The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-09-09
ORGANIZED LABOR AND DIRECT. LEGISLATION
BY w. G. JOERNS.

supposed to represent the interests
and to legislate and to administer for
the welfare Of the whole people and
not Of the privileged few.
The peoples remedy is still too re-
mote. Except here and there in the
country at large, where the dawn Of
better democratic expression and con-
troll is breaking, the people cannot re-
call their public servants or force them
to give expression to the popular will.
But these exceptions mark the begin
ming of better conditions generally and
it is only a question of time before
the people everywhere will insist on
these reforms that are vital to the
public welfare.
In Minnesota we have made a start
toward better methods in the intro
duction Of the Australian ballot and
Of the later primary election reform.
While the latter Is still in need Of sub
stantial amendment and greater scope
In its application. 1t was a step in the
right direction-as all legislation must
be that makes for a more effective ex-
preston of the popular will. We would
not go back to old methods in either
case and we feel a sort Of compassion
for communities, such as Philadelphia,
for example, where the slug and the
br1be are still dominant factors on
election day.
How to Control Public Officials,
To be really free and Independent
American citizens, however, the body
OF the people must be able, In regu-
lated legal form, to compel its public
servants to respond to its demands.
In other Words We must be able to
control directly and Immediately the
official action Of our public servants.
There Is no better way than in maxi
ing them Immediately responsible to
the people and responsive to the duly
expressed popular demand.
The first end Is obtained by the RE-
CALL-whlch means that public offic-
ials, whose fealty is questioned, can be
called to immediate account by their
respective constituencies and COM
pelled to submit to another elec-
tion; the second would be gained
II the people had the power, on occa-
sion, to initiate legislation and, on de-
mand, to compel the submission of
legislative enactments to popular vote.
In other words, If we could incorpor-
ate into our elective system the Re-
call and into our legislative the prin-
ciple Of the so-called direct legisla-
tlon" in the INITIATIVE AND REF
ERENDUM and develop still further
our primary election system, we will
have made, in Minnesota at least, 4
substantial forward step in the direc-
ton Of true democracy and toward
the curtailment of some, at least, 5of
the evils as to- which Mr.. Russell is in
such sdespat i: s
rhs pTineipiss @ 4 ~ ss ;;,s Resersndan'
have been incorporated to limited
extent in our city charter restrictions
on the common council as to matters
which, under given conditions require
the approval Of the people, and it has
worked most satisfactorily. A certain
sort Of Initiative was recently exercis-
ed by the people of Philadelphia when.
wearing a badge which was the rep
resentation of a hangman's moose in
they effectively interviewed
their corrupt and recreant city faith
ers. But 1t is the full legal fruition
OF the proposition that we want, some-
thing like what has latterly been In
corporated In the constitution and pro-
cedure Of Oregon and in the laws OF
an as yet limited number of other
American states and cities and as 1t has
been exercised for many years, with
CYN1 1<c
fc republic on Earth, the little but pop
ulous and progressive republic of
Switzerland.
Discussion Of Direct Legislation.
These reforms have time and again
been ably discussed in the Labor World:
the current August number of the
Arena has an article on the subject by
Mr.. Ehwood Pomeroy, the president of
the National Direct Legislation League;
almost any number Of Tom watson's.
Magazine will throw light on the sub
5ect; and many able pertinent dis
sertatfons have from time to time ap-
peared in the public press. 1t is a mat
ter on which the public Is fairly en-
lightened and as to the efficiency of
which, as truly popular reform meas
ure, there can remain no doubt what
ever. It is now only a question Of
compelling legislative recognition of
demand that is becoming more and
more general and increasingly serious
as the days and months roll by.
Organized Labor's Part.
Organized labor is the "standins
army Of the Industrial masses. BY
its success or failure, by it's prosperity
or adversely must, in the final analy-
sis, the welfare Of the great body Of
the people be measured. It Is a great
responsibility that thus rests upon the
shoulders Of organized, the most INTEL
ligent and progressive and self-reliant
of all labor. In the solution Of the
economic questions that confront labor
and confront society now and that will
present themselves in perhaps increas-
ing array as time goes on, it is desir-
able. that we may solve these problems
wisely and correctly, that the great
mass Of the people have an increasing
voice in the determination Nono hot