The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-11-24
union LABOR MAKES
BIC GAIN IN CONGRESS
Several Union Labor Members
Will Hold Their Seats in
Next Congress.
Initiative and Referendum Prop.
osition to Be Given Fore
most Consideration.

Washington, D. C.,Nov. 22.-Private-
ly the politicians are admitting that
IN the campaign just closed organized
labor has exercised powerful in
fluence. 1t is admitted that in addi-
tion to the election of several Union
| card Congressman, there are in the
next House 104 members who favor
| the passage Of a bill for the immedi-
ate establishment Of
Q) The Advisory Initiative, to ap-
ply to questions of interstate COM
merce (the trusts), civil service, i'm
migration, trial by jury or any mod
ltlcauon Of the law Of injunction,
elght-hour day in government con-
tract work, and the submission Of
constitutional amendments for the in
ltlat1ve and referendum, election of
United States Senators by the people,
| and the election of fourth class post
masters by the patrons of each office
and
(O The Advisory Referendum, to
apply to laws Of Congress and
| measures passed by either House.
This is a modified form Of the in
itiative and referendum. 1t can be
| established by statute law and if
adopted will lead to constitutional
amendment for the initiative and
referendum. The Federal constitu-
! ton is practically unalterable under
existing machine rule, and even If it
were possible, an amendment framed
by the machinerule Congress would
be an unworkable system of initia tive
and referendum; whereas the system
framed under the advisory initiative
will be by the executive committees
| National Grange, Farmers Union, and
other non partisan bodies and will
! be ideal, for their interest will be on
the peoples side.
In six states, also, the restoration
Of the Peoples Rule was adopted on
election day, or instructed
| Massachusetts, Maine, Delaware,
| Michigan, Montana and Oklahoma.
In previous years six other states
voted in favor Of the initiative and
| referendum. These states are Oregon
! South Dakota, Illinois, Ohio, Utah and
Texas. Nevada has the referendum
The program is to secure two years
| hence not only a majority in the Ma
tionA House but also a. majority vote
| in the Senate, and to pledge the Presi-
dent; also to get Is or 20 more states
! TO get the Senate the candidates
for the legislature are. to be pledged
to instruct the holdover United States
Senators and to vote only for such
! United States senatorial candidates as
arc pledged.
Leading up to this 1908 campaign
! there should be introduced in the city
councils and county boards, bills fol
the Immediate establishment of q
system Of advisory initiative and ad.
visory referendum. This should be
followed up by the questioning O.
candidates for alderman, mayor AM
the county board. and the publicat tior
of replies. Aldermen and county com
llissiONers will enact into law the
desired measures if they are brough
face to face with the proposition. They
must seek reelection and dare no
turn it down. If they do they can b
defeated at the polls.
In Buffalo, N. Y, Detroit, Mich.
Winnetka, ILL.,, and Belleville, ILL.,, th'
aldermen installed the direct-vote
system and did Sc before the campaign
opened