The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1899-04-13

ED."-SENATORO OSBORNE, IN THE
LEGISLATURE OF 1899.
IEGIsLATION Ey THE IEurLE.
The most democratic method OF
legislation known is the New Eng
land town meetings. At these New
England town meetings everybody
turns out at p public hall or q public
square, and by popular vote, determ-
ines all important questions OF gov
eminent for tho town. 1t is admit
ted by everyone familiar with these
meetings that it is the most perfect
form Of government and results in
most economic, et icient, and honest
town governments. In no town that
is governed 10y the town meetings
has thore ever been any corruption
or bribery or scandal of any kind.
Town aldermen, members of the leg
islature aud members of Congress S
may be corrupted, and enough of
them may be corrupted TO effect leg
islation, but the people in mass have
been corrupted and never will be.
II our State legislation could be
enacted in the same way that legis-
ton IN er acted in the New England
towns by the New England town
meetings, then we would have the
best, most efficient and most econom-
&c state government III every state,
where the people would rule abso-
lutely. We take 1t that everybody
will admit this to DO true; but in re-
ply to this tho politicians say it is i'm
possible for the voice of the people
TO be directly utilized in state legis-
latures, and that therefore state leg
islation must be enacted through rep
resentstives. They admit that these
state representatives, (members Of
legislatures) often misrepreseut the
wishes and desires of the people, but
they say that that is one OF the evils
Of popular government and we must
submit to it, for it is the best We can
do.
If this statement were true the az
swer would be conclusive; but it is
not true, for there is 3 method and a
means by which state legislation can
be enacted in practically the same
way that the New England towns are
governed by the town meetings. It is
through the m ethod known as direct
legislation, or the Initiative and h sf
erendum. This is method by which
part of the legislative power Of q
state is r, served by the people them
selves instead of vesting all of it in
legislature. That is: for tho people to
reserve the right to petition a le gis =
lature to submit any given que stion
to.a direct vote of the people when
ever a certain per cent. of the voters
sign q etit II, and also the right TO
have any. law passed by q legislature
submitted to a direct vote of the poo
pie before it shall go into feet when
ever a certain per cent. of the people
by pet tion ask for this to be done.
This would be q great check upon
legislative bodies. When members
of legislatures know that the people
can at once undo anything that they
do, or can, by petition, force them to
do what ought to be done, whether
they will or not, then legislatures
will at once become more responsive
TO the popular will. AS a rule, eve:
ry legislature knows exactly what
the people want done. There fore, if
the legislature knew that the people s
will could not pe baked they would
oftener respond to the popular will.
Hence with the initiative and refer
endum in force it would not often be
necessary for the people to resort to
it.
AT It's last election, the state Of
South Dakota adopted constitution
al amendment, reserSing this right
to.the people. The recent Legislature
. OF U tab, just before adjouraing, sub
mitted to the people a constitutions al
amendment providing for the adop-
tien Of the initiative andreferendum..
When this system shall have been
adopted in every state, as it ought to
be, and We trust will be, then indeed
will the people rule. SO far, the
Peoples Party is the only party that
has been in favor of intrusting the
people with this power. Each day, as
the people learn more and more
about the Peoples Party. they will
know that it is truly and verify the
arty of the people.