The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1903-07-04
LABOR COLUMN.
Devoted to the Interests of the Laborer.
H. C. BRAGG, Editor.
II. {. BRAGG, Editor.

approves Party platforms are
too often receptive, and simply
vote catchers, and not intended to
be lived up to; being as someone
as said, like ear platforms-good
to get in on, but not to stand on.
Often good measures fail of en-
actment because the voters lack
confidence III the political party
which chance to advocate the
measures. Party allegiance is so
strong in the minds of many, that
they will vote differently on a
proposition bearing party liable,
than on one coming to them indie.
pendently, and OH its own merits.
Under our present SYSTEM, while
the legislator may fairly represent
the elector on one public question;
he may, and often does misrepre.
sent him on many other questions.
The present system requires the
elector in almost every case, TO
vote for men rather than for meas.
uses; while the Referendum will
allow the elector 10 vote for meas
ures as well as for men.
Each year, under our present
system, the adoption or rejection
of public measures depends less
and less upon the result Of debates
on the floor of our legislative halls
and more and more upon the de.
crees of party caucuses, or the
secret work Of committees.
Under the Referendum, there
will be more freedom and honesty
in debate, with a desire TO arrive
at a knowledge of the truth, be
cause, ALL MEASURES WILL
BE PASSED SUBJECT TO THE
VETO OF THE PEOPLE.
Each year, as business interests
already gigantic-increase in
size; and favoring or adverse leg
islation becomes more and more
important; corrupt men, with
votes to sell, have a growing in
centive to seek seats in legislative
halls; while honest men, dreading
the Odium that sometimes attaches
to the lawmakers office, and not
ing the obloquy that not infre.
quently is poured upon the incor.
ruptible legislator, have less and
less reasons for sacrificing them
selves in such public service. Tn.
der the present system, the venal
legislator may be so well rewarded
by those who purchase his evil
services, that he does not care for
reelection: and il he can escape
the penitentiary, the public has
no recourse but to elect a success
sor, who may be just as corrupt rs
the first one. In this respect The
public cannot even clock the sta.
bic door after the horse is stolen"
The public of today, in regard
to their legislators, are like
careless business man, who signs
his checks in blank for his clerks
to fill out. The prudent business
man signs his checks after they
are filled out. Voters should
bave the power to ratify or reject
all laws, after they are passed. If
one of our great business houses
had no more control of his agents,
than voters now have over theirs
(the legislators,) that firm would
likely be wrecked by unscrupu.
lous employees in a very few
months.
To say that the people-from
whom is derived all power-are
not entitled to revise or veto the
acts of their representatives, is to
say that the creature is greater
than its creator.
Some people have eroneously
supposed that under the Refern.
DUN the people will be obliged to
vote upon each Statute, as 1t is
passed. 1t will be seen, however.
by what has already been said
that the call to vote will only
occur, when there are objections
to any particular measure; when
law is demanded in which the
legislature or council has failed to
pass, or when the removal of a
corrupt official is demanded. The
ideal condition will be attained
when no Referendum of legisla-
tiOn is necessary.