Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-02-17

!
the tovn-me"ting. That is the militia
tive. And the vote of the assembled
citizens in town meeting is the referen-
DUN.
The obvious fairness and common
sense of the measure leads most per-
sons VINO thoroughly grasp the idea to
endorse it. It is supported by men OF
all parties. III oregon 1t was favored
by all parties and passed by a non
rartizan vote. In Massachusetts Il few
years ago all the parties put in their
platforms. and ii came within a few
votes of the twJ-thir!s necessary for o
| constitutional amendment. In any
| group OF progressive mei. YOU will fnl
that direct legislation is regarded by
| each one as either the first or the
| second most important measure before
| the Amt rican people today. Whatever
their special Interests. they are agreed
upon this subject as upon no other. 1t
is simply an inlDrov amen, in the ma
| C1inery of government III which all who
| believe i'll free institutions are inter-
| eSted. no matter what PARTY they be-
long TO. Thn"e are many reasons for
this unanimrI Of opinion. a few Of
"hicl: | will Try To state.
ID The American pee pl. believe i'll
| popular SoY"r"ignt: and self govern
ment. ami direct Legislation is essential
70 S.'!f-eovernm. mt i'll large commune
ties. In early times The People met and
made the laws ly li"ect vote. hut as
the commonwealth grew in size ii be-
| came impossible To gather the people III
one assembly. 50 repreSt ntative govern
Ma NJ hs.1 / mic IL,
was made of allowing the representa-
| tives to enact laws by final vote. with
out an opportunity Cor Greet revision
by the people. Thus arose 4 private
| monopoly of liw-making, which has
| become the source of maiy of the most
| objectionable features in the govern
ment OF many states and municipali-
| ties. Direct legislation alone can de-
s.ioy this private monopoly of law
making and establish real public OWN
ership of the government.
| CD 1t will perfect the representa-
tive system. Even when legislators
| are perfectly honest. the enactment OF
laws bv final vote of the representatives
frequently results in misrepresenta-
ton: because the judgment of the
representatives differs. many times,
|
people ana when the pressure OF
private interests affects legislation the
difference between Legislative action
and the action required by public in
tereSt is wider still.
CD 1t is simply a common-sense APP
plication of the established principles
of the law of agency, affording the
principal his proper rights of veto, in
ST. uction. control and discharge
| "a 1t makes for political purity,
stopping corrupt Legislation, and
destroying the concentration Of temp
tation which exists where few legis-
lators can take final action on fran
chses. railroad laws. corporation acts.
CD 1t will simplify elections by
separating the Judgment on men from
the judgment on issues, and olsen
tanSlinS issues so that each may be
judged on its own individual merits.
o. 1t constitutes an important edu-
cational force, developing the people
mentally ana morally through the
earnest disc uSSion of important mea.-
ureS.
| a. 1t will diminish class legislation
give labor its just rights. and secure
more even and universal justice. There
are too many lawyers in our legisla-
tive bodies now and too few repre-
. sentatives of the farming and artisan
interests. And large masses Of people
arc not repr, scented at all.
| s. II will bring out and make ef-
| fective the collective wisdom of the
community. The Judgment of the ma
jOrity is apt to be super iOr to the judg-
ment Of the few. The interest Of the
majority comedies With the public in
terest.
g. There is an automatic dis
reimbursement of the unfit-those of
least intelligence and public spirit
voluntarily rcfrainng. as a rule. from
voting upon the measures submitted.
| 10)It is the open door of progress.
permitting reforms aS fast as the pco-
pie desire them. At the same time it
is wisely conservative as well as pro-
gressive There is no log-rollng or in
sidious lobby to carry a rash and dam
eerouS law. The case for reform must
be fully proved before the people will
vote it. The referendum is a safety
| valve for discomfort and makes for
political and social stability.
| Il.) Experience has proved the
mcasurelesS value of direct legislation.
The New England town meeting and
our constitutions, which are adopted
by direct vote of the people, are recog-
niZed as the best elements in our
political system. Direct legislation
has rendered such important service in
Switzerland that even those who OPP
posed its adoption are strongly in ia
vOr of it now, and people of all classes
unite in expressing their hearty ap-
prevail of the system.
02) The movement Of thought and
events in America is in the direction of
| direct legislation, as is also the gem
eral trend OF political history through
out the civilized world. Such men az
Lincoln, Jefferson. Bryan, Pingr"e.
Wanamaker, President Samuel Comp
ers. Rev. Lyman Abbott, William Dean
Howells, Rev. Washington GLADDEN.,
and many other eminent persons have
| expressed themselves in favor of the
referendum principle.
Thu last hundred years is filled with
the growth of the peoples power. The
| progress of civilization means the up