The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-07-08
ADVICE TO LABOR UNIONS.


news item relates that the labor
| unions are going to school In politics; that
| they are going to hold mock caucuses dur
ing the summer. so that when the time
comes TO hold the real caucuses the mem-
bers OF the unions will be able TO go into
these caucuses and beat the politicians at
their own game.
Vain hope.
II the labor unions are after the same
object that the politicians are after; II
they simply want to get control or the
government for the purpose or using the
powers OF government 10 further their
own selfish ends and this Is what the Ia
bor union movement will result In IL II
degenerates into a mere scramble for or
flee those OF us who are outside or the
unions have no sympathy 10 waste on
them II the public property is to be
stolen or valuable franchises frittered
away, IL is no satisfaction TO US TO know
that "a union man does the stealing or
fritters away the franchise, and doubt
very much whether the interests that
brfbe legislatures care whether the indi-
yidual meynbers OF the legislature do or
do not wear the union label.
Human nature Is weak and SO long as
legislatures have the supreme control OF
public property, 10 temptation TO bride
will overcome those whose greed exceeds
their sense OF justice and the virtue OF
the custodians OF the peoples property
will succumb 10 the Establishments or
| those who dazzle their eyes with the
glitter OF unearned gold. What then Is
| the remedy2
II is simple enough. The remedy IS to
| curtail the power OF the legislature. Let
| the people resume the power OF veto on
| the acts OF their servants TO make II
| impossible for the bribe-takers to deliver
the goods will be to put the bribe giyers
| out of business forthwith.
But the present constitution or Rhode
| Island vests the law making powers In
| the legislature. Clearly then In order for
| the people 10 resume the power OF veto
over the acts OF their servant, the legis-
lature IL Is necessary that the constitution
| be amended. No remedy exists short OF
| a rernodeling OF human nature that VIII
| be effective under the present constitu-
| tion. This, Of course, Is equivalent 10
| saving that no remedy short OF amending
| the constitution exists. therefore IL is
proposed TO amend the present constitu-
| ton by provision that reasonable
minority OF the voters, say 5000. shall
| have the power to file with the secretary
| OF state any specific amendment which
! they may desire, and that he shall submit
| same TO the whole electorate for their ap-
| proval or rejection at the next election
| thereafter.
The adoption Of such an amendment
1
| ton of the political evils which now at
| fct US. For instance. IL would not take
| long with the constitution so amended.
| 20 still further amend II so that IL would
| be no longer true that solitary hunter
| UP In the wilds of West Greenwich has
| greater law-making power than go citi-
| zens OF Providence: or that nine-tenths
| OF the wealth producers are debarred
| from participation In choosing members
! of the city governments or In financial
| town meetings; or TO substitute an equit-
able system OF taxation for the bug
| house" arrangement now employed or
| thousand other abuses which VIII occur
| TO whoever will think
| The amendment alluded 10 is called the
| constitutional initiative, and the labor
| unions win make moro real progress In
| pledging candidates for the next legisla-
| ture 20 its support than they Will make
| n they should attend a political school In
| which mock caucuses are held until there
| Is an ice crop ready for harvesting down
| I'm Satan's kingdom.
GEORGE d. LIDDELL.