Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-03-01

4
relating to rapid transit. and the re-
suits Of the ballots so taken show that
, the votes acted intelligently and with
full understanding of the issues in
vnlvcd.
That the peoples right to veto bills
and directly initiate is cfre ctivc with
out actually putting measures to n
direct ballot ia shown also in SwitZer-
land. The optional referendum has
existed for iwenty-ninc years in
federal Switzerland. During the years
1879 to 1898. inclusive. there were eleven
years in " hich not bill was ordered
to "a direct ballot. In the thirteen
Gears in which the optional referendum
was used there were only twenty-five.
laws ordered to n direct vote.
This is the optional referendum in
federal Switzerland. The direct initia-
tive has existed since 1891. and only
| rcars. 1S9l-1S)S.
In tho canton (stdtcl Of Zurich
Switzerland. and direct initiative has
existed for twenty-foLr gears. and TN"
people have initiated only twcnty-on"
oils. of which only five became law.
Two Of the competing bills framed by
4
The mere existence then. OF "A p,o-
| pes veto and Girect initiative is effec-
tive. 1t results in a system of govern
incnt in which tho people freely choose
their representatives. who. after elec-
ton. are no longer tempted to betray
the interests of their constituents-ths
constituents possess the final power
through a veto and direct initiative.
.l,D1o ,I,,.;., f,f<
crnment is based OH the assumption
that the people themselves are the ulti-
mate law-making power.
| The initiative ard referendum SIM
ply recognizes this as a fundamental
principle of a republican form of gov
eminent: and provides the, machinery
| Which is surely destined to restore to
the cities. and extend and adapt To
Srate and nation. all the essential adj
vnnta2es Of the ancient custom OF di-
| rect legislation. which New England
towns still have. and will at the same
time. eliminate that unwicliinesS. ind
those Inconvenience. because of which
| the ancient custom is abandoned, when
cities become too large for town gov
ernment.
The people have simply reserved to
| themselves u larger share OF Icgisla-
tive power: but they have not over
thrown ti" Republican form of gov
eminent or substituted another in it's
stead.
AS the permancncc and stability Of u
brick wall depends upon the enduring
qualities of the brick which constitutes
the primary elements entering into its
construction. So with our structure
of State: if tho fundamental principles
on which il is founded and which give
character to methods Of government.
are wisely ADAPTED to the character Of
both the governing and the governed;
| then. and only then. is higher building
safe.
The town meeting was the primary
element entering into the construction
Of the foundation. Oh which rests. and
on which is still being erected. that
government under which has developed
the highest type of civilization this
| world has ever known.
The principle of the old-fashioned
town meeting is fundamental and safe.
The Referendum is but al adaptation
| of the principle of the New England
| town meeting to the making of State
| and city laws under modern condi-
| lions; the same town meetings to
which Jefferson referred when lie said:
"They have proved themselves to he
| the WiseSt invention ever devised by
! the wit Of man for the perfect exercise
| OF self-Eovernnent and it's prcServa-
| tion"
"A recent issue of the Bankers Mag%
zine said More and more legislatures
and executive powers Of government are
compelled to listen to the demands Of or
ganized business interests. That they are
not entirely controlled by these interests
is due to the fact that business orSaniza
ton has not reached it's full perfection.
Eventually the government of a country.
when the productive forces are all mus
tered and drilled under the control of =
those forces. There are many Indications
in the control of legislatures that such is
,s"ss taes at i@T s pm s,ras
declaration not by reform paper h,rt by
the organ Of the the, hankers in tn. tni:h
ready begun and we'll under way. our rep
rcScGtative system is to he turned into
tyranny by few. and under the cover Of
its forms the rule Of the people Is to be
done away with completely
This measure will he approved by every
Democrat who believes with jefferson
thar ;he people are capable Of self-gov
eminent. BY every Republican who he
lieves with Lincoln that this should lie "a
government of tho people, by the people
No one can deny that the right t" vote
makes every voter a safety valve and
greatly adds to the security of the com
monWealth.
In closing this brief statement let ms
suggest two conditions absoltr ely essen
tial to the stability of republican form
of government.
81. An honest ballot. .. An effective
system of representation with reasonable
checks through appeal to the voters.
I'VE went to Australia for the machin-
cry thai makes fairly possible the first, for
the second We go to the European rrpul,-
lie Of Switzerland and adopt her Intiafiv..
and Referendum and make il a part "
the organic law of our land and through
these two the rights of all citizens shall
be safecuarded and the republic he per
manently established"
Asi;he last speaker Of the evening May
or tichbOrn introduced Mr. w j. Shields
Of l:ost0n. the New Engla nd agent of the
Federation of Labor Mr. Shields express
ed himself pleased with the fac, that tn.
meeting included both men and women
saying that these meetings. arc n means
OF popular education in which both sexes
should be interested. Mr.. Shields had pre-
pareh a PAPER dealing with the labor
movement as commented upon b, people
outside the unions. and in rclat.i ion to il.
Necessity for those who are members