The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1898-09-27

JIG Sk'cAuluS oI tno peoples money Is
certainly measure which affects the
whole people, and if the platform is
strictly construed, congress could not
pass single appropriation bill.
In order to effect legislation with any
degree of rapidity in case of emergency
1t would be necessary to hold special
elections at various times and the cost
OF these would be no inconsiderable
item. The actual expense of an cleo
ton in Iowa cannot be less than $780,
OOO and at this rate it would cost the
people two million dollars aside from the
expense OF congress to pass any general
legislation. Thus is the economic side
and is comparatively the least import
ant objection to the change.
At present the people have the initia-
tive in matters of general legislation.
The people get together under certain
group of principles and nominate some
man who is responsible 20 the party for
the enactment of these principles into
legislation. Those opposing these
principles choose the man to champion
their cause and the election takes
place. The successful candidate has
his political program laid down for him
by majority of the people and is in
honor bound to carry them out. In
other words the people take the initia.
tive in the general principles and leave
the carrying out of the details to their
chosen representatives. 1t YOU were to
employ man to manage your farm.
you would first select as good man as
you could find, then you would instruct
him IDS TO the general lines you wished
followed out. You would tell him how
many acres you wanted put in corn or
oats or wheat. You would give him to
understand what breed of cattle YOU.
wished to raise and what breed of hogs
you thought the best, but if you had
any confidence in the man at all YOU
would not say to him You are to
superintend and manage my farm. but
before you sell a hog, before you pillow
furrow you are to come to me.'' The
men who are on the spot are certainly
best able to judge of the details neces-
sary for the carrying out of general
plan.
Legislation is always a matter of
compromise, one section will ALWAYS
have different necessities and demands
than another and it is only by yielding
mere and gaming there that legislation
is effected. We believe the present
system is the best
First, because the people now have
4, the initiative.
! Second, because the demands of diff
ferent sections of this great country
can best be satisfied by their represen-
tatives who have opportunity of meet
ing daily and not by the people who
have little opportunity of intermingling.
Third, because legislation can be
much more speedily effected, as in the
case for instance of a declaration of
war.
Fourth, because it is undoubtedly
true that our representatives who have
access to every source of information
are better able to Judge as to the de-
tails OF legislation than are the people
at large.
Fifth, because our representatives
are now held to more strict accounta-
blllty for their actions than they would
be under the change proposed.
Sixth, because the expense and tur-
MOL OF the special elections would be
an unnecessary burden upon the people.
The second proposition contained in
the democratic resolution involves the
entire abrogation of the constitution of
the United States. At present the
courts have no right to change any law
The supreme court does, however, have
the right to pass upon the constitution.
atty of law and if it is found that the
law is not in accord with the constitu.
tion it is its duty to declare the law null
and void. This has been found to be a
most wholesome restriction in times
past, Sometimes doubtless this power
OF the supreme court has been abused
either through ignorance or intent. but
as it stands the supreme court of the
United States is the envy and admira.
ton OF all the world. According to the
democratic resolution this power of the
supreme court must go and the consti.
tuition as an organic law must 20 with
it. 1t certainly seems absurd for a
party which never tiresof talking about
the dollars of the constitution" and
which quotes Washington as supreme
authority on our relations with Great
Britain, and the words OF Jefferson as
a present guide in the case of the Phil.
ippines, should in the same declaration
OF principles, advise the entire doing
away with the constitution and with
the work of the forefathers.
i THE MIS.uSEp MAN.