Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1897-09-16
Direct Legislation.

our republican institutions, as SOOu
as they are, are VIGOROUSLY imperfect.
Corruption seems to be the disease of
republics. The Roman republic died OF
it. France and our own republic are
seriously afflicted with it. But the old
est republic now in existence, Switzer-
land, after long suffering found rem
edy for it, and she now stands forth
purged and pure, an example to her
larger but younger sisters.
Republics are governed by represen-
tatives, elected usually for u specified
time. During this time they hold alb
solute sway, without, as rule, feeling
the responsibility felt by officers in
monarchies, who hold their positions
permanently. Hence these representa-
tives, temporary, but absolute for the
time being, are too frequently an easy
prey to scheming politicians, each
serving the others selfish interests
One of our subscribers suggests that
it would be good thing 20 'have a
string to our congressmen;" that is, to
have the power to un-elect any con-
gresham when he fails to give salts
faction to his constituents. That would
be good plan, but the Swiss plan is
better.
A feature was added to the Swiss
organic law requiring that all bills
above certain degree of Importance,
and not being of immediate urgency,
should be referred to tine people for
their ratification or rejection at the
next general election. Then the willy
politician sought pastures new, for his
occupation was gone This is called
the referendum.
But the Swiss people suspecting their
representatives still further, retained
che privilege of initiating legislation.
That is, any bill (Which any voter can
propose), when endorsed by a certain
percentage of the voters, must be acted
upon by the government, and in turn
by the people at the next election, if
necessary. This is called the initiative
That is, the people claim for themselves
the privilege of proposing and deter
mining legislation. This is called di
rect legislaton and it has purified the
hitherto very corrupt politics of Swift
erland.
Democrats, isn't that fair? 1t is a
return to the simple democracy. Re-
publicans isn't that fair? it is only a
wider application of the principle,
government by the people, Popu-
lists, isn't this fair? 1t will place di-
rectly in the hands of the people all the
modern reforms. Prohibitionists, Soc
ialists and single takers, isn't this fair?
Your ideas will have fair chance.
Now this-the initiative and referen-
dum-is what all can unite upon, and
it should be done Immediately. 1t is
the key that will unlock the golden
future. Opposition to it is self condem-
nation. We want immediate and unit
ed action. A party with that single
principle alone for a platform would
deserve success at the next general
election. fit should require struggle
for the next eight Or ten years, it
would be worth it.
When has a political party kept its
promises? What do political platforms
mean? What do elections mean? The
meaning of every election is interpre-
ted in hundreds of different ways.
Read the various opinions after every
election. With the referendum the
meaning would be direct and specific
We could then vote for principles and
measures, and not merely for men; and
our expressions at the ballot box would
be understood. Let us have it, and
through it let us GUST the professional
politician, the lobbyist, the corruption
list, and obtain justice for the weakest
as well as the strongest in our midst
DR.. c. f. Taylor in The Medical World
Every new discovery of gold is made
the most of by the goldite press in
way that shows they know there is not
now enough gold in the world to do its
business. Increasing the quantity ofgold
tends to check the downward tendency
of prices, and il the demand for it could
be kept from increasing, price would
rise. But every new nation that goes
to gold basis, increases the demand
for gold, and thus leaves less for the
others Thus far the demand has in
creased faster than the supply and yet
the hocus pocus moneyites shout for
Joy whenever q new country reaches
for an extra share of god. Do not
these two facts show that these papers
do not know what they are doing?-
Topeka independent