The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-05-06
DIRECT LEGISLATION.
Editor Of salt Lake Herald:

Editor of Salt Lake Herald:
Through direct legislation the people
can have any law passed that they are
willing to vote for. Under our present
representative government it is a common
saying that the wealthy class can have
any law passed that they are willing to
pay for. As an evidence of this. the late
financial bill and the Porto Rican tariff
bin passed by the present congress are
striking examples.
Direct legislation is the simplest and
most easily understood of an proposed
reform 1t merely means government by
the people, the consent of the govern
ed" Nobody who believes in a free gov
eminent can find a valid objection TO the
laws being referred to the people-tne
power that creates and supports govern
ment. the average voter will often say
that he is in favor OF direct legislation
when the time comes. but that the people
are not ready Tor il yet; that it IS i'm
practicable. The lessons of the past clear
" snow that every great reform intended
TO benefit and elevate the human family
has to contend against the prejudice.
public sentiment and political ndenty to
party. regardless of the merits involved
IN the principles advocated for the gem
eral good.
Direct legislation by the people consists
OF two parts, called respectively the ref
erendum and initiative, two words deriv-
ed from the Latin and which explain
themselves-to refer; to initiate
The first of these is a principle of law,
which provides that upon the passage of
any law or ordnance, a petition signed
by certain percentage of the voters al
tected shall cause the operation of the
law to be suspended until at the next
election the people pass upon it.
The second of these principles Of law,
the Initiative provides that when law
or ordinance such as the people demand
IS not forthcoming, a certain percentage
OF voters to be affected by 1t may, by
petition, originate or initiate such law.
II the law-making power adopt 1t, well
and good; if not. it goes before the peO-
pie at the next election.
The exercise of these two functions by
the people is optional and will, OF course,
occur only when the people do not get
the legislation they desire. Direct legis-
latiOn would simplify the laws, clear
away all ambiguity. stop the passage OF
laws which are not wanted.
1t would greatly improve the civil ser
vice; the lobbyist and the boss would find
it a waste of effort to control lawmakers.
The laws would be more respected, they
could be enforced, and dishonest officials
reckOned with Immediately by the use of
the Initiative"
The benefits which have followed the
application of direct legislation elsewhere
have produced profound impression on
the people at large. Upon its adoption II
gradually but surely supplanted the pub
locations and discussions of party meas
ures, and in place of these brings forth
| to the arena e politics men capable OF
discussion of questions OF craftsmanship
finance and economics.
With the adoption of direct legislation
our whole nation would be under a pOlit-
/ zeal tutelage of a far different kind than
that of our present practical machine
politics." which has driven from public
affairs our ablest inteHects, our men OF
I learning and moral worth. The natural
outcome of direct legislation would be
that thousands of men, educated and in
1 telligent who are thoroughly disguised
with anything pertaining TO politics, sell
dom even voting now, on finding their in
tereSts directly affected by proposed ques-
tions, would aid in their solution. In
stead of voting blindly for the frreSpOn-
sible candidates of a party for whose mis-
deeds they would thereby become spOn-
sors, they have then the measures them
selves to reject or approve, and by other
laws yet to be devised through the initla-
tive, can hold their executive officials to 3
strict accountability.
Direct legislation tends to good citizen
ship. 1t will protect the people in theii
natural rights, give them more of the
comforts and blessings OF life and as the
peoples environments are improved So
cially and politically. crime will be lessen
ed and society and the nation given new
birth of freedom.
HENRY W. LAWRENCE.