The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-09-07
Jno. w. Arctander, attorney at law,
9l3 N. Y. Life Bldg. Minneapolis. MINI


Many friends of direct legislation
withhold their support of tho measure.
believing it is inopportune to press the
issue at this time, They seem to be
lost in contemplation of reform so
radical in its character as to give every
man right to exercise the prcrogatiycs
Of an eiector unrestricted by the tics of
party bondage, and free from the sting
OF the party lash
Discussion of the subject with the ay-
eraee elector invariably ELECTS the re-
spouse: II am heartily in favor OF di-
rect legislation when the time CONES.
but we are not quite ready for it,
IN answer to this general objection I
want to ask, were tho people ready
for self-gOvernment when the Purltans
entered into political compact
before they left the cabin Of
the Mayfower to obey all the laws
passed by them for their mutual benefit?
Or were the people ready for national
independence when Franklin and JEFF
feison and Adams and Hancock and
Others first began the agitation for free
dom from mOnarchial rule? Or were
the people of the nation ready to abolish
the institution of slavery when Lincoln
and John Brown and William Lloyd
Garrison and Wendell Phillips first APP
peared on the forum as champions of
human liberty? The lessons of the past
demonstrate that great reforms intended
to benefit and elevate the human FAM
lily contended against prejudice, public
sentiment and political fidelity to party
regardless Of the merits involved in the
cause championed by the party of indi-
yidual political faith.
Is direct legislation practicable, has
it been employed to the advantage of
mankind anywhere on earth? is a ques-
ton frequently asked by many honest
men seeking light to guide their future
life.
Direct legislation is employed through
out Switzerland, and the people have
destroyed the power of the legislator for
personal ends; they have made it easy
at any time to alter or change their fed
eral constitution, and have simplified
their form of government; they hold
their public officers responsible direct to
their constituencies as servants. and
not as tools tOdegislative corruptiOnists,
who maintain an expensive lobby about
the nails Of the legislatures to buy mems
souls and enslave the people through
vicious Legislation.
They have defeated monopolies, i'm
proved the method of taxation, reduced
the rate, avoided national scandals
growing out of extravagances unwar-
ranted, with no other object in view
than the enrichment of legislative ring
and their favorites; they have husband
ed the public domain for the benefit of
their own citizenship; they have es-
tabl.shed home rule in every commun-
ity, they have destroyed ,partisanship.
and established a government of the
people; they have Quoted disturbing p0-
ltical elements. disarmed the politician.
enthroned the people; by the vote of the
people they have assumed authority
over the railroads, express companies,
telegraph and telephones, reducing
freight rates, express charges and tolls
more than 7S per cent below the cost for
like service under private control.
In our own country it has been in
dorsed in 38 state platforms; more than
5000 newspapers and magazines are ad-
vocating it as primary reform. All
labor organizations have adopted it as
a part of the organic law for their gov
ernment. The National Wcmen's Chris
tian Temperance Union has unqualified
~ Endorsed it; many Catholic and Prot
estant societies have approved it. In
the United States constitutional amend
ments go direct to the people for vote
in every state but one.
In Is states the location of the capitol
cannot be changed by act of the legis-
1ature. but must go to the people direct.
In states banking institutions can
Only be organized by vote of the peo-
pie.
In II states no debts can be incurred