Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1898-11-17
PEOPLES FORUM.

- NAF ~ - ~ ~ M~42F -
Communications TO this department will be
received and published, u short and TO the point,
As TO the opinions contained the publishers OF
The JOURNAL will assume no responsibility
Direct Legislation.
M. B., Buxton, Or, sends this:
Do you want TO be free, or do you
lind II more agreeable TO obey? Dc
you want your share of s0ver-
eighty, or are you willing that some
other man should rule you according
TO his own sweet will ? Do you want
TO have part in making the laws
that are TO govern you, or are you
satisfied TO name some man 10 make
the laws 10 suit himself regardless OF
your interest or wish? Do you want a
real self-government, or are you salts.
fled with the right to nominate
the aristocrats who are to govern you
for ], 2, 3, 4, ore years. as the case
may be ? You don't like government
by arlstocrats with a tenure for life;
do you find 1t altogether lovely
TO be governed by arlstO-
erats on the lnstallment plan,
with an annual, biennial or
quadrennial tenure? They call
themselves your agents to keep you
In good humor, but they are not your
agents. IL an agent begins to do any
thing in the principals business that
the principal does not like, the prln.
clpal can stop MIN at once. Is that
your situation II an agent neglects
to do anything the principal wishes
TO have done, The principal can order
him TO do II, aud II lie refuses dis
charge him. Is that your situation
with respect TO your representative F?
IL master, on the other hand, does
anything the slave does not like, or
omits TO do something the slave
wants done, the slave cannot help 1t.
Isn't that about your case with your
representative" during tnelr term
OF office?
Ifyou wish to make your represent
atlves really your agents, and II you
wish tobe free man In fact as we'll as
In name, if yOn Wish Co make self
government truth instead OF a sham
and lie, work for the initiative and
the referendum, That will enable
you to stop legislation you do not
want before IL has time TO take effect,
ard TO compel legislation you do want
at the time you want 10. The hene-
dts OF the referendum are many and
great. IL will be easier for you 10
vote wisely on measures than on men,
and there Will be good deal more
certainty about the consequences. IL
Will be better TO vote ,on each meas
ure separately than to vote on
whole battalion In lump, accepting
part OF a platform we do not ,lIke for
the sake OF part We do like. or re.
flSing what we want for fear Of
distasteful name or principle tangled
up with 1t. IL will simplify and pu-
rlfy elections and the law. IL will
kill the lobby aud close the door TO
fraudulent legislation, because the
Legislators cannot deliver TIE goods.
IL will open the door To all reforms as
fast as the people are ready for them,
and we shall not have 20 walt until
the milllonaIres .are willing TO have
the curtain rise. 1t will be the death
or industrial monopoly, for such
mon0polles are created and sustained
by the monopoly of law making. II
will diminish partisanship and reduce
the power OF rings aud bosses by
giving the people veto, aud direc-
ting attention 20 principles and
public Interests, instead OF the
personal OF candidates and olllce seek
ers. For the same reasons 10 will ele.
vate the press, dignity the profession
OF pclitics, give US the service ia ofilce
OF our best citizens, educate and de-
VelOpe the people inte llectually aud
emotionally, favor economy, securely.
stability, enforcement OF the law, aud
reduce freedom, common sense and
justice 10 actual pratlce In political
life Experience In England, ,Swltzer-
land, and in our own town meetings,
constitutional legislation has proved
the value OF the referendum; author
ity favors IL, the drift OF public seutl-
ment Is toward lt-joln the procession,
frieud, and help the world on 20 be,
ter methods and nobler life