The Dolores star., 1902-04-18
3S2 coMMUNIcATEp

Mr. Bryan'= definition of the initia-
live and referendum, given in last
weeks Commoner, deserves the care
ful consideration of every voter in this
state. He says: "The phrase is used to
describe a system employed in some
foreign countries, especially Switzer-
land and TO some extent in this coun-
Try, whereby the people can, first, by
petition compel the submission Of a
question, and, second, secure by petit
ton chance 10 vote upon 8 measure
before il becomes effective. The initia-
tive refers TO the first process, and the
s&eferendum to the second. The system
was indorsed in the last democratic
national platform and has been indorsed
by the democratic party in number
of states. It has been indorsed by the
populist party and Is advocat ted by
most labor organizations. The princi-
pie of the referendum is already recog-
nized by the submission of constitution
al amendments, bond issues, county
seat removals and other important
questions, to popular vote. The initia-
tive part of the system Is also provided
ior on certain questions. There is
growing sentiment in favor Of the ap-
plication of the initiative and referen-
dunn because it protects the people
from misrepresentation at the hands of
their public servants and makes the
government more responsive TO the
wishes of the people"
The above is a clear and simple ex-
planation of the system, which was
unanimously indorsed by the demo-
erats Of Montezurna county in their
last convention. BY adopting resolu-
lion indor5ing the Bucklin Bill they
showed that they We're in harmony
with Mr.. Bryan on this question, and
like him willing to give the principle
its widest extension. In Switzerland
no important law can be enacted until
the people consent TO it, and we will
never haze decent government in this
country until we have the same system
here. The conduct of our present rep
resentative in the state legislature
proves this. He not only voted with
the corporations and against the peo-
ble on every important bill, but he
nearly succeeded in depriving us of the
right we had to amend our state consti-
tuition.
There is reason to believe that Mr..
Adams is not the only so-called demo-
crat who is unwilling to let the people
propose and vote on the laws we are
compelled to live under, The other
day heard a prominent democrat say:
that a man who owns no land should
not be allowed to vote for tax on land.
This man evidently wants to live in a
laws. Perhaps England might suit
him. In that country the landlords
had the sole privilege of making the
laws for centuries, and now less than
one per cent of the people own ninety
nine per cent of the land and nearly ali
OF the taxes are levied on personal prop.
erty and improvements. If the privi.
legged classes can bribe or fool the peo.
pie into voting down such democratic
propositions as the Australasian tax
amendment, it won't be long before G
few great Lords will be living in luxur,
on the rents of the land here. That !.
practically the case now only the peo
pie don't know it. If our statistic
were made to show the extent to which
land values go in making up privat
fortunes, the people would soon chang
the conditions upon which land il
held. In New Zealand the laws recog
nize the peoples right to the land ant
whoever wishes to monopolize it mus
psg the people for the privilege; but thu