The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-06-17
MANY CITIES ADOPT
DIRECT LEGISLATION
Buffalo, Detroit and Toronto
Leading Cities Against Rule
BY the Machine.
Results Are Manifold, and
Other Municipalities Are
F following Good Example.

VAVWAA6 0VOA 4<Ae~AACASs
Washington, D. c., June 15-Question-
ing of candidates is as old as represen-
tative government itself. The recent
development consists In a systematic
putting Of the questions, thus covering
an entire city, state or nation.
The ethics of the system are based
on the peoples sovereignty, which I'M
plies that the people may ask each
aspirant for the office of legislative
agent how he will vote If elected.
The need for the systematic Ques-
tioning Of candidates is to prevent
evasion Of issues by the party
machines. The ruling few, acting
through the delegate conventions, are
sidetracking the measures that would
promote the peoples interests. This
power can be terminated at once by
the systematic questioning Of can
didates. provided the issues raised are
Of so popular nature that the self
interest Of the candidates will compel
them to answer in the affirmative and
in writing. Writing pledges are carried
out.
This is no mere theory. but an ac-
tual fact. It has been demonstrated
repeatedly during the past three years.
For example. the trade unions Of Mon
tana have just secured In the legis-
lature a unanimous vote for the sub
mission of constitutional amendment
for the initiative and referendum
the peoples sovereignty in place of
machine rule. Two years ago the state
conventions Of both the leading parties
refused to promise to submit such an
amendment-refused to abdicate-but
the systematic questioning Of can
didates secured a practically unani-
nous vote In the legislature of 1908
and more than a majority vote in the
senate, but as half the senators held
over and a two-thirds vote Is required,
it required another campaign to oust
the machines. When the state con-
ventions were held this year the
politicians in both camps acknowledged
their defeat by pledging to submit
the constitutional amendment and
their pledges have been fulfilled.
In Buffalo, Detroit, Toronto. and in
lesser cities, the questioning of can
didates for aldermen and mayor has
resulted in the establishment Of the
advisory referendum and advisory
initiative. Wherever the advfsory@Yote
system has been considered in the city
council the systematic questioning of
candidates Is irresistibly effective. 1t
raises as an issue the establishment
OF the peoples liberties-the right to
self-government and then the self
interest Of candidates compels them to
pledge or suffer defeat.
This is it that an improved political
system has opened the way for an i'm
mediate termination Of machine rule
the establishment Of the peoples sover-
eighty. The ethics of citizenship re-
quire that the system be applied, and
IN city, state and nation as is being
done by organized wage -earners, or
ganized farmers, referendum leagues,
and by individuals. Every instinct of
self-interest and of patriotism should
impel towards the accomplishment Of
SO grand an object. =
An illustration Of the effective work
which an individual can do is record
ed in the Chicago American Of March
14th. 1t appears that the Republican
candidate for mayor, Mr.. Harlan, had
been evading important questions, and
Mr.. Williams Bross Lloyd attended
one of the Harlan's meetings and asked
him tho vital queries. The newspaper
report says:
Mr.. Harlan was taken by surprise
He paused, embarrassed, in an effort
TO frame his answer. Then, finally. he
said in brief: The referendum last
spring was an abstract question. II
was too academic. I doubt If any one
would pay any attention to it. It was
too abstract. 1t is the concrete cues.
ton that the Republican party and the
people will consider
by this statement Mr.. Harlan flatly
declared that he would pay no at
tention whatever to last springs vote
on the question. He further asserted
that, In the event of franchises being
prepared by the council, he would re-
qulre the presentation of monster
referendum petition before submitting
the franchises to the Judgment of the
people. If no such petition is forth
coming, Mr.. Harlan asserted in so
many words, he will push through
franchises, If he is elected mayor, for
the Morgan-Wall street traction grab
bers
Mr.. Lloyd's question brought this
out, thereby clearing up Mr. Harlan's
position"
UNION TEAMSTER