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

leverage in intelligent grasp of impor-
tant measures. They more than mos;
societies are jealous of the good name
and prosperity of the State. The de-
mand OF the Oranges of Maine is en-
phasized by the demand of the Oranges
of IA other states.
The second Organization representine
$4,000 men and at least 100000 persons
is the Maine Federation OF Labor
This body of men is very often mis-
represented. too often we think Of
them as indifferent 10 the best inter-
ests of the State. This is wholly un-
true. his organization Of 1000 mer
are INTELLIGENT mechanics. honest. law
abiding citizens. have ii just pride in
their native State. supporting our
schools and churches. and paying the
taxes which support and maintain the
machinery of government. These
men. these $4,000 men have come in the
persons of their officials up to our
State House and are humbly asking
for what? An eight hour legal work
ing day? No. For better conditions
under which to toll. No, however
much they believe i'm these things
however much they desire these. they
come here and put aside all desire for
special class legislation. all desire for
personal gain. and prove themselves
citizens worthy of the old common
wealth. by asking for Il measure they
less than all others need. The Specta-
Gle of 1000 laboring mer petitiOnilis
the Maine Legislature for direct legiS-
lation ought to win for them the
respect and confidence of every citizen
Of the State
The third organizat ton representing
thousands of citizens. representing
every class. representing every sec
ton. representing every religious. edu-
cational and political interest of the
State. is the Civic League. This So
ciety stands for three great ideals:
I. TO secure respect for law - To
educate people in good citizenship. =.
To secure the enactment of wise laws
and the enforcement of all law. Ii is
altogether fitting that this orctniza-
ton should lead in securing direct
| legislation.
To me. Mr.. Chairman. it seems a
prophecy of better things for Maine
when these three great organizations
| unite in asking that the rights of all
| the neople be more firmly established.
II is !. recognition of modern political
and social wisdom that the rights and
| prosperity of each class can only be
secured by securing to every class its
rights before the law. The Grange.
| the Federation of Labor and the Civic
League are standing together and ask
ing that the people of Maine be given
the privilege, the right to vote yes or
no on the question Of direct legisla-
ton.
Reasons for Direct Legislation.
| Fourth. Let us take up and discuss
briefly why these great organizations
| representing the intelligent. the hon.
| est. the patriotic citizens of the COM
monwealth are asking for direct lcgis-
lation.
| l. Direct legislation secures Il higher
form of representative government by
| establishing confidence between the
| people and their law makers. In these
| days representatives are cursed, in
suited and browbcaten by all sorts of
People who come seeking good and bad
| laws. Committee men are cOrnered
caught. argued with. sworn at. lettered
| telcgramed and every other cOnceiv-
| able thing to secure their votes OH this
and that measure. Again we often
vote for the less competent of two
men because he will support some
measure we want. Again the repre-
sentative is confronted by the demands
of classes. Sometimes voicing the de-
mal,ds of organized wealth. sometimes
of organized industrial forces. Direct
leg iSlatiOn would tend to eliminate all
this and leave the representative free
TO use his own honest enlightened
| judgment in the interest of all classes.
| This must mean an immense gain in
| practical law making.
z. Direct legislation tends to public
security, each law is supported by n
known majority of people, and hence
can always be enforced. Under direct
| legislation violent refOrlners can do
| little mischief. They soon find out how
| many support them. and if they are in
Il minority, content themselves with
quietly educating their opponents.
Direct legislation is both rcformative
and conservative. refOrmative of all
that is bad, conservative Of all that is
best.
5. Direct lcgisla lion tends to eIu-
| cate the people i'm the duties and rights
| Of citizenship. De ToCnueviilc says
the only way to interest people in gov
eminent is to give them a share i'll it,
This is one of the strong arguments
for direct legislation. Each citizen
expecting to vote on a measure is in
ilGenced by that fact to inform himself
on it's merits. BY this method h,
grows in intellect. stability of Charac-
ter and public spirit. Those who eX-
pect perfect system, embracing all
the interests of life. Il utopia which
will work itself without human effort.
will not find it in direct legislation
but even the mistakes of direct legis-
lation are educltive. The people in
time will learn that principles and
measures are more important than
men and PARTIES. The cOrruptiohst.
the den,agOguc or the agitatOr would
find little comfort from this measure.
4. Direct legislation tends to do
away with laws for special privilege.
and lessons the nuisance of money III
influencing legislation. When a few
persons can take final action on fran
chises. etc. there is always the posi-