The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1898-04-08
II is Businesss.
Albany, Oregon, March 30. 1898.

Albany. Oregon, March 30, 1898.
EDITOR DEMocRAr: There will be a
great effort made by the republicans In
the present campaign to divide the union
Forces. This has always been their
plan aud IL 10 not to the credit of our
good sense that 1t has been successful In
the past. Another plan will be to direct
attention to minor planKs and to try to
drive men away ON some one plank.
There is hardly man in the republican
party who accepts all the pianks in that
party's platform, yet they are good
enough republicans go long as they vote
that ticket. Il is only union men whom
that party think must accept all things
in the platform to entitle them TO be
called union men. What absurdity,
They harp about first this plank then
that, but they never mention the abso.
lutte fairness OF the union party when it
proposes to submit all these planks to
the people for their approval or disap
proval. This is sufficient proof that
there is no danger from any proposition
in the union platform, for the reason
that the success OF ths party does not
mean that the party is pleged TO enact
its Platform into Law. or any part there
/ OF except ss these propositions are sep
arately approved by the people, or rath-
sr that any proposition when enacted
into law is subject 70 the veto of the
people themselves.
l think that only men who have
studied the question OF direct legislation
realize that It 10 strictly business plan
and very much simpler in its operation
than most people imagine. It is busi
ness hecsuse the present plan OF electinR
agents (ofiicials and representatives, aad
giving to them powers which no good
business man would give to an agent, ia
certainly not business. and the new plan
/ 10 intended to rectify that mistake. a
business man would not allow his agent
10 hx bis own salary, the agents of the
people o,and We grin and bearit. Wher
he appoints an agent he lays down the
course he shall pursue. while our agents
lay down the course we must follow. II
his agent does not follow instructions,
he recalls his authority. We cannot dc
90 under the present system, even if tn,
agent has oyerridden every instruction
and violated every promise. The agen
may be wasting our substance shameiui
! ly and allowing our business to go to tn,
damnition box-wows but we cannot re-
call him or restrain him. but must lei
him go on to the end of bis term. wher
Ss elect another agent who is iust q,
likely to betray us as the last.
Ifa business man conducted his bust
ness in such q way, his friends woul'
have guardian appointed or kave hin
sent TO the asylum for the insane.
Direct legislation proposes to do away
With these abuses and to substitute busi
ness methods for them.
In 4 few words We propose that whel
a Law is passed il shsil be submitted 4
q vote Of the people for their approva
or disapproyal, at the next election if
certain proportion oil The voters deman'
that this be done. The resuis would /
lever lave and thoee enacted would b
more carefully framed. so as 10 stan,
the test OF public opiuion, hence yer.
fsw laws would be referred To popula
vote. When our agents refused to enac
laws or neglected 10 do 40. We propos
sSo wsys OF dealing with them. Ode
the imperative mandate which eouvey
to the sgeu. Representative the wisne
Of his constituents and which be mus
obey or resign. II may be asked wha
ii he refuses to resign and tries to hol
the place? The plan proposes ne'
| election and the new man would b
given the seat unlees be could 20 befor
the people and defend his course 20 q
70 securc his:own return. Many eoun
iries have provision somexhat simi
lar to this and il works well. TIE othe
~ay is the initiative, by means OF whic
the people themselves can demand {
legislative bodies the enactment Of lass
aud in such case the lax mus, be en-
acted in the form in which 1t comes ffor
the people, and shen be referred TO ,hst
for approval.
IL is ei2iur ed that this method is cum
bersome and expensive but as we hsv
the rtfeuadum IN come casss a3w an
knov how it works We know that IN
objection lie uniounded. At come 9th.
tine will discuss the facility in the u.
OF direct legislation. This letter is IL
te1ded TO show that it is busine<a iue
aud that 't is simple and not eompi
} Gated. Switzerland has larger popu
Isiion than Oregon. i; is n very mour
tainous conn.ry aud yet il i~ worked pc
fectly ther.; as in New England an
other smsIl.r localities.
4 PoPufisT
| Enrfntts Eosfs