Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1898-03-02
DIRECT LEGISLATION
BY THE PEOPLE
THROUGH THE INITIATIVE AND OPTIONAL REFERENDUM
Answering Some Objections and Offering Rea-
sons why Direct Legislation should be added
our Law-making System

them any divine gift, or superior wis
dom that entities them to govern the
people, as the peoples representa-
tives," rather than that the people
should govern themselves directly?
Is, or is it not true, that the legis-
latures, city councils, and congress are
composed largely of scheming and
selfish hack politicians, the mere tools
of masters!
Would not the boss and the hack
politician be shorn Of their power to a
very great extent by the mere exist
ence of direct legislative power, and
direct veto power in the hands of the
people at large!
Would they not be obliged to please
the people at large, rather than the
STRIKER" the ''heeler," the pap
seeker, the push" the contributors to
the campaign fund.-" and the horde
of parasites that now infest, feed
upon, direct and corrupt American pol
iticsI
We do not suggest the abolition of
any legislature or house of legislature;
we believe in them for quick action
Tor ordinary legislation and as II sys-
TEN of checks and balances, but we
ask some check also upon them.
We do not suggest an immediate ap-
plication to national affairs.
We do not believe the Initiative and
the Referendum is an experiment, but
still for extra precaution we may treat
it as an experiment, and begin with it
in state and local government.
Ii is not novel as principle. The
words Initiative and Referendum
are merely new names TO designate
the application of an old principle to
wider uses. For example, every state
from time to time, submits TO the vot-
ers at the polls some question to an
swer. 1t has been done in Oregon
That is the only way the constitution
of Oregon can be changed. But the peo
pie want the power to call for sub,
mission, and compel it, not to receive
| it only as n favor from the legisla
lures. Neither the Initiative nor the
Referendum would, in the nature OF
| things, be used for the settlement OF
ordinary questions, but only for great
general principles-and being thus set
tied, the policy of the country would
| be at rest for a considerable period
| not as now, in a state of continual
| ferment, destructive of the maximum
prosperity-to any but the political
bosses, whose meat is found in fire.
quent and bitter elections.
The mere labor involved in calling
for an expression of the peoples viii
as preliminary, forbids the use ol
this method of legislation, except
where Il great principle is at stake
and deep patriotic feelings aroused.
And lastly, we ask, are not social
ism and other manifestations of popu
lar discomfort growing daily, be the
times" good or "hard"?
1t is not the discontent of the beggal
and the "hobo." There is no danger
that the pauper class will become 81
over-mastering as to overcome at the
polls the united interest of the thrifty
class. The discomfort is with the in
equalitles and folles OF. legislation un
der party and corporate influences.
The professional politicians, whC
really hold the people at the polls IL
chains today, throw into the teeth OF
reformers the seeming TRUTH
This is a government of the people
by the people, for the people"-anC
when the people want your Initiative
and Referendum, they will have it.
1t is time now for the people, poor
busy, tired, and unorganized, to say
1--WE do want it, and we will have it,
BY the Initiative, we propose that
reasonable number of the voters, sa!
ten per cent. in Oregon, shall have
power by petition to propose any Law
or amendment to the constitution an(
require it's submission to the people a
the next general election.
BY the optional referendum we pro
pose that a reasonable number of the
voters, say five per cent. in Oregon
shall have power by petition, filed
within ninety days after the close o.
a legislative session, to compel thu
submission to the people at the mex
general election Of any law passed by
that legislature.