shut out merely crank petit
tons and to show that there was d
need of investigating the matter, but
it would be better TO run the risk of an
occasional unnecessary reference to the
people than to make the percentage SC
large that it would be almost impos'
sible to get a petition signed. In my
opinion, per cent, is about right.
This win stop boodling and the lob
by, as the aldermen cannot be sure OF
delivering goods. 1t will draw a bet.
ter class of people into the common
council, because they will then be
above suspicion. They cannot sell a
franchise or privilege unless the peo-
pie are satisfied wish the conditions.
The referendum is negative, proven.
tine. The positive, constructive part OF
direct legislation is the initiative. II
the initiative was in force a suitable
minority Of the voters could petition
for any matter, and this petition would
go before the common council, taking
precedence of other matters. They
would have to vote on it. If they did
not pass it in reasonable time, which,
in my opinion, should not be less than
thirty nor more than sixty days, il
would go to poll of the people.
think the same percentage should gov.
ern initiatory petitions as referendary
ones, that is, per cent. But these are
matters of detail to be settled by local
conditions
The referendum alone would be OF
incalculable value, but is incomplete
without the initiative. AS constructive
is vastly superior to preventive work,
the initiative is vastly more important
than the referendum.
No legislation can be more direct
than that of the New England town
meeting. The initiative and referen'
dunn, by allowing the people to group
and regroup, approving or rejecting
any individual measure, applies the di-
rect legislation of the New England
town meeting in a perfectly feasible
manner, to large populations. 1t
would not often need to be used, as the
fact that it could be used at any time
would prevent the introduction Of bad
measures The officials would be true
servants of the people and not rulers.
The principle back of it is not new.
The declaration of independence says
all governments should be "by the con.
sent of the governed" Direct legisla.
ton is a method of applying the very
bedrock principle Of our government,
the rule of the majority.
The plutocracy, which is rapidly
gaining control, knows full well that
it must advocate high and noble prin-
ciples and then not carry them into eff
feet. 1t is strong in opposing methods
because they are not practical, or un-
constitutional, or for any other reason
than that it is the principle they OPP
pose. 1t behooves all true patriots and
lovers of their kind to go beyond the
principle, to make sure of the methods
in season and out, till they get them.
In conclusion our city governments
are rotten.
The life of the republic depends on
our municipal governments. Demo
cracy is not failure. Democracy can
be applied to cities, states and the ma
ton by the initiative and the referen-
dunn, known together as direct legisls-
tion. Push the method. -Eltweed Pom.
eroy.
Which is the more sacred right in