Willmar tribune., 1900-06-13

much older and really comes down
from the old Swiss Landsgemeinde,
when the people Of q canton met ii a
central field and voted upon their laws.
In the United States it was adopted
by the state of South Dakota Ia 1898;
it is in the new charter Of San Fran
cisco; and in imperfect form has been
adopted by cities in Nebraska, Wash
inaton and elsewhere. It is in the
platforms of all the new parties and
has been in the state platforms of the
old parties particularly the Demo-
cratic) in 80 states, among others
North Dakota, Illinois, Ohio, Mime
sofa, Michigan, Massachusetts and
California. It came within one vote
in the committee of being put into the
National platform of the Democratic
party in 1896. Mr.. Bryan said of it
in the Omaha Herald (April %, 1S96):
"It will not be opposed by any Demo-
crat who indorses the declaration Of
Jefferson that the people are capable
of self-government." 1t carries out
Lincoln's government OF the people,
for the people aud by the people. !"
It is favored today by over 5000 news
papers and magazines. It is the one
thing which all reformers agree in
putting first, because through it they
believe they can get all other, reforms
which the people demand and without
it they feel that the people are helpless
in the hands of corrupted Legislatures.
1t has grown into general popularity
probably quicker than any other re-
form ever proposed. 1t is in actual
use today by almost all labor organ
izations, farmers organizations and
in very many municipal leagues and
other societies.
1t is being used more and more in
the United States in the form of COM
pelling Legislatures to refer certain
questions to the people whether they
petition for it or not. In Is states the
location of the capital cannot be
changed except by popular vote. In 7
states banking institutions can only
be organized after similar vote. In
II states, no debts, unless specifically
provided for by the constitution, can
be incurred without such a vote. In
many states similar restriction ap-
plies to assessments above a fixed
rate. In 10 states, counties must
choose their county seats in this way.
In q very large number of states the
prohibition of the liquor traffic is al
lowed to cities or counties by popular
vote.
In an increasing number of states,
cities may adopt their own charters in
the same way. In almost all states
some classes of measures and an in
creasing number of classes can only
be passed in this way. Direct Legis-
lation is thus system with which the
American people are familiar. It has
been called the New England town
meeting idea applied to large COM
munities. The citizens of large cities
and political divisions can not all
meet together in one place and choose
their own laws. Direct legislation en-
,ables them to do this without all meet
ing together.
IV.-WHAT lT HAS ACCOMPLISHED
=. IN SWITZERLAND.
Mr.. A. A. Brown in the Arena,
July, '99. to which article we are in
debted for much information; says
that through Direct Legislation
''The people have destroyed the
power of the legislator to legislate for
personal ends, They have made il
easy at any time to alter or change
their Federal Constitution, and have
simpliied their form Of government.
They hold their public officers respon.
sible direct to their constituencies as
servants, and do not permit them to
be tools of corruptionists, who main.
tain an expensive lobby about the
halls of the legislatures to buy mems
souls and enslave the people through
vicious legislation. They have de.
feated monopolies, improved the
method of taxation, reduced the rate,
avoided national scandals growing
out of extravagances; they have hus.
banded the public domain for the ben.
eft OF their own citizenship: they have
established home rule in every com
munity; they have destroyed partisan.
ship and established government ol
the people; they have quieted disturb
ing political elements, disar,ned the
politician, enthroned the people; by
the vote of the people they have as.
sumed authority over railroads, ex.
press companies, te]egraphs and tele.
phones, reducing freight rates, ex.
press charges and tolls more than Is
per cent below the cost for like service
under private control.'
V.-ARGUMENTS FOR DIRECT LEGIs.
LATION.
+ /. It is democratic, and will develop
self-government, instead of what We
have today, government of corpora.
tions, for corporations and by corpor.
ations. .,.e >,.