Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1898-01-20
DIRECT LEGISLATION.
! SYMPOSIUM ON THE SUBJECT
BY STATESMEN.
They all Agree That the Present nepre-
sentative syst+m Does not iii the Bill
and that the Making Of Laws Would
be Safe In the Hands Of the People.

on the subject of direct legislation:
Prof. w. H. H. Lecky, Conservative
member of Parliament, author of De
mocracy and Liberty" History of EE-
ropean Morals, etc:
"The referendum would have the inn
mense advantage of disentangling is
sues, separating one great question
from the many minor questions with
which it may be mixed Confused or
blended issues are among the greatest
political dangers of our time. 1t would
bring into action the opinion of tho
great silent classes of the community
and reduce to their true proportions
many movements TO which party cop-
bination or noisy agitation have given
q fictitious prominence. The experi-
ence of Switzerland and America shows
that when the referendum takes root
in a country, it takes political ques-
tions, to an immense degree, out of the
hands of wire pullers, and makes it
possible to decide them mainly, though
perhaps not wholly, on their merits,
without producing change of gov
eminent or of party predominance. =
From Democracy and Liberty.
Col. David B. Henderson, Republi-
can congressman from Iowa and Chair
man of the Judiciary Committee:
1T would be great advantage to a
public man if expressions on measures
could be had from the people, and in q
general way, can say, without hest
tation, than any plan which will ena-
BILE the people to know what they are
thinking; in other words, to let A know
what Il, C and d believe cannot do
otherwise than good, and, above all,
an intelligent expression of the mass
of the voters on any and all leading
questions would be of great value to
public servants. On these two leading
propOsitions-in untrammeled ballot
and the free, intelligent expression OF
the people, will ever be found favor
ing both, and can be so quoted. What
ever is done should permit the fullest
discussion before the vote is taken, so
that the citizens may compare notes
fully and the questions discussed may
enter into the compaigns among the
people"
r. S. Thompson, prohibitionist, edi-
.or of the New Era and the Beacon, of
pringfeld, Ohio:
81 advocate direct legislation, be-
cause: First 1t is inherently right.
The divine right of the people to gov
ern Is now recognized, and only
through direct legislation can that di-
vine right be exercised.
Second. It is practical. Under our
present ballot system there is no diff
Guilty in submitting to direct vote OF
the people all laws that are likely to
require such reference.
"Third. 1t is the only manner in
which we can get fair expression of
the will of the people In regard to each
separate question that is up for settle
rnent Under our present system peo-
pie are compelled to vote for measures
which they oppose in order to obtain
the measures which they favor and to
vote against measures which they IA
vor in order to defeat measures which
they opposs. 1t is therefore the only
method of securing the will of the ma
iority in regard to every important
measure.
Fourth. It will do away with the
boss, the boodler and the lobbyist.
Corporations could not afford to buy
legislatures if the acts of those legisla-
lures could be reversed by the people;
neither could they elect certain candi-
dates if those candidates were power
less to aid them after election.
Fifth. 1t is the only practical way
of securing the reforms of which the
country is so badly in need"
Judge W. L. Stark, Populist-Demo-
crat member of congress from Neb-
raska;
"In this country for more than six
years our party has platformed the ini-
tiative and referendum. We have ex-
planned the doctrine in meetings until
the matter is fairly understood. Per,
sonally, 1 am convinced that it is the
fundamental reform. Our political
campaigns are but WARS of the Roses.
jefferson was right: Trust the people.
Lincoln was right: "A government Of
for and by the people am for any
proper plan TO enlarge the rights of the
people and curtail the powers of office
holders. will be glad to do anything
CO to forward the initiative and ref
erendum, as consider it one of the
greatest reforms of our time"
Prof. j. R. Commons, Professor o.
Sociology in Syracuse IN. " Univer
sity:
zone Of the most important issue!
before the American people at the pres