Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1898-02-01
OFFICE IN TRIBUNE BUILDING.
TUESDAY. FEB. 1ST, 1896
DIRECT LEGISLATION.

sums up the benefits which would be
derived from the enactment of the ini-
tiative and referendum, one of the
principles of the Peoples Party:
Under this system (direct legisla-
lation) congress for the nation, legis-
latures for the state would propose Or
frame measures and the people accept
or reject them as laws. Corruption is
a disease which afflicts republics. The
Roman republics died of it. Our own
republic is afflicted with it. The pop
ulists, observing that Switzerland had
found a remedy for this dread disease,
were the first political party in this
country to declare for the initiative
and referendum-dire legislation.
Switzerland after long suffering now
stands forth purged and purified, an
example for American republics to
look to. Here is poor Uncle Sam, not
healthy, not prosperous. He has a
downcast humiliated look, as if con-
scious that his children are not what
they ought to be. He sees they have
formed loose habits in governmental
matters, that they are not attending to
the business of self-government as
they ought to attend to it in order to
be progressive, intelligent and happy.
Although direct legislation is a popu-
listic measure I ask the reader to
judge of it by the Endorsement given it
by eminent men who have never
claimed to be populists. AS a popu-
list I am of course proud of the follow
ing Endorsements:
Hon. John P. St. John, ex-governor
OF Kansas says: ''This is day of
murder, suicide, robbery, hunger and
starvation, the legitimate fruits of gov
eminent controlled by monopolies and
trusts. Direct Legislation would give
back to the people control of the gov
ernment''
Rev. John S. Scudder, pastor First
Congregational church., Jersey City,
N. j., says: 81 regard direct legisla-
ton by all means the most important
and far reaching reform of orr day.
The curse of our land is purchasable
Legislation, disposition of our law
makers to sell out the people to the
highest bidder. Under direct legisla-
ton bribery will cease and the sover-
eighty of the people will be something
more than :sn empty name and pleas
ing delusion. This reform is the basis
and prerequisite of other popular re-
forms. 1t is bound to win. l will
fight for it as long as live."
Such names as VIM. D. Howells,
John Wanamaker, DR.. Lyman Abbott
and thousands of others be added as
believers, but space here allows but
one more testimonial, that of Frank
Parsons, professor in Boston Univer-
sity school OF law. He begins his ar
gument like this; ''Is self-government
right? If so the referendum and initi-
alive follow. I believe in self-govern-
ment, for the sake of justice, safety,
manhood, education, development,
and therefore / believe in the referen-
dunn, the most promising means of en-
aiding the people to exert the more
real and effective control over legis-
lation whereby we may hope to secure
a more perfect government by and for
the people. Direct legislation. means
an actual instead of mere theoretic
sovereignty of the people. We are
governed to-day not by a democracy,
but by an elective aristocracy holding
for a term. The people are sovereign
only at the moment of election. The
men they elect become their masters
for, one, two, four or six years as the
case may be. Power will be used in
interest of it's possessor. If the power
of government is to be used in the in
terest of the people they must have
continuous and effective possession of
it. They call our legislators ''agents"
and the people their principal"
Queer agents who can give away their.
principals property, despite his pro-
test, and are not responsible to. him
during their term of service; queer
principal that cannot veto his
agents" plans, no matter how much
he objects to them nor instruct his
agents what to do whenever he sees fit,
nor discharge said agents when they
refuse to carry out his orders. like
70 sum Up : few d the probable Bene.5