Industrial freedom. [volume] (Edison, Wash.) 1898-1???, 1899-02-04
lille has faith i'm thG Ballot
Mr.. Editor:

In the comments upon Saul dI IlSlS
the editor states that he does not give
the clipping unqualified endorsement
but ends the comments by putting the
questions: Ifpolitical methods have
failed, and who doubts they have,
what is to take their place? Can you
tell? Is the future bright to you?
When did the ballot free people?
These questions being put directly
to the readers of Industrial Freedom
it will be proper to offer some answers.
"If political methods have failed" it
is said, to which the writer wishes to
add: What political methods have
failed? What is the political method
prescribed for the people of our United
States by the terms of the constitu-
tons of our states and nation?
Is it not fact that the only use of
the ballot the people are offered by the
terms of our present constitutions is
to nominate and elect from time to
time, hundreds of big and small bosses
who are to make the laws and thus
do the governing? Is it not true that
all our constitutions were so framed
as to deny the people the right to di-
rectly nominate and elect any law
which they desire to prevail? Nay,
we know it is worse than that. We
know that the people are not even
permitted to directly elect the biggest
and most powerful bosses such as
United States senator's, president,
members of the United States supreme
court and United States district courts
1t is natural that the people will be
bossed when by the terms of their or
ganic law they must create and main
tain an army of rulers whose COM
mands the people can not veto or re-
peal. 1t is also natural that such ru-
lers and their wealthy friends willlive
in luxury and permit the producers to
do double work to furnish such luxury.
Because the ballot is of little or no
benefit when applied wrong is no rea-
son however why the ballot should
not be the best instrument for estab-
fishing and maintaining justice when
applied right. When the Swiss people
applied the ballot only to select rulers
who in turn were to select the laws of
the land, as we now do, the privileged
classes kept gaining ground and threa-
tened to make helpless slaves out of
the producers, but since the Swiss
people have extended the use of the bal
lot so they can introduce laws direct
ly and can render final decision upon
all laws whether introduced directly
or through representatives, they are
rapidly crushing oppressive monopoly.
The writer of these lines has been
reader of prominent reform journals
published in Switzerland for the last
seven years and ifpermitted willin the
near future furnish readers of Industri-
al Freedom ample and detailed proof
in support of the above assertion.
AS the nature of the Swiss people
has not changed it is evident that
their former failure and their present
success to subdue merciless monopolists
must be due to the change in the use
of the ballot. Naturally a similar
change in the use of the ballot in our
own states would produce similar et-
feet. Therefor all lovers ofjustice and
all sufferers from political injustice
should unite in one political party for
the purpose Establishing direct legis-
lation in our own states and nation,
putting Dul lllC anu
referendum into the platform so as to
avoid all division of reformers. With
direct legislation established the
people are enabled to adopt reforms
as fast as the majority of voters get
ready for their adoption, more than
which no reformer can reasonable
expect.
In South Dakota where the initiative
and referendum has recently been
adopted by popular vote, this most
far reaching radical measure, accord
ing to reports, received over seven
thousand more votes than were neces-
sary to carry. AT the same time the
Republicans whose platform did not
demand the adoption of direct legisla-
ton elected the bulk of the officials
which goes to show that direct legis-
ton had host of special friends in all
parties and that upon that principle
more people can be united than upon
any other demand. Judging from the
endorsement direct legislation receiv-
ed from the people of South Dakota it
may be assumed that in all or nearly
all western states the people would
now be ready to adopt direct legis-
lation and that all that is necessary
to secure the adoption of this reform
is to elect men forgovernors and legis-
lators who will offer the people a
chance to amend the constitutions &C.