The Somerset reporter., 1906-05-03
S. F. EMERSON


Skowhegan, Me-. April IS, 1906
Mr.. SAMUEL r. EMERSON,
Skowhegan, Me.
Ny Dear Sir -
Your letter OF yesterday
making inquiry of me as to what my
position would be upon the question OF
Initiative and Referendum should | be
nominated and elected TO the Senate,
before me. | can state that | am most
earnestly In favor OF so changing the
organic law Of this State as to give to
the psople the right OF direct legislation
aud the power of veto L Is the most
important and progressive movement
that has engaged the thought and mind
OF the progressive voter of this State
and country for many years. Il is the
basic principle of true democracy; u
government, as one of our wisest states
men well said, "of the people. by the
people and for the people," as distin-
guished from plutocratic form OF
government, government for the rich
and m0neyed classes.
There has been no movement so full
OF promise and rich fruition to the com
mon people, so full of hope to the man
possessed of the power and right OF
suffrage, to make himself felt and
heard as is offered by the proposed
amenument to the Constitution provd-
ing for direct legislation through the
Initiative and Referendum. The many
abuses Of corrupt legislation will through
ii be stamped out. The corrupt lobby,
the lobby paid for by the rich corpora.
lions and tax dodgers, the third branch
of the Legislature whose session is not
biennial but perennial, will be thrown
out OF commission when the people have
right to ask and demand that certain
measures be passed by the Legislature,
and If refused their prayer compel the
Legislature to submit the question to the
people where the majority may make
such law as they desire. Through 1t we
may hope for true, representative
government, government by the PEG.
pie. 1t is a measure frought with more
good to the common people than any
demand that has been made since the
Barons of England compelled King John
to grant to them the Great Charter
which WAS the first act that conferred
upon the common people the rights of
freemen.
The people are the government and
they should have the fullest right to
make the laws by which they are gov
erned. Those opposed TO this measure
say that the people do not know what they
want, and that they cannot be trusted
with the power of direct legislation. Is
this true? Do not the sturdy farmer,
the artisan and the laborers 10 our shops
and mills of industry think for them
selves and know what they want as
we'll as the So called captains of indus
try, who accumulate their millions from
the toll and labor OF the industrious of
all classes? Who is 1t that maintains
and pays for the lobby, who Influence
legislation: Ii is they who prevent the
enactment of laws looking toward the
equalization OF taxes; 1t Is they who
work to conceal and keep from being
taxed the property under their control.
The taxes nevertheless have to be paid
just the same, and the laborers and
artisan, yea even the last COW and pig OF
the lone widow is taxed to meet the de.
mande of tire public. And just that
part of the taxes which these moneyed
Institutions, corporations and wild land
owners dodge and avoid paying, to just
that extent Ia added the extra burden
er, lsborer and artisan. Do you think,
Mr.. Emerson, If just law was present
ed to the voters Of Somerset county
bearing equally upon the property of
all, that the voters OF this County, the
farmers, mechanics and house holders,
would not be able to vote upon 1t intel
hgently? think they would. Give
them the opportunity by placing In their
ha, ri In al xrhi oh
75, 900 laoorers petitioned our last Leg
islature, and WAS turned down through
the Influence of the lobby, and you will
see how quickly they will display their
intelligence. But you must bear In
mind that there is but one way to &C.
complish this reform; that is, those who
believe in the bill must go to the prim-
aries and zee well to 1t that they nOmi-
nate men who will not only stand for
what you want bit will work to secure
such legislation.
At the last session OF the Legislature
such a bill was introduced and carried
in the House, OF which had the honor
to be mem Der, by vote OF g. TO IS
but WAS killed IN the Senate. II Ia II
the Senate that the danger comes. Thai
body is composed Of 81 members. L
takes two thirds vote on eonsutu
tonal amendment, 80 that II there AT,
eleven senators who are not In favor al
the proposed legislation they can defeaI
it. The cities of the state where thu
greater part OF the wealth OF the state Il
concentrated, and where the ptimarie'
are most liable to be controlled by tn
Influence of money can and do elect met
under the control OF the great corpora
tons upon whom they can rely TO vote
and work against the interests OF tn,
common laborer, the farmer and small
lard holder. Thus you see the grea
Importance which Is attached to this
question, TO the people of the state; moi
only TO you aud to me but to every trut
and loyal citizen who lie willing to beai
his honest and just share OF the public
burdens, but is unwilling to pay the tai
that belongs TO another To pay.
| have written thus fully because
am very much interested In the subj 'ct
that Is 80 important to US all. thank
you for making the inquiry, and at the
same time l wish to urge you to make
every effort that will aid In the procure
ment Of the enactment of this law.
am heartily in favor of such Legislation
and shall use my utmost efforts 10 &C
compllsh 1t as | have ever done In thu
past. Yours sincerely,
(. N. MERRILL.