Natchitoches populist., 1898-11-18

ed for it-dishonest men and the men
who were deceived. The former were
paid for voting for it, the latter were
not.
Q.-Didn't Democrats vote for that
bill?
A.--Oh, yes! but they won't do so
any more. They have been sent into
political exile to repent their mistake.
Q.-What did the Republicans do to
the fellows who voted for that bill?
A,-oh, they didn't do a ting to
them" They nominated most of them
again, and try to appear proud of their
faults.
Q.-But don't the people of that
party object?
Ayes: but the politicians don't
care. They are used to that. They
intend to whip them into line. At
first Republican papers howled dole
fully, but they are swallowing the pill
without making a wry face.
Q.--But what can we do to stop such
bills being passed?
A.-By direct legislation. Let the
people make the laws. The people are
too numerous to be bought
Q.-What do you mean by direct
legislation?
A.-Why at present you legislate
through representatives. Direct legis-
lation is to have the laws made by the
people themselves.
Q.-How is that?
A.-By a system known as THE
INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM. /"
That system is this: The legislature
cannot do more than formulate Tin
itiate) or start law. Then it is re-
ferred to the people for their sane
ton at the next general election, and
If the people ratify it, it becomes a
law; if not. it is dead. Under such
system there would be no incentive
for corruptionists to get their tools in
to Office, for they could not serve their
masters. Next, there would be no man
fool enough to spend his money ON a
man who could not pass his law.
Q.-But will this not make matters
more complicated?
A.-By no means. 1--WE now have
the Australian ballot system, secret
voting, strict registration laws, special
election of officers, ETC., thus rendering
the present system unnecessarily bur-
densome and expensive. The adoption
of the referendum will make these pre-
cautions useless, both In the referen-
dairy and elective ballots, since not
only will it be impossible for any class
or combination of classes to influence
the people sufficiently to secure legis-
lation in their favor, hut the trans
formation Of the Legislators into sim
pie committee men will make them
useless as tools to these classes and
will make the election of one man MT
more to them than another.
Q.--Surely that Is only just way
OF legislating. Does any person oh
ject to that?
A.-Ah, yes! The Republicans.
Q.-What does the Democratic plat
form say on this question?
Alt denounces the Allen bill as
nefarious, and ii favors and is pledged
to the initiative and referendum. The
Republican platform is as dumb as an
oyster on these points and the corrupt
leaders who secured the passage of
that act are now in full control OF the
entire organization. With no legis-
lative restriction like the initiative
and referendum, the corrupt men a
last legislature, If returned to power
can enact equally Venal laws. If yoJ
send them back you indorse them.
Therefore the issue is plain. The Re
publican convention, too cowardly Il
/ indorse and too venal to condemn tht
Allen law. have attempted to evadt
a direct issue. 70 return them to pow
er means to iiidorse their platform
/ They promise you nothing, but Scout