Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-10-31
Another Great Reform.

In February, 1886, democratic
state administration gave Illinois its
present free school system. In 1891 4
democratic legislature gave Illinois
the Australian ballot law, and now the
democratic party is agitating another
great reform-the initiative and refer
endum. The feature of the initia-
tive and referendum now sought to be
taken advantage of is its application
to legislative enactments. 1t is found
the legislature is the fountain of all
corruption and bad legislation and it
Is held that the initiative and referen-
dunn should apply 10 that body.
The initiative means TO begin, to
start, and rs applied to the legislature
means that the people shall have the
right to propose Il law. Under pres
ent conditions they cannot do this.
All laws now originate with the legis-
lature. A corrupt Legislature can sup
press every reform demanded by the
! peopIe. Under the initiative 4 certain
per cent of the people could petition
| the legislature for a law and the legis-
lature would have to pass it and sub
NIT ii to the people by the referendum
for adoption. Ii adopted by the peo-
pie it would then become law. An
Indifferent, an ignorant or 4 corrupt
| legislature could not with the initia-
tive in force delay or stand in the way
of = desired law or reform. y petition
from the requisite mum Der of qualified
voters under the initiative would be
imperative and the legislature would
have to act on it. The petitioned re-
form could not be smothered in a
committee or be brought up by the
trusts or corporations. 1t must be
acted on and submitted to the people
for their adoption. Under this prin-
ciple sovereignty is restored to the
people where it rightfully belongs.
The referendum means to refer to
the people. to send back to them.
Under the referendum if the legisla-
ture passed an Objectionable law, like
the Allen bill. 4 petition from a GER
tain per cent of the people would
compel its submission TO a vote of the
people for adoption. The measure
would have TO be adopted by the peo-
pie before it becomes a law. \ ma
jority vote of the people against it
would defeat it. The referendum APP
plies to all laws passed by the legisla-
ture when the people petition to have
them referred. Under the present
system the legislature is the sole
Judge of what measures it will con-
slider. and when it passes law the
people have no remedy. be the law
ever so corrupt or Objectionable The
referendum alone would Danish much
of the corruption now practiced, and
with the initiative would restore ali |
rights to the people. Under the ref
erendum ali laws would lie subject 10
a review by the people, and with the
initiative the people could introduce
anv law or reform they.desired. The
selling of special legislation to corPo-
rations by few corrupt Legislators
would. W 18th the initiative and referei
dunn. be largely a lost art They
wouldn't have the power TO. sell H.
Under present conditions such re-
forms as the school text book ques-
ton, the transportation question, the
transportation question. the stock
yards question, the franchise ques
ton, the question of taxation have
little hope of solution Under the
initiative and referendum they could