The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-02-24

Slned agricultural and mechanical pur-
suits; yet with all of these conflicting
elements, the Swiss people unite and
vote on such laws as seem to them TO
be for the best interests Of the whole
people The result has been that a
country possessed of but few natural
resources and surrounded by aristocrat-
&c and despOtic governments is giving
to its citizens a peaceable and stable
government, with only an insignificant
military force, and though the taxes
are low the educational facilities are of
high order and the people are happy
and cOntented. his is the result Of
Self-gOvernment through the Initiative
and referendum.
New Zealand, with its 100000 people,
has shown to the world what can be
accomplished through direct legislation.
About ten years ago the lands AMI prin-
ciDal wealth OF the country were in the
hands of the few and the country on
the verge Of civil war over labor strikes.
Now, through the people having a di-
rect voice in the laws that govern
them, large landed estates are divided
up and opportunities given the people
for homes, the government lOaning the
settlers money to make their improve
ments. Labor strikes are settled by
boards Of arbitration. Railroads, tele-
graph, pOstOh1ce, telephones and ex-
press are owned by the government and
The revenues derived from these sources
so into the public treasury, Old-age
pensions are given the poor, homes are
provided for orphan children by the
government. These are some of the
results of a people who do not depend
upon representatives, to decide as to
what laws they may have to govern
them.
While foreign countries are making
such rapid strides in seIf-gOvernmenJ
we have only to look nearer home TO
see the good effects of direct legislation
in our New England town meetings.
The system has been in operation for
100 years or more. Such towns as Rock
land and BroOkline, Mass, and many
others, have their yearly meetings TO
decide as to the officers who shall di-
rect their municipal business. What
shall be the rate of taxation, the ex-
penditures for streets, public improve
ments, etc, is all decided by the peO-
pie through the initiative and refer
endum in an orderly and business-like
manner. In other towns and cities (fOr
Brookline has nearly $4,000 people, the
taxes are low, the intelligence and
morals of the community are of a high
order and the public officers are elect
ed from the best citizens, who serve
the public for the general good and
not for what they can make out Of
the position. In the town meetings Of
propose a measure and if it has sec
ond it IS given a respectful cOnSidera-
ton and adopted if a majority consider
it worthy.
The law makers and opponents of di-
rect legislation in our community claim
that it will not do to trust the people
to propose or initiate laws for consid-
Grafton or vote thereon, las the electors
or rabble do not know what they
want" They would be constantly
changing the laws and making need
less expense to the city and state. If
we should listen to the warnings of our
noted men, whom the people have
trusted with d short term of office, we
would be led to believe that the people
who bear the burden of taxation
had exhausted the wisdom of the COM
munity, in placing some OF the present
officials in power,
To propose and. vote on measures for
the public good, is a primary and in
herent right OF the people, and no pow
er should ever be given to a court, ex-
ecutive or legislative body to annul or
repeal an act passed upon by the peo-
pie.
The power to repeal must always
be left in the hands of the power that
enacts. There would be nothing but
confusion if one power could enact
while another one might repeal
measure. The opponents of direct leg
Z
electors of the state is not sufficient to
initiate or propose a measure to be
voted upon by a majority Of the voters.
If one man in a town meeting or one
member of a legislative body can pro-
pose legislation, certainly 1900 electors
in the state should have the right. To
initiate measures to be voted on the
percentage should be low enough to
enable the progressive people of every
community to propose their ideas of
Improvement to the referendum. As
the referendum always requires a ma
jority of the voters to carry any meas
ure, it Will be seen that no nasty ac-
ton could be had or radical changes
thrust upon the people. The larger a
political subdivision is, the smaller
should be the percentage Of electors,
to initiate legislation to prevent cor
ruption and correct class legislation.
The advocates of direct legislation
challenge their opponents to show,
either in this country or Europe, that
wherever the people have had a direct
voice in the laws, that it has not re-
suited in giving better laws, lower
taxes. greater happiness and a higher
state of morals to the community. On
say that where you find citizens OppOs-
ing direct legislation, they are either
ignorant Of the principle or its practi-
cal workings, or they are the recipi-
ents of class legislation, special privi-
leges or their defenders. The men that
believe in the rights Of humanity are
not afraid to trust the people. The cry
of the conservatives, that if the people
are given the power to propose and
make their own laws, they viii over
throw good government and create
''sheol," is to brighten the weak and
timid. I say if the masses, who are
the bone and sinew of the country, and
W no paV the taxes and fight the bat
ties want to go to HI, let them go! l
VII Laka NV chancas with than