Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1899-02-17

dangers of our time. 1t would bring in
to action the opinion of the great silent
classes of the community and reduce to
their true proportions many movements
to which party combinations or noisy
agitation have given q fictitious promin-
ence."
Col. David B. Henderson, republican
congressman from Iowa and chairman
of judiciary committees: +
ut would be agreat advantage to a
public manif expressions on measures
could be had from the people, and in a
general way I can say, without hesita-
ton, that any plan which will enable the
people to know what they are thinking;
in other words, to let A know what B, G
good, and above all, an intelligent ex-
preston Of the mass of the voters on
any and all leading questions would be
of great value to public servants. On
these two leading propositions-an UNI
trammeled ballot and the free, intelli-
gent expression of the people, will
ever be found favoring both, and can be
SO quoted. Whatever is done should
permit the fullest discussion before the
vote is taken, SO that the citizens may
compare notes fully and the questions
discussed may enter into the campaigns
among the people,"
Hon. Numa Droz, ex-president Swiss
republic, economist and author.
Under the influence of the referen-
DUN a profound change has come over
the spirit both of parliament and PEG.
pie. The idea of employer and EN-,
ployed, of sender and sent, which lies al
the root of the representative system, be.
comes an absolute reality. The people
still choose their representatives tc
make their laws, but they reserve the
right of sanction. The craftsman car.
ries out the work to his own satisfac
ton; the employer who gave the order is
of different opinion and sends it back tt
be altered. It is perfectly simple, each
has done his duty within the limits as
signed to him;there is no groundf for quar-
rel. The legislator is not discredited
he is only in the position of a deputy
whose bill is not passed. There is ne
question of resigning. If here and there
a measure is rejected, others are passed
there is clearly no want of confidence
Moreover, after rejecting a law, it il
quite common to r~e-elect the same rep
~resentatives.
William Jennings Bryan, in the Oman,
World-Herald, of April 26. 1896, Jedi
toriaD:
The principle of the initiative an,
referendum is democratic. 1t will no
be opposed by any democrat who en-
dorses the declaration of Jefferson, tina
the people are capable of self-govern
ment; nor will it be opposed by any re
publican who holds to Lincoln's ide
that this should be a government of tn
people, by the people and for the people
j. Allen Smith, professor of histor
and political science, University G
Washington:
Our experience of over one hundre
years has demonstrated that an elabol
ate system of constitutional checks upo
public opinion can not make the govern
ment better than the people, but ma
make it a great deal worse. Unless tn
people nave a direct and effective cor
troll over every exercise of governments
power there is no safeguard against CO.
ruption and class rule. I am in favor {
direct legislation, because it would pu
the law-making in the hands of the pee
pie themselves and thus remove a poi
ent aus of corruption.
r, A T1rr ~