The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-05-08
Direct legislation.
Remarkable Progress Made by It's Ad-
herents in This Country.

hSASAlS III 4HtS county.
The progress IN this country of
direct legislation" during the past
year has been remarkable one. We
say remarkable" because it has been
maccompanied by the beating of
drums or the fare of trumpets. Like
many other important new departures
III the field of political activity, it has
been permitted to make its way prac-
tlcally unnoticed. The vast majority
of the people III this country are
probably ignorant of its working or
OF the methods employed by those
Who are engaged in the task of
spreading the propaganda. Yet with
IN the last twelve months no less than
a million votes were cast IN different
parts of the country directly upon
questions involving the adoption or
rejection of proposed laws.
The movement IN favor of ''direct
legislation" has been particularly ac-
tive in the West during the past year.
The most important political event of
that period, indeed, took place in June
last IN far-off Oregon, where the peo-
pie of the State adopted by vote Of
62,024 to 5,66S a complete direct leg
lslation constitutional amendment
AT the same time the city of Portland
adopted a new charter containing
complete direct legislation provisions.
In Chicago last year very signifi-
cant vote was cast For the present
that vote records an opinion merely ;
1t hasn't resulted in either the adop-
ton or rejection of law Hence it
cannot be called, strictly speaking, a
referendum; yet it is an unmistak-
able advance IN the direction of that
class of legislation. The State Legis-
lature, it seems, passed law IN 1901
by which a vote could be had as an
expression of opinion. 1t required in
cities that % per cent at least Of the
voters should sign a petition before
any question could be submitted to a
vote. In this case 100000 signatures
were required There was no difficult
ty IN securing 100000. The vote east
resulted as follows:
For ownership by the city of Chicago of all
street railroads within the corporate limits
49, 26 yes, q, 99S no.
For ownership by the city of Chicago of the
gas and electric lighting plants, said plants
TO furnish light, heat, and power for public and
private use-13o,9S $50 yes, d, 364 no.
For the nomination of candidates for city Of
fees by direct vote OF the voters at primary
elections 10 be held for that purpose-I4O, $50
yes. 1854 no.
The success achieved in Chicago
suggested AN attempt at a State ref
erendum- The law required $4,000
signatures to the petition; without
any apparent difficulty 146,134 were
secured. The vote was more signifi-
cant even than that cast at the munich
pal election. 1t stood,
For the submission to the people of con-
stitutional amendment embodying complete
State direct legislation-42S 1872 yes, 81, 655 no.
For the submission 10 the people Of a con
stitutional amendment embodying municipal di.
rect legislation ,972 yes, 1887 no.
For popular election Of United States Sena-
tors-45l. Sls yes. 76,975 no.
Returning again to the Pacific
CnaC+ Tva And +la+ -, naoa,.-1-z-- -.
the people Of Los Angeles, Cal.
adopted thirteen amendments to then
charter out of fifteen voted on. The
votes upon the different amendments
varied from 1886 yes, the highest
number cast for any one Of them, tc
9,751 cast in favor Of amendment No
13, designed to secure the removal by
vote OF anyone holding an elective of
fee.
In Colorado last November the peo-
pie voted overwhelmingly in favor OF
a constitutional amendment giving
Denver complete direct legislation IL
all Its own affairs, and similar au.
tonomy to practically every munich
patty in the State. Two opportuni.
ties TO test the referendum were haC
in Canada last year, but of these it Is
not necessary to speak IN detail.
If the foregoing data mean any
thing, they mean that the cause Of di
rect legislation is gaining adherents
In the administration of municipal
affairs the referendum may continue
TO prove a most valuable and potent
factor. 1t tends, no doubt, TO elimi
nate party lines and to curtail the
powers Of the professional politicians
It will, for one thing, make 1t more
difficult for the latter TO traffic IN leg