Semi-weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings Co., S.D.) 1894-1898, 1898-10-28
DIRECT LEGISLATION.
A Plain Statement of What 10 Meant by the
Initiative and Referendum.

A Plain Statement of What 10 Meant by the
Initiative and Referendum.
Many intelligent people have very
indlstinct understanding Of the initia'
tive and referendum amendment to
be voted upon at the coming election.
There is, however, nothing vague or
mysterious about it, but is a very
plain and simple proposition, easily
understood by any person who cares
to investigate its provisions.
The initiative is precisely what it's
name indicates. 1t is the right to
initiate legislation, to formulate
law. Under our present system we
have given this power over to our leg
islative bodies. No laws can be
framed except in and by the legisla-
ture when in session. 1t often hap
pens that the people desire some par
ticular form Of legislative relief and
set about to elect members who are
pledged to enact such a law. After
these members are elected they can
not be compelled to do what they
have been elected to do and the peo-
pie have now no remedy except to try
again, and often they have to form a
new party to get the relief they de-
sire. Under the initiative there is no
such trouble. Whenever there is a
sufficient public demand for the
measure, the law is drafted and the
signatures of the requisite number Of
voters, at least per cent OF
the total number in the state, are Sc
cured and the legislature is then com-
PEELED to enact the same and submit
it to vote of the people. II a ma
jority favor it the measure becomes a
law; otherwise not. This measure in
no way restricts the present rights Of
the legislature, except that it COM
pels that body to put into effect the
plainly expressed will of the people.
The referendum is the complement
Of the initiative. Like the latter, it
means precisely what its name indi-
Gates. Whenever any law passes
the legislative body and proves
Objectionable to any portion OF
the people petition may be circulat-
ed and if the required number Of
names, which need not be more than 5
percent, be secured the act must be
submitted to the people and be rati-
fled by an affirmative vote OF a major
ity before it becomes law, just as is
now done in the case Of cOnstitu-
tional amendment. Under our pres.
ent constitution the legislature has no
power to submit any law, even If the
members so desire. So our supreme
court has decided.
These measures are both simple and
both are democratic. The person who
opposes them must lack faith in the
people. The two combined form what
is called direct legislation. With the
first it will be easier to apply the
remedy to bad legislation for it is
easier to get petition for measure
than to elect a majority Of the legis-
lature. With the latter the power Of
the lobby, for the corporations
would find it very improbable to en-
plo oy lobbyists to force bill through
the legislature when the bill after
wards had to be submitted to vote
| of the people.
The adoption of this system would
remove many of the worst evils of our
representative system OF government,
for it would bring the legislature un-
der the direct control Of the people.
The evils Of democracy are best rem
edied by more democracy. The
initiative and referendum would give
us a more democratic form of state
government than we now have. No
patriotic citizen can object to that.
| The measure ia now before the people
on a non-partisan basis, for it is prac-
tically endorsed by republicans In
their platform as we'll as by the pop.
ulists and democrats. 1t is one OF the
three constitutional amendments sub.
mitted to the voters at the coming
election. II you think it is right, vote
for it.