West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1901-05-02
COVE RNM M EMIT
by the People, or the People and for
the People.

has been fer years in fetiers. The popular
will is dsregarded. The people complain.
They protest. Some say, ''rhere is no use
in voting. The moneyed classes will have
1t all their own way, anyhow"
There are corporations and corporations.
The people are the great corporation, the
body polite. Every person is stakeholder
in this public corporation. All have equal
shares, life, liberty, and the pursuit of hap.
piness. All classes are merged in this grea,
public company, and one person is the peer
of any other. The public corporation, this
great company of all classes aud conditions
of the people, holds its charter from
Heaven. Ours is the republic of God
''We hold these truths TO be self-evident
that all men are created equal that they
are endowed by their Creator with certain
inalienable rights; that among these arc
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness"
II IS idle to say that self-goyernment is a
failure. The public corporation, the state.
creates the private corporation. Every
corporation that invades the rights of the
people, every monopoly is the creature of
the peoples great company OF public cor
poration called the state. Is the creature
monstroSity though it be, greater than its
creator Private corporations will grasp
everything and rule if they can. That they
are too much in the governing business is
lamen,ably true, and emphasizes the
necessity of government by the people-the
sovereign public corporation.
The constantly combining consultations
of capitalize trust that marshals all under
one managemcnt-presses the question for
solution Choose which you will serve,
the public corporation of all classes and
common interests or the corporation of class
and trust" Shall the people rule or an
industrial despotism prevail The source
of all governmental authority flows from
the people, aud Il the people will, nothing
under Heaven can thwaTt their will
For time II may seem as il the cause of
good government Is. lost TO the people but
the people can and will assert what is right
fully theirs. Here in California the people
arc It atcd as a cipher. few years ago
the sentiment vote of the State was taken
regarding the election of United States
Senators by the people. The sentiment was
overwhelming. This winter a Republican
Legislature refused To allow the sovereign
people chance, by voting against tho
amendment for election of senators by
popular vote, so corporation-ridden is the
State of California. But such course only
hasiens what they seek to delay.
The State of Oregon win vote on an
amendment to the State constitution at the
next election. The object of the amend
ment is not to destroy the occupation Of the
legislator, but TO retain in the people their
righuul power 10 commence the enactment
of what laws they will, and TO defeat vicious
legislation that may pass the Legislature.
No Democrat can say that such recognition
OF the right of the people to rule, is un-
Democratic, unless he insults the memory
of Jefferson nor can any Republican who
holds TO Linooln's ideals of government by
the people, show in what respect such an
amendment is nRcpublican.
Hoping that every reader of THg ARGUS
is lover of "GovernmenI 10y the people,
for the people, and Of the people, / append
the Oregon Amendment and ask for it
careful reading:
Section I. The legislative authority OF
the Stale shall be vested ia legislative as
sembly, consisting Of Senate and House Of
Representatives but the people reserve 10
themselves power to propose laws and
amendments to the constitution and To en-
act or reject the same at the polls, indie
pendent Of the legislative assembly, and also
reserve power al their own option to approve
or reject al the polls any act of the legisla-
tive assembly. The first power reserved by
the people IS The Initiative, and not more
than per cent. Of the legal voters shall be
required to propose any measure by such
petition, and every such petition shall in
clude the full text Of the measure so pro.
posed. Initiative petitions shall I've filed
with the Secretary Of State not less than
four months before the election at which
\ they arc TO he voted upon. The second
power is the Referendum, and it may b.
ordered Except as to laws necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public peace,
health or safety, either by petition signed
I by s per cent. Of legal voters, or by the
legislative assembly as other bills are
enacted Referendum petitions shall be filed
with the Secretary Of State not more than
ninety days after the final adjournment Of
the session Of the legislative assembly which
passed the bill on which the referendum j.
demanded. The veto power Of the governor
shall not extend 10 measures referred 10 the
people All elections on measures referred
% the people Of the State shall be held at
The biennial regular general elections, cx-
ccpt when the legislative assembly shall
order special election. Any measure re-.
ferrcd 10 the people shall take effect and
become law when 70 IS approved by a ma
jOrity Of the votes cast thereon and moi.
Otherwise The style Of all bills shall be.
''lie it enacted by the people Of the State Of
Oregon This section shall not be constrac
ted % deprive any member Of The right To-
introduce any measure The whole number
OF votes cast FOR Justice Of the Supreme
Couft a. The regular election last proceeding
thc Ming Of any petition for the Initiative
or for the Referendum shall be the basis on
which the number Of legal voters necessary
10 sign The petition shall be counted. pe.
utious and orders Tor the Initiative and for
the Referendum shall be flied with the
Secretary Of State, and iu submitting The
same 20 the people, be- and ail other officers
shall 5e guided by ihc general la,ss and the
act submitting ibis amendment until lcgis-
laiion shall be specially provided FOR.
AARoy W. FnFpEricg.
North Fork. California
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