The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1903-06-27
Direct Legislation.

doubt have perceived that 1t has
been advocated that the people
must cease voting for men alone,
and vote for conditions This
does not mean that we will dis
continue the representative form
of government: but it means that
we muslin some way control
our representatives, and compel
them to obey tile will OF the
people. This can be accomplished
by what is known as "Direct Leg
islation.
AS .Direct Legislation" Is the
most important step that must be
taken IN the march towards "Re-
FORM and as the space which |
am permitted to use is limited to
tabout two columns, | will be com
PEELED to carry this subject
through several issues in order to
treat 1T with the consideration
which such an important subject
demands.
Direct Legislation is a method
by which the people Will have the
power to vote directly upon every
important question that will effect
them, and every law by which
they are to be governed. Direct
legislation proposes First, that
citizens shall have the right to
propose a measure of law to
fellow this is the 'Initi-
ative." Seconds That the majority
Of the people shall actually accept
or reject the law by voting upon
lI.-this is the referendum"
Andthfrd; That the people shall
have the power TO recall corrupt
law maker, and put another in his
place, during his term of office
This is called the imperative
| Mandate
Direct Legislation is not a
theory; it has been in practical OPP
Grafton in Switzerland for many
, years. The first place in Ameri
ca to adopt it was WInnetka, a
small village situated about six
: teen miles from Chicago. The
population Of this village is not as
large as that of many Of the sub
urbs of Chicago, but is made up
of progressive and energetic citi-
zens, and they have found out a
way to have what they want in
the way of government without
constitutional amendments or re-
evolutionary tactics.
Some years ago, the village
board of trustees was about to
give to a private corporation, a
forty year franchise for supplying
gas At that time, the citizens
were holding each month, a public
meeting, for the discussion of
public questions. While the pen
ding forty year franchise was
beng considered by the elected
} raIers(the few men who composed
the board of trustees) the time
) came around for the "town meet
ing" and very naturally the ques-
ton that came up for discussion
was the proposed franchise for
gas. 1t clearly appeared that the
voters did not legally possess the
power to veto the contracts nego-
tlated by their agents (the village
trustees). The unbusiness charac-
ter of the situation appealed SO
forcibly to the citizens, who were
lpresent, that resolution was
/ framed, asking that the trustees
Of the village submit the proposed
fcontract to their principals, the
voters.
When the evening came around
J at which the Village board was to
pass the ordinM1ee. the leading
citizens tagz "a masse, ND
lsecured 6or u slked ~
1.-TWO !. 1oI He snrged fl<t tbe
I qq 1tio1 f6rredsto The NJ
finally t6e board voted 3 i
The lerendnm election VS. held
and t<roeuls was only four votes
for Tn ase and $50 against
! lit. Tn led the ephp,oed
tfrandhia i I'd mll
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