Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1897-12-23
LET THE PEOPLE RULE.
DIRECT LEGISLATION DISCUSSED
BY PROMINENT MEN.
E3.GOvernOr st. John, Bolton Hall, Gov
ernOr And CIV &c. Lee and Rev. ohm L.
scuddar express briefly their Scnti'
ments on direct legiSlatlOn.

Of Kansas, candidate OF Prohibition
party for Presidency:
81 might write page after page on
direct legislation, and atlast the whole
Of it could be boiled down in the sim
pie statement that am fully convinc-
ed that the initiative and referendum
will be the final solution of the ques-
ton, How can reformers be gotten to-
getherY In view of the brutal, UNI
provolS ed murdec of those poor, un-
armed, defenseless miners at Hazelton,
Pa, it is possible that the one great
question which will overshadow all
others in 1900 will be the preservation
and perpetuation of human liberty.
This is day of murder, suicide, rob-
berry, hunger and starvation, the legit-
innate fruits of government controlled
by monopolies and trusts, and direct
legislation would give back to the peo-
pie control of the government"
Bolton Hall, of New York;
"The vast volume of legislation is at
present the main obstacle in the way
of liberty. Even to know what laws
are passed in one legislature would oe'
cupy more than all II mans leisure
time. Nearly all these laws are in
somebody's special interest and as no
one can have q special privilege except
at the expense of the rest, nearly every
such act has some advocates more or
less informed and active
'That six to eight hundred laws
nevertheless, so through the New York
Legislature each year Is due to the inn
probability and futility of opposition
by the many who have small interest
in each matter, to the few who have a
great interest in 1t,
"By putting weapon in the hands OF
the leaders OF the inert majority, di-
rect legislation, especially the referen-
dunn, would make opposition to private
laws easy and effective. Combined
with proportional representation it
seems to me it would reduce legislation
to the minimum, which is necessary
for the public interest"
Hon. Andrew E. Lee, Governor OF
South Dakota:
ut should take no argument to con-
vince anyone, not by birth, interest
and instinct royalist, that the people
being the source of all power in rep
resentative government, should exer-
else that power. This should follow
naturally in all matters of legislation
and in the settlement and adjustment
of public politics The State is a great
corporation, and every citizen is a
stakeholder, entitled to one vote and
no more in the shaping of the policy o.
that corporation, no matter how great
or wealthy or influential he may be-
This is the State as it should be and
will be under direct legislation.
81 can see that the occupation OF the
lobbyist will be gone under direct leg
islation. When he is compelled to ap'
peal his case directly to the voters OF
the State and submit his designs TO the
scrutiny of public discussion, he will
conclude that his game Is not worth
the pains, and thus about the worst,
most selfish, corrupt and demoralizing
phase of our political system will be at
once removed Men will then divide
on matters of principle. Much OF our
difficulty In advancing popular reforms
has been due to the impossibility OF
adopting any new system except as the
result of party fight which has in
variably resulted and must invariably
result in many men following their
party and defeating their principles.
'In my opinion you cannot leave toe
much power directly in the hands Of
the people as whole"
Rev. John l. Scudder, pastor First
Congregational Church the Peoples
Tabernacle,) Jersey City, N. j.:
81 regard direct legislation through
Ike initiative and referendum by al
means the most important and far
reaching reform of our day. The curs'
Of our land is purchasable legislation
the disposition of our Lawmakers tC
sell out the people to the highest bid
der. Under direct legislation bribery
will cease and the sovereignty of the
people will be something more than al
empty name and pleasing delusion
This reform is the basis and prerequi
site of other popular reforms. 1t Il
bound to win. l will fight for it n
long as live"
Charlotte Perking Stetson, author o.
elm This Our World" and other poems
"Ths proportion of voters necessary
10 Just exercise Of the initiative ant
referendum is open to discussion, bu
the principle itself is not only just ant
simple, but wholly in line with the
basic principle of our democracy. More
ouer, any abuses which may sugges
themselves to the critic are easily seer
to fall of their own weight, for 'th'