The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-02-07
MOST DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT.
The People of Switzerland Rule Them
selves More Completely Than
ANY Other.
(By William Jennings Bryan,
10 wonder Switzerland is free.

(By William Jennings Bryan.)
No wonder Switzerland is free.
The beauty of the country inspires
love of native land, and the mountains
are natural fortress behind which the
Swiss people could withstand armies
many times the size of their own.
One would suppose that the people OF
Switzerland could find ample employment
in supplying the wants OF those VINO
temporarily visit their land, drawn by
its unusual attractions for the tourists,
but to the industry of bookkeeping are
added two that have made Switzerland
famous throughout the world-watchmak-
ing and woodcarving.
While watches are manufactured as
well and as cheaply in the United States
as III Switzerland, this industry is one
that makes its presence known IN every
city of this mountain republic.
The genius of the Swiss for woodcarv-
ing manifests itself in innumerable ways.
The cuckoo clock and the bear--the SYM
boil of Switzerland, as the eagle is OF the
United States-is seen in shop windows
cvsrywhere-the bear in innumerable pos
lures, the clock in innumerable sizes.
At Berne l found some wooden nut
crackers formed in the image OF man, the
lower jaw working on lever and crush
ing the nut against the upper jaw. 1 OBJ
served one nutcracker made to resemble
President Roosevelt, and another former
Colonial Secretary Chamberlain, OF Eng
land / presume that the manufactures
intended to suggest that these two states
men have more nuts to crack just now
than any other men of political promin-
ence.
More interesting, however, than Its
scenery or it's industries is the govern
ment of Switzerland 1t is the most dem
ocratic government on the face OF the
earth if the word democratic is taken to
mean the rule of the people, for In Switz-
erland the people rule more completely
than anywhere else.
From the courteous assistant secretary
of state l learned that during the last
twenty nine years 235 federal laws have
been submitted to the people by means
of the referendum. of which 21O were
adopted and % rejected
The total voting population OF Switzer-
land is about 76S coo, and it requires Pc
tition signed by 30,O00-less than per
cent of the voting population-to secure
a referendum vote on any bill.
Fifty thousand voters can petition Tor
the enactment Of any desired law, and
when such a petition is filed the federal
legislature can either pass the law or
refuse to pass it. If it refuses, however,
its action must be passed upon referen-
dunn vote.
Since the existence of this provision six
petitions have been presented, and In ey-
cry case the legislature refused to pass
the law demanded by the petitioners, and
in five cases the people at the referendum
vote sustained the legislature; IN one
case the action of the Legislature was
overruled by the voters.
In this instance the people had peti'
toned tor the passage OF q law that
would prevent the slaughter of animals
for food until after they had been render
ed insensible.
BY the courtesy Of the American Min
lister, Mr.. Hill, l had the honor OF Iaeet-
ing Dr. Adolph Deucher, president o.
the Swiss Confederation" as he is styled.
He is of German blood, as his name
would indicate, and he is fine represen-
tative of the scholarly, bigheartcd leu
ton.
He is a tall. slender man, of about six
ty, with ruddy face, white mustache
and scanty white hair. He speaks with
frankness and conviction, and IS as simple
in his manners as the hu nblest OF his
people
He has been president once before, and
has represented his canton in the federal
legislature. He lives very unostentati-
ously. as becomes an official whose salary
is only s2,75O a year.
AS a nation, Switzerland, with her >.
600 900 people, does not attract the at
tention that ncighboring nations do, and
in n contest at arms, except upon her
own soil she could not hope TO achieve
much. But in that high forum, where
conscience dictates and where reason
rules. che is a conspicuous member c
the sisterhood Of nations.
If we believe the world to be making
nrogress toward noble national ideals
we may expect Switzerland to occupy 2
position of increasing importance. The
love of liberty that characterizes her PEG
pie, the democratic character of her in
stitutions, and the industry of her citi-
zcns all. combine to give her assurance
of increasing prestige.
IN NV CON --uoyo,, ,r,iud obo,,f he mis-