Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-16
N LABOR CIRCLES
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One OF the legislative agents OF orgAnfzed
labor whose duty It IL to keep in touch with
matters before Consreas affecting the I'M
terests Of the workingmen. said recently
that he II receiving Tar more favorable con-
siderati0n at the hands Of representatives
and senator's than he did before the Ameri-
can Federation Of Labor expressed IT. de-
termination through Its executive council
to enter the field OF politics. He added that
labor az q political factor was different
proposition from what 1t was 40 q pacific
organization appealing and petitioning for
It's rights without any apparent means OF
enforcing its demands.
Recently this legislative agent presented
copies of the resolutions adopted by the
Pennsylvania State Federation of Labor.
and which have since been adopted by
workingmens organizations in a number Of
other states. to representatives In Congress.
The Pennsylvania resolutions recite:
1t Is simply the beginning of a movement
to restore sovereignty to the people, which
had been insldfously but surely wrested
from them until now the people are but
voting machines to register the will of po-
tion agents. The fragrant defiance of the
will and demands Of the people is not even
apofogized for. nor Is any explanation given
and those chosen as servants have, by gross
These encroachments" said the legisla-
tive agent. ARE not OF sudden growth.
They are the results of years Of slow. sly.
but sure. movements, little at a time, I'M
til the people are almost completely en-
thrailed But an awakening has begun In
Montana the trades unions and the farm
ers have wrested from the bosses the sub
mission of a constitutional amendment for
the Initiative and referendum. In Chicago
the referendum Is in use. This year the
trades unions and the farmers unions of
Texas have Joined hands and secured the
establishment Of a referendum system
The action of the Pennsylvania State
Grange and the State Federation of Labor
and the resolutions adopted by District No.
Indicate that an attempt will be made to
restore to the people of Pennsylvania their
lost power and overthrow the political OIL
garchy which has practically subjugated
the people of that state. It Is very easy ter
ribly easy, for the trades unionists and
grangers to do this. All they have to do is
to join hands and select men who will give
publicly an unqualified Yes or No to
their demands and elect them. It is within
their power to utterly change the situation
and restore to themselves the power they
have lost by their indifference and political
bias
with the questioning of candidates and
the referendum they will become of right
the masters, not the men whom they elect,
and the creator will be greater than the
creature
Former Senator Call of Florida has re-
Gently been talking from an organized labor
standpoint.
In a late statement, he said:
Citizens who favor reform in govern
ment and the initiative and referendum as
a means of restoring sovereignty over the
powers OF government to the people quail
fed under a capable electorate are invited
to send their names and addresses to me and
join in appointing committees to organize
movements to carry these measures into
practical ga nd idaf too for
office to pledge themselves to their sup
port.
Missouri, Colorado, California, North Da-
kota, Massachusetts and Illinois. by ma
Jortty vote, have recommended these meas
ures. Nine congressman from Missouri and
Illinois, with their four United States sena-
tors. have been pledged to their support. All
the labor organizations in the United States
are earnest in the advocacy for a reform
in representative government
Resolutions have been introduced In the
support of these measures In the legislature
of Florida, but failed to pass. If the people
of Florida desire to take part with the
great army of citizens arrayed to restore
sovereignty to the people 1t should be made
known to their fellow-citizens who are en-
Enthusiastically engaged in this work.
In Kansas the recent state convention of
the democratic party declared:
I'VE declare in favor Of the initiative and
referendum to the end that local self-gov-
eminent may be realized and the govern
ment brought close to the people In all mat
tiers of Importance.
The initiative and referendum, a mat
ter of fact, is the essence of democracy.
1t opens the way for giving the people
direct voice in all important legislation. We
do not mean by this, nor does the referen-
dunn imply, that all laws enacted by the
legislature must first be passed on by a
direct vote of the people before going into
effect. but that all important legislation in
volving matters in which all the people are
Interested a
Der wish, be submitted to a direct vote for
adoption or rejection.
Advices from Maine indicate, says the
PEOPLES Sovereignty League that both the
their next conventions, insert planks pledg
ing themselves to the initiative and referen-
dunn. The action of the last legislature in
defeating the proposal has aroused the peo-
pie and alarmed the politicians. The can
didates for legislative office are being
questioned by their constituents all over
the state, and most of them are coming
out fiatfooted for majority rule and readily
make the desired pledges
In Oklahoma and Indian Territory there
is a widespread effort that Is reasonably
sure of success, 1t Is said, to place the mi
tiative and referendum in the system of
government when the twin territories shall
be admitted as a state. The concentration
of power in a few politicians is creating a
change of sentiment that calls for more
direct representation for the people. Mr..
There can be no objection to this meas
ure If it DE conceded that the people have
the right to govern themselves. Self-goy-
eminent is the principle upon which the
American states are all founded. However.
up to this time we have had little OF 1t in
the twin territories. Our legislatures have
been corrupted and we have been corrupt
ed and we have been constantly at the
mercy of the jobbers and lobbyists. BY the
adoption of this provision in our constitu-
ton and laws we will no longer be at their
mercy, and the lobby Will disappear. The
destruction Of the lobby of itself Is suff-
cient to justify the adoption Of the pro-
vision"
In a considerable number of Texas coun-
ties petitions are being widely signed ask
ing that the question of the initiative and
be passed on by the voters at
the coming democratic primaries In July.
II a SUFFICIENT number of counties instruct
their delegation to tho state convention, the
principle will likely be adopted and en-
acted into law as there are not many op-
ponents of the system in Texas.
Credentials have been presented and dele
gates seated In the Central Labor Union as
follows:
stationary Firemen. No. 63, James Rus
sell vice John d. Bland.
Bridge, and Structural Iron Workers No.
5. Bert Meise
Beer Drivers and Stablemen. No. 234, Will
IT, -, Coho efar vica n Manager resigned