Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1898-10-27
then success would be merely revenge,
not change for the better.


not change for the better.
This helplessness is the great rea-
son for the non-pnrticipation in pol
itics Of our most intelligent masses,
"What is the use?" they say, Cant
do anything"
The official himself Is not 80 much
to blame. Reform measures are cou-
sidered dangerous to tho party in pow
or yet 1t alone can pass them. Voting
for men Is ridiculous way to carry a
measure; II fails, usually, Most of the
vote for legislator or executive Off
cial is given for party reasonsi he
obeys therefore, and rightly, the party
caucus or drift OF sentiment In his
party.
Now you can gather together a mass
Of voters that will combine on new
issues. A partyP you ask. Yes, that
is all that is open to you. But it is I.
labor OF years to build party with
the trained leadership and morals that
will win success, Life is too short
A patriotic Christian citizenship can
and will, in the future, exert its power
through direct legislation, supplement-
ing our representative system by di-
rect vote Of the people upon measures
demanding attention.
Legislatures are constantly doing
this Examples will readily come to
mind. Only we want to do this when
ever we please, or whenever our leg
islators wish to evade responsibility.
A petition fled with the Secretary of
State Of New Jersey, containing law
full number Of names, should bring be-
fore the people Of that state any legis-
lation enacted This is the referen-.
dun.
A petition, again with the requisite
number Of signatures and containing
a proposed law, on being fled with the
proper official, should be sent by him
to the legislature. II enacted there,
and any object, 1t could be reached by
the referendum; If not enacted there,
it should go to the people for enact
ment or rejection, This is the initia-
tive, most potent weapon.
The two referendum" and "initia-
tive" comprise "direct legislation"
which is nothing more or less than u
petition changed into law by vote of
the people.
The citizen, with direct legislation,
can become nm effective nlly of our
legislature. He will become interest
ed and educated in true political
knowledge. He can shorten the term
Of office, impeach before our courts
the dishonest Off, ial, raise and lower
salaries, create new or abolish old Of
fees, pass genuine reform legislation.
Nothing in all this will change pres
emit governmental functions, if they
are exercised with due regards to the
rights and wants of the people.
The New England town-meeting sys-
tenn is popularity believed to have been
the model from q Frenchman's de-
scription of which the Swiss statesman
evolved direct legislation. Letus take
it, and modify it to meet the needs of
our city, state, and national political
life. Ii means much to us who have
studied its possibilities We believe it
means the utter extinction OF tho spir-
it of craftsmanship which has wrought
such evil, and the substitution there
fore OF higher type OF citizenship
tbnn has vet been evolved in the
world.
"a government of the people, by the
people, for the people" is IL misnomer
when applied to our political system.
" all civilized countries, it is true
a. " of Switzerland, and that country
y governored through direct legisla-
tion.
Whisky peddlers are numerous nesr
Fort Gibson.