The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-08-11
MACHINE RULE DOOMED:
HISTORY OF. MOVEMENT
Machine Rule is the Rule of the
Few Through the Delegate
Convention System.
How Movement Was Established
in Several States and Some
thing Of Progress Made.

through the convention system. The
people are misrepresented III the con-
vent1ons, and so, at election time, the
only choice Of the voters 1e (which
machine shall be elected ruler?"
This is machine rule" against
which there Is such q growing popu-
lar sentiment. The manifest remedy
Is to re-establish a system whereby
voters can instruct representatives or,
better still, establish a. system where
by the voters can veto the measures
passed by the city council, legislatures
or congress and by which they can
Initiate measures by petition.
This method Of banishing the rule
OF the Few and re-establishing self gov
eminent Is now assured in eleven
American states. The latest to fall
In line is Maine, where the democrat
and republican parties have both, in
their recent conventions, promised to
abolish the present system. Direct
nominations and direct vote system
for public questions is to be the culture
system Of Maine.
A review Of the movement for peo-
pies rule in America is inspiring.
Fourteen years ago. the American
Federation Of Labor and other reform
forces In this country declared for the
establishment of the Initiative and Re-
ferendum. -Four years later, the Flu
sion legislature Of South Dakota SUBJ
m1ttej constitutional amendment for
the system, which was completely
established In 1899. The clause applies
to state and municipal questions. Five
per cent of the voters can propose any
measure they choose.
In 1900, the people of Utah voted
to establish constitutional amend
ment for the Initiative and Refer
endum, but three republican legisla-
lures have refused to install. the
system.
In 1902 the people of Oregon adopt
ed a constitutional amendment for
the Initiative and Referendum and
the system was established two years
later. The initiative has been used
for twelve questions and the Refer,
endum for but one.
Nevada established the Referendum
in 1904.
In Texas, the advisory initiative
within the political paties was es-
tablished early in 1905. Under this
system, the democrats expect to vote
direct for presidential nominees in
1908 and for the chief planks In the
platform. The system Is ........
ten line statute and can be in
stalled this year In the forty states
that elect legislatures II the reform
forces demand it and will question
their candidates.
The Illinois legislature has establish
ed a public opinion system and Chi
caRo- las s~used~~it to- establish public
ownership Of the street railway
system.
In 1904, the state machin. in Mon
tana was forced to submit constitu-
ttona| amendment for the Initiative
and Referendum to be vota1 for next
fall.
In Delaware, the last legislature was
induced to submit the question, Shall
the legislature establish the advisory
initiative and advisory referendum
This year, success is practically
achieved in Maine as has been pointed
out. In the new state Of Oklahoma,
the adoption of the Initiative and Re-
ferendum 81 believed to be practically
At the constitutional con-
vention to be held soon, a majority
Of the delegates will doubtless be
pledged to a direct vote system for
public questions.
Thus, in eleven American states,
the people are assured Of the re-
Of their sovereignty or
have it already. In all the other states,
there Is strong movement along the
same lines which Is sure to succeed
for the worlds tendency Is in that
direction. A national campaign is also
in progress and it is along lines that
makes it possible to achieve complete
success in this years campaign.
Verify, the world Is making for
better things. Only a few years ago,
the reactionary political forces seemed
to be making Roadway, but underneath
it all, the leaven Of progress was
actively at work, and today we see
not only the splendid movement against
rule In this country, but the
liberals are in power In England and
Trance