The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-05-27
DIRECT LEGISLATION.

Compiled by H W Lawrence.)
All power is inherent in the people,
and all free governments are founded
on their authority and instituted for their
peace, safety and happiness. For the ad-
Vancement of these ends they have at ali
times an inalienable and indefensible
right TO alter, reform or abolish their
government, in such manner as they may
think proper. '-COnstituti of Pennsyl-
vsFlia, Art. ], Sec. 2.
That present conditions in our state,
and especially in our municipal politics,
are such as TO excite grave apprehensions
no intelligent student of the times can
deny. Either we must find some effectual
remedy for the corruption now rampant,
or OF corruption reap corruption, and so
the way of Rome and other great ma
tons that have preceded US. That the
corruption exists and Is sapping and I'M
dermining our institutions hardly needs
proof. Men and newspapers of all parties
and all factions add their voice to the
general cry Of: "Wherewith shall we
cleanse our way2'
The question must be answered, for al
ready a large percent of our citizens be-
long to the stay-at-hOme party, which
every election numbers more than before.
This almost criminal neglect of all politi-
cal duties by SO MANY of the better class
Of citizens can be traced to a growing
conviction Of the hOpelessness of effecting
any real or permanent reform in govern
ment. What men cease to hope for,
they cease to work for
If the political atmosphere is to be
cleared and purified we must change the
system that produces these evils. We have
had Citizens Unions, Business Men
Leagues. Committees of One Hundred and
other organizations too numerous to men,
ton, only to find ourselves today with
greater task on our hands than ever be-
fore! The mistake has not been IN sin
cerity and earneStneSS OF those VINO have
lab0red in these movements, but rather
IN working simply for q change of men
or party. while We leave the system, the
real source of corruption, unchanged and
unattached.
An eminent nihilist authority of Russia
stated: killing Of cars is waste or
time; We could kill off two dozen of czars
makes czars possible is what must be
aimed at Men and parties are but adj
ministratOrs of the system under which
they hold power. According TO that SyS-
TEN is their power for evil or good. AS
long as a system prevails whereby few
have the final decision in matters az
fecting the veal or woe OF the entire
people. just SO long viii the prObabilueS
be that the decision viii be in the interest
of the few who make the decision cor
laws), or of that few who. in order to
have the opportunities, through special
legislation, to lay unjust burdens upon
the mass of the people, are willing to give
a portion of the spells to the few who
have the deciding power.
just so long as our executives ana leg
islators remain free from the direct con-
lobby be maintained, corporations CON
tinue to be enthr0ned in power, franchises
'gTa bbed," public Dlunderlng be carried
on. s.d the corruption born of that con-
ditiOn of affairs continue. the logical Sc
quence being the downfall of free gov
eminent
The remedy for all this corruption is di-
rect legislation. The plan is practicable,
il has been tried and found to be perfect
after which we can copy. We went to
! far-Off Australia for a ballot law; now let
us follow the Swiss In their method OF
legislation.
The Swiss republic, some years ago,
was as boss-ridden and as corrupt IN
every way as is ours at the present time.
Their system of legislation was lndl-
rect, OF. represent ative, precisely like our
liability could be induced TO mold OTf1ce,
for there then. as here now. to De known
as politician was to be in rather bad
odor. There. as here, futile efforts were
made to purify politics. At length some
radical change of system was seen to be
necessary to permanently establish good
government and, in sequence, what IS
known as direct legislation through the
initiative and referendum was devised
and after a bitter contest with the cor
ruptionists, was put ia operation
The adoption of direct legislation, how
ever far-reaching the effects Of such a
change might prove to be, involves the
adoption of no new principles in our form
of government 1t would be merely the
extension of a principle which lies at the
basis of our political system, and which
is already recognized in practice. The
New England town meeting IS notable
instances ii e-nerent states OF the en-