The Advocate and news., 1898-03-09
EIrWEED POMEROY,

From The New Time.
How does direct legislation concern
the honest legislator and remedy the
present evils in legislation?
1t destroys the power for evil OF the
lobby. Who will buy the legislator when
he cant deliver the goods? 1t will be
no use to bribe him, as majority OF the
people will have to be bribed afterWard
II puts the legislator above suspicion
Lobbyists cannot threaten an honest
man with charges Of corruption, and by
the use Of Venal press actually, as has
been done, blast the reputation and fu-
ture Of the unseducable. 1t makes the
Legislator responsible directly to the
Deople for each act passed and not re-
sponsible in a lump for his whole po-
litical career and deeds past and pros
pective of his political party. 1t de-
poses him from the quagmire surrounded
and perilous position Of shifting oil
garchy of temporary despots Of the peo-
pie, but raises him to the nobler emil
nence Of counsellor to the people
It takes from the lobby it's power for
evil, but leaves 1t free to use all. hon.
orable means to bring laws to the vote
of the people; hence 1t will change the
lobby from a corrupter to an educator.
Likewise it will destroy partisanism in
our political parties, forcing them to
become advocates of measures instead
of seekers after power and place under
party shibboleths as now. 1t will kill
off the boss in parties who requires blind
allegiance to himself, else he will not
hermit party promotion, and substitute
for the boss the leadership Of brains and
character in the advocacy Of measures
and in the service Of the people. 1t will
thus change parties from dam which
stops and stagnates the peoples will
into the channels which conduct 1t easily
and quickly on its course.
It will stop the mud singing with
which every man Is assailed, as it will
place his motives beyond suspicion. The
legislator can snap his fingers at calum-
niators and say: Bring 1t before the
public" At present corruption is so Sc
cret and insidiOus that denials are almost
useless. The legislator sits and cringes
under them and says: TITS lie" while
the people believe at least part. Reg
lister by direct legislation a permanent
appeal to the Caesar Of the great common
people against corruption Of motive, and
mud-slinging will receive its death blow
Many able and honest citizens who
now fear this mud-slinging and who are
unwilling to don the boss yoke will be
ready to take Office that they may have
a platform to speak from and may ad-
yocate measures for the public. Thus the
people will have better class Of men
to select candidates from.
Lastly, it will enfranchise every citi-
zen on individual measures. AT present
he votes for man who pledges himself
to aid his party to carry through a
group of often ambiguously worded
planks Suppose the candidate is elected
and a majority Of the same party, sup
pose the planks are clearly Worded and
clearly understood by the elected can
didates, suppose the legislators are not
only honest but able to draw clear, sim
pie laws, suppose no lobby intervenes to
smother or pervert measures, suppose no
new issue is sprung to side-track the old
and the Legislature passes the various
measures. Such a combination Is eX-
tremely improbable, but If 1t should ever
happen the voter, while getting some
measures which he favOrs, will get others
which he Is totally opposed to. But
direct legislation will enfranchise the
citizen on individual measures. People
now think it is one Of two machines
which makes the laws. have heard 1t
in labor unions and in the homes Of the
rich.
1t will recall the better class of citi-
zens to an interest in politics, because
they can accomplish something thereby.
1t builds a level, direct road across the
bog of partisanship, where now are many
devious and dangerous, narrow path
ways.