Evening journal., 1906-10-12

are coming representatives from coun-
tries where the old idea prevails and
We must awake lest their apathy cause
US TO lose our birthright
Justice Brewer in a recent speech be-
fore the American Bar Association
sounded a note Of warning against the
increasing Capitalization OF power in
the hands Of the Federal government.
The Initiative and Referendum viii
do away with that possibility because
II win put always I'm the hands OF an
Intelligent body OF citizens the power
20 veto any measure they do not wish
TO become a law and 10 enact any law
which the legislators fail or refuse to
pass.
This Is a republican. a democratic
not in any party sense-principle and
the old aristocracies were afraid OF f.
They declared that II the mass OF the
people made the laws art and Industry
would become thing OF the past. They
would never vote taxes.
But Whore the principle has ruled II
has been trlumphent. The people win
vote taxes. and win spend money but
they want to spend It for the best good
mot In supporting lackeys and popin-
joys and a favored royal family and
attendants. DemOcracies have always
been the greatest spenders but they
spend money on good roads. good
bridges. or institutions Of learning and
matters Of lasting Importance.
The capitol building at Washington Is
the oldest hall IN the world where a
representative body has met consecu-
lively. The Congressal Library IS a
standing refutation that republics viii
spend no money in literature and 20
promote IT.
But the tendency Is towards central.
lzation. II Is the cry Of the age. Con-
centration OF capital Of force. Of en-
ergy, and Of the powers Of government
\ VIII soon land us where an unscrupu-
loiis man az the head OF affairs could
seize The government and destroy tha
Republic.
The power OF sovereignty Is. we are
told IN the people. The Initiative ana
Referendum merely puts back in the
hands of the people thar sovereignty.
IL gives them the ultimate yes or no
on all the great questions Of govern
ment and law making II they desire
to take advantage OF II.
Today we elect men who rule us and
over whom we have practically no con-
troll after we have elected them. To.
day we elect men on the personality
OF the men themselves and We turn our
power and our sovereignty over to tnem
absolutely when we elect him. We must
obey the law which he helps put on thn
statute books whether we wanted such
law or not.
What the Initiative and Referendum
asks is that this power be put baclx
into the hands OF the people. That we
stop making our political campaigns on
men and make our contests on meas-
ures and principles; that we treat our
legislators as experts there to PASS vuf
; laws but II they do not do as the ma
jority desire then we shall still have
the power 10 get what they failed 10
give US at once.
This theory is not new. It appeared
in the mode Of procedure of evey New
England town meeting and prevails to-
day in the transactions OF bodies like
this. Almost every state uses Il when
Il comes TO voting on amendments 70
the state constitution. Some cities have
II on financial matters, such as tn,
making OF loans. Switzerland has Il
and prospers under IT, oregon. Wash
ington and Colorado have It IN whole
or IN part on every law passed by the
legislature. It is not expensive. IL Il
the inevitable step TO stop the growth
OF the control Of the city, state and
national governments by the money
: power"
Another thing in It's favor which
makes a doubly commendable. II dis
franchises automatically the ignorsn
and vicious voter When the Initiative
and Referendum is IN vogue. the ngh
is not on men but on a law and tn
vicious and purchaseable vote mus
read the law on his ballot in order Il
vote intelligently. This means tina
there will be no inducement for the fel
low who cannot read and who expect
money to go to the polls"
Summing up the points made Mr.. Mes
bit said:
"The Initiative and Referendum 4
merely the extension OF the principle
OF the Declaration OF Independents
into all affairs pertaining to govern
ment.
1T viii abolish the lobby. the secre
. corporate influence.
1T is simple and inexpensive.
! 1T places the sovereignty into tn
hands Of all the people where it be
r longs.
1T abolishes the boss and places i
: his stead an effort from whose judge
$ mont there is always an appeal to tn
. judgment OF all the people which
: ever better than that OF one man o
y any group of men.
. "It will stop the concentration Of IN
; powers Of government In the hand
II OF q few.
4 IT will disfranchise automaticail.
without in the least depriving any maj
Of his right 20 vote the ignorant voter.
A rising vote Of thanks was tendore'
n the speaker by the Mercantile Assoc
:, iatlon upon the conclusion Of the ad
II dress.
All business of the association wa
postponed until the next meeting
night, out Of courtesy 10 Mr. Nesbi
who was given the entire evening 70
his remark.