People's voice., 1899-08-10
DRECTLECLSLAT[ON
Eloquent Exposition by Eltwood Pomeroy of
a Practicable Theory

'orY.
York state passed an average of over five
hundred and fifty laws year. In a re-
cent session of the Swiss National Legis-
lature, there were sixty-fve measures iu-
troduced, twenty-fOur of which passed.
In the last congress twenty-four thousand
measures were introduced.
4. 1t does not mean more partizanship,
more elections, more turmoil and more
trouble, but less. It means smoothness
in the working of our legislative machin-
cry now unknown Partizanship centers
around men; rarely upon measures.
5. Hence itmeans less expense and
not more. Only few simple, inexpen-
sive additions to our present election ma
chlnery are necessary. There are only
three classes Of laws which would be in
volved; first, those in which there was
thought to be some corrupt motive or end
and such laws which are now a very large
class in public opinion, would soon be al
most completely wiped out by the publ
city and difficulty in persuading the peo-
pie to enact a law which would be con-
trary to their own interest. Second, all
great measures on which the people might
be nearly evenly divided, and these are
few and should be submitted to the peo-
pie. Third, measures which would be
brought up by one set of the people for
educational purposes, and these are not
many.
8. Wherever used, it is already sett-
ling Ill slow, thorough and successful
manner all the great questions which are
troubling our political and economic life,
such as the money, the railroad, the tele-
graph questions, monopolies, and local,
state and national taxation. It is doing
this in Switzerland.
7. 1t is practical here and now. 1t is
widely used in local and state matters and
simply needs to be extended and univer-
sally applied. Its use is extending, al
though it often happens that those who
apply it do not callit by the names here
given and perhaps would not recognize it
under those names.
S. 1t is really conservative and not
radical measure. Or rather il conserves
what is good in the past and permits prog
resS as soon as the people are ready for it
but not until they are ready for it. In
England, it is advocated by such men as
Lords Salisbury and Roseberry, Arthur
J. Baltour, Professors Lecky, Dicey and
Bryce.
g. Its indirect effects are as valuable.
If not more valuable thar its direct Effects
Itsecures better laws, better Legislators
and wider and finer education among
the people.
10. tits an educational force Of great
potency and value. 1t will be a parlia-
ment for man, informing, inspiring, de-
veloping him. As a celebrated Swiss
statesman has said, a communion in vot-
ing produces an identity of interest and
develops the social conscience.
Lastly, whether wise and practical or
not, it is coming. The method of if,
growth, the spontaneous generation of
the agitation for it not only all over this
country but in the most civilized portions
Of the globe, the rapid but sturdy growth
of that agitation, the fact that step in its
advance once taken is never receded
from, all betoken the inevitable. # is
a part of the Zeitgeist, the spirit of the
times. All other forms of government
are failing, but democracy, the spirit of
self-government, isgrowing stronger and
stronger.
The trusts never fail to>raise the price