The Advocate and news., 1898-05-18

There is a cynical paralyzing belief
held by large masses OF people that q
''refOrmer" is a wOuld-be rascal and that
every rascal in office will turn 'reformer
again as soon as he gets out. Hoyt's
new play, "A Contented Woman Is WRIT
ten to show that politics Is disgustingly
and irredeemably bad, and that turn
the rascals out" in fact simply means to
turn hungrler horde of rascals in. The
power of the boss is on the increase; cor
uptiOn of every sort is on the increase
in our political world. Public opinion
claims to be charitable, but in fact IS
accessory to the crimes against decency
and morality that are daily becoming
more frequent and more m0nStrous. Inc
reason that people have lost energy Is
that they have lost hope. Once let them
feel that real, true reform is possible and
Instantly they would rise like lions after
slumber in unVanquishable numbers!
No sane man need wonder at their
encouragement and pessimism. They
have been disappointed again and again.
The better elements have united and
elected so-called "refOrmers" and "clan
candidates" to office only to find that
they have gone from the fryingpan into
the fire." The fact is that good men are
made bad by the present system OF legls-
latiOn. Temptations are too strong for
the average man to resist. II men were
perfect it would matter little what our
system were, they would do their duty
ANYHOW. But with men as they are, it
Is best that we strain no further than Is
absolutely necessary the average we'll
intentiOned but weak moral nature or
the average we'll -intentiOned but medi-
OGRE intellect OF our legislators. IL we
do they will continue to fall and become
the accOmplices or the dupes OF scheming
scOundrels who as bosses and lobbyists
are fast making representative govern
ment both farce and a tragedy.
There Is a way out or this slough OF
despOnd. Widespread corruption and In
competence are not evils necessary and
inevitable in a government by the peO-
Dle. A method has been discovered which
makes politics both pure and statesman
like. This method is known as direct
legislation" by means of the initiative
and referendum. 1t has had thorough
trial and Is a scientifically demonstrated
success, had occasion last summer to
make a careful examination OF all Its
workings on it's native soil, Switzerland.
The wealthy reactiOnist forces there at
first opposed 1t violently. They feared 1t
would lead to radical and reckless mob
rule. To-day, after number OF years
of trial, it's chief opponents are the most
radical socialists, who find the great body
of the people too slow and conservative
in their movements.
The federal referendum has defeated
more bills than 1t has passed. The last
and most radical measure ever passed by
means of it was one last fall providing
for the purchase of the railroads by the
government. The purity and efficiency
of the Swiss government, which Is rec
Ognzed to be the result Of direct legis-
lation, is absolutely startling to the
Americans. | was talking politics one
night with a Swiss lawyer in Geneva.
He was a thorough student and keen
observer. Among other things, he said:
America gave to the world it's impetus
towards Republican institutions. The
oppressed from all lands looked to her
as to land Of prOmise-a forerunner OF
a future worldwide Republicanism and
perhaps even one great parliament OF
man. But, you will pardon my plain
speech, the most intelligent and liberty
loving inhabitants of the mOnarchieS OF
Europe looking at America to-day, with
her political corruption and her subjec-