Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-11-06
SUGGESTS THAT
PUMP PURCHASE
co TO PEOPLE

| Rock Island. Nov. 6.-Editor Argus:
The fundamental principle upon which
our government is founded is the SOW
ereignty of the people. But the people
as a whole. are no longer sovereign
when they delegate their power to a
| few OF their number without retaining
any power to recall or discipline those
| few.
The peoples sovereignty consists of
more than merely the right TO nomn-
ate and vote for public officials. Adj
ded to these is the right to shape pub
| lie policy, 10 determine what are the
duties of their representatives and to
insist upon the performance of those
duties in a manner acceptable TO the
people.
Rock Islands citiZenry now has an
opportunity in the present pump con-
troversy to shape a policy of its own
and compel their representatives to
listen to and abide by their mandates.
The best policy that could be adopt
ed at this time in reference to this
pump matter-best for people, council
mayor and all-is to take the settle
ment of the pump question out of the
hands of the mayor and council and
place it in the hands of the people.
The need of pump is not so urgent
that the purchase and installation must
necessarily be made at once 1t is a
case where the necessity is not so
pressing and so immediate as to force
The matter through without proper de-
liberation and investigation, not only
by the administration, but by the peo-
pie. Even the most urgent necessities
always leave sufficient margin of time
to do things right. If Rock Island
needs a new pump, the right course
will not have been pursued unless the
best pump is secured for the least
money. and the matter may well be
laid upon the table until the spring
election. If the necessity is too ur
gent to admit of so long a delay, a spe-
cial election could be called. But the
spring election would be preferable
with other things equal. because it
would add no further costs. At this
election the people could vote upon
the question as to whether or not there
is need of a new pump, what kind of
pump shall be purchased in case one
is secured and the maximum price to
be paid for it.
By this referendum vote the mayor
and the council would be relieved of
the responsibility of the matter and
immune from all insinuations OF
graft" etc. The people would have
the sort of pump they want or a
chance to say so if they do not want
a new pump.
The people should reserve the power
20 pass upon the work of their repre-
sentatives, and they should exercise
this power wherever a given percent
age of the voters demand it anG
they should so demand i'll all mat
tiers pertaining to methods of taxation
public improvements. public utility
franchise and other matters of like i'm
pOrtance
If Tuesday at the time of the con
gressional election the people of Rock
Island were TO vote upon the pump
question, and say whether it should be
Snow pump" or no pump, there is
not an alderman. unless he is ready to
move out of town, who would have the
0raZe1 effrontery to run counter to the
peoples expressed will.
Then let the people decide. Let
Rock Islands voters say what they
want done. Such policy will be much
more effective and business-like than
casting aspersions upon the character
Of alderman. Public wrongs can soon
ne righted if the people will only be
come really interested and take an
active part in their own affairs.