West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1898-01-13
SELF GOVERNMENT.
~ It's Right The Referendum and
Initiative Follows.

same line and he closed by asking
ia TO quote from Prof. Frank Par
sons. professor in Boston Univers-
ity School OF Law; also professor
of politic' economy in Pennsylva-
nj. Safe Agricultural College. and
one OF the foremost economic au
thnri les of our time:
II se;f government right {. lfso,
Che referendum and initiative fol
low. | believe in self government,
for the sake OF justice. safety, man
hood. edocation, Development, and
therefore believe in the releren-
dun, the most promising means Of
enabling the people TO exert more
real aud effective control over leg.
islatlon. whereby we may hope to
secure a more perfect government
by and for the people.
Direct legislation means simply
-" "o'""i ihStctu VI mPTc tneOr
e:ic sovereignty of the people. We
Are governed to-day, not by de-
IN 'cracy. but by an elective aristoc
facy holding for term. The
people are sovereign only at the
moment OF election--the men thew
elect become their masters for one.
Two, four, six years, as, the case
may be. Self government is one
thing-the choosing Of the men
who are to govern you is a very
different thing. A child may
choose it's guardian; slave might
tc given voice in the selection OF
his master and yet be absolutely
fubJect to his dominion after the
choice were made.
Power will be used in the inter
ests OF It's possessof. Ii the power
OF government is to be used i'm the
Interest OF the people they mus,
have continuous and effective pos
session OF the government. We
call our Legislators "agents" and
the people their "principal"-queer
agents who can give away their
principals property despite his
protest, and are not responsible to
him DUNG their term of service;
queer principal that cannot veto
~hls agents" plans, no matter
how much he objects to them, nor
ms truct his agents what to do
whenever he sees TT. nor discharge
said Agents when they refuse to
carry out his orders; queer princi-
ph who has to obey the com
mands Of his agents" instead of
giving them orders.
legislatures and city councils
not infrequently submit to the
people questions of importance on
which they wish to- enact an honest
l'w, but they never submit a fran
eh'se steal to the people; when
they are acting from honest mo-
lives they often find the referendum
very helpful in coming to q wise
and just conclusion. but when they
are acting from corrupt and selfish
motives they have no use for the
referendum. Valuable gas, cleo
frie light and street railway fran
ehises would not be given away to
lobbying corporations if we had
She referendum.
like to sum up a few of the
probable benefits of direct legisla
iion by predicting that the Initia
tive aud referendum
l.. Will substitute a real self
govornment for an elective aristoe-
Sacy.
<. VIII put check on corrupt
legislation.
3. Will destroy the Iobby-it will
no longer bride legislators who can.
not deliver the goods.
4. Will open the door to progress
and reform.
8. Will simplify elections, cen
terIng each vote on single meas
nre instead of conglomerate
platform mixed with personal con
siderations respecting a number Of
candidates.
9. VIII simplify the Law.
z. Will aid the enforcement Of
iaw.
s. Will save the cost OF innumer.
able impotcnt petitions, abortive
Investigations. lobby expenses,
needless second houses, excessive
printing Of special laws, local acts,
etc.
9. viii elevate the press by di.
foctlug discussion TO measures dis
rrUft.rf 81 To-,