Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1898-01-19
Direct Legislation.


physician suffers more than his share.
The reasons are plain. Food, cloth
ing and shelter are first necessities,
and available funds will go for these
purposes, to the neglect of the physi-
clans claims. The Doctors bill is us
ually left till the last, and in time of
special stringency it is not reached at
all. Hence the physician-is specially
interested in the prosperity of the
masses, and particularly in just dis
tribution of products.
But it is not strange that ply ysicians
in various parts of the country write
us: What can we do? We have
given our lives to the study of science,
and entrusted economical questions to
those who make speciality of them.
1t they have made such a disgraceful
failure, what can we do? If PARTISAN
ship and corruption are the cause, are
not both the dominant parties equally
guilty? Physicians in different parts
OF the country naturally have different
political affiliations and attachments.
We can do nothing without uniting,
and what can we unite upon?''
We are very glad to have the oppor-
tunity to answer the above. There is
something that every physician and
every other honest and earnest citizen
can unite upon, whether he be a Re
publican, Democrat, Populist, Prohi-
bitionist, Socialist or Single Taxer.
Our Republican institutions, as good
as they are, are notoriously imperfect.
Corruption seems to be the disease of
republics. The Roman republic died
of it. France and our own republic
are seriously afflicted with it. But the
oldest republic now in existence, Swift
zerland, after long suffering, found
remedy for it, and she now stands forth
purged and pure, an example to her
larger but younger sisters.
Republics are governed by represen-
tatives, elected usually for specified
time. During this time they hold alb
so1ute sway, without, as rule, feeling
the responsibility felt by officers in
monarchies, who hold their positions
permanently. Hence these represen-
tatives, tenn mporary, but absolute for
the time being, are too frequently an
easy prey to scheming politicians,
each serving the others selfish inter
ests.
One of our subscribers suggests that
it would be good thing to t'have a
string to our congressman" that is, to
have the power to un-elect any con-
gresham when he fails to give salts
faction to his constituents. That would
be good plan, but the Swiss plan is
better.
A feature was added to the Swiss or
ganic1aw requiring that all bills above
certain degree of Importance, and
not being of immediate urgency,
should be referred to the people for
their ratification or rejection at the
next general election. Then the willy
politician sought pastures new, for
his occupation was gone. This is
called the referendum.
But the Swiss people, suspecting
their representative still further, re-
tanned the privilege of initiating 1egis-
lation. That is, any bill (which any
voter can propose), when endorsed by
certain percentage of the voters,
must be acted upon by the government,
and in turn by the people at the next
election, if necessary. This is called
the initiative. That is, the people
claim for themselves the privilege of
proposing and determining Legislation.
This is called direct legislation; and
it has purified the hitherto very cor
| rupt politics of Switzerland.
Democrats, isn't this fair? 1t is a
return to simple democracy. Repub-
licans, isn't this fair? 1t is only a
wider application of the principle,
government by the people" Popu-
lists, isn't this fair? 1t will place
directly in the hands of the people all
the modern reforms. Prohibitionists,
| socialists and single takers, isn't thi s
fair? Your ideas will then have a fair
chance.
Now this-the initiative and referen-
dum-is what all can unite upon, and
it should be done Immediately. 1t is
the key that will unlock the golden
future. Opposition to it is se1f-con.
demnation. We want immediate and
united action. A party with that
single principle alone for a platform
would deserve success at the next gen.
era1 election. If it should require a
struggle for the next eight or ten
years, it would be worth it.
When has a political party kept its
promises? What do elections mean!
The meaning of every election is in.
terpreted in hundreds of different ways
Read the various "opiuions'' after
levery election With the referendum
the meaning would be direct and
specific.
We could then vote for principles
and measures, and not merely for men
and our expressions at the ballot bo,
would be understood. Let us have it
and through it let us oust the profes
siona1 politicians, the lobbyist, the cor
lruptionist, and obtain Justice for tn,