Evening journal., 1906-10-13

Let DelaWafe men 90 tne-r own ldlN-
ing on the point at issue and act or
not as seems TO them wise. We preach
ers and other transcient dwellers should
content ourselves with suggestion and
advice, and refrain from dictatlon. We
should refrain also from caustic and
condemnatory criticism directed toward
each other. No good cause is helpsd
thereby.
Very respectfully,
w. c. Jason.
Dover, Del. October II.
The Initiative and Referendum.
Editor The Evening journal
The gradual adoption of the Initiative
and Referendum by all States and by al
cities seems now assured. 1t reqlir
fime to iacorporate it into state constitu-
items by slow legal process but when it
Is once there it serves as safety valve
against violence and revolution by force
OF arms State after State, city after city,
has adopted it in spite of the most deter
mined opposition. The Stale OF Nevada
adopted IL in 1904 ard the State of Mon
tana win vote upon it in November, 1856
In California the cities Of san Francisco,
Les Angeles, Pasadena, Vallejo sacra-
mento, San Bernardno, san Diego. Eure-
Ia. and Fresno, have made il their law;
tnd the cities Of Fort North in Texas:
Memphis In Tennessee and Grand Rap
ids IN Michigan, have algo adopted IT, rs
value In muriciral affairs is unquestloncd.
l1Hd Philadelphia possessed II there w1u d
nave been TO excuse for the mob vi l.
ence by which some Of the defiant mem
bers OF Ph ladelThia's Common Council
were forced ty thclr onrlged constituents
to pledge themselves to vo against
granting franchise TO powerful gas
company. Threats Of lynching and Of de-
struo,ion Of property were the means
used. and apparently the only means that
could be used to force corrupt members
t1 vote as their constituents demarded
they should vote. Had che recall been
in force how easily these counci mcn
might have been made to feel the power
of the popular viii.
There are two ways Of meeting soc al
conditions which are so bad that thoy
must end IN a change cf some kind Rus
sla is. showing the world enc way New
Zealand he's shnwn tse wcrd the otharl
and the better wav After the fires OF
resolution in Russia have died away:
after she ferrcrists have accomplished
their designs and the va-t empire shail
ne ccrnnietoly at the mercy Of b utes w o
know no law; when the nurdo md viz
ienca shar have ended then a tine mn t
come in Rcssla's history when a per oi
or reconstruc'i.n mus beg ni hen W IN
homes in ashes. and e'r's b,ead II from
the loss Of friends ard Kindred, the bet
men Of Russia who shall have csc1pcd tfe
bullet and the bomb, must get together
and make new laws laws urdsr VIII ch
mon can live.
Is ]. no batter to provide a way fer
meeting al necessary changes in ex 81 rs
laws. before VIC invite the pcpula- revo u
/ ticn WHOA WI sweep away ! avs cx-
/ cept military iawg The safety cf ol co r.
Try absolutely menss such a safegu-rd
as the In uatve ard Referendum, and
every true lover e his country cugh o
unite with the Referendum Loasee in
working for such a safeguard. It may re-
cuiro years Of steady wcrk. but the gem
/ cralions to come viii reap Tho results Of
our labors, and enjoy truly democrat C
/ g1vornmene.
But some may deny that we need any
] better conditions than we cnj-y at Pc =
ent FOR business IS hooming and pr s.
rerity seems to smile uron the nd.
Eur can any candid man deny that cur
railways need 10 be made TO feel q e
rower Of the law; That our blnks, tru t
companies and life ins-r nee C mpa ,cs
need closer examination and better man
agemeni That the problem OF child labor
needs to be met by wiser laws; mat the
relations Of employer and emp Dyed need
compulsory arbitrat on 70 Ir.vcn. ne er
ending fricticn ad nreile.s strikes. he
home which is the foundation en- which
our whole social system Is founded can
not be secure and stable unless lsbcr is
certain OF employment at all times. unless
funds entrusted to banks are safe from
defaulting cashiers and bank presidents.
Al these things need the Initiative and
Referendum. tor if the people do not oe-
mand legal regulation OF railways banks
AID strikes. such regulation viii never
ocme There are 10 strikes in New Zea-
land and there can be none and yet every
skilled worker is a member Of a trade
union There are no bank failures in
| Switzerland. and no defaultirg bank o.
hcers. The system Of government irspec-
ton and regulation is so exact and 50
rigid that not a dollar can be lost. Even
the system Of bookkeeping employed ty
banks and railways is dictated in its min
utest details by laws Would It net be PCS
sible for Americans to learn some les
sons from New Zealand and from switz-
erland, and adopt some OF the wise laws
which have solved problems for them
which must soon be solved here.
nut It cannot be denied that New zea-
land and Switzerland have solved the
greatest problems in the world by mems
OF a paternal government. A government
which deals with details which no cher
governments in the world NEEDLES with.
And what then is patornallsmg that the
American people should fear IT, 1t is The
whole people doing for themselves things
which make for The happiness ard well
fare Of each and every indlvlduai citizen.
II is going into business by government,
In opposition TO corporaltiors whose only
aim is dividends. New zealard backs mp
her life insurance policies issued by gov
ornmont, by the credit Of the who'e M
ticn. and guarantees the policy holder
that II It's officials default or mlsaprropri-
ate funds the whole n-ton will make Il
gcod. Even England has postal savings
banks in which working people have ST.
enooVooo deposited az the present time.