Evening journal., 1906-10-27
Initiative and Referendum.
wilmington. october p.

Editor The Evening journal.
AS means Of educating voters TO cast
intelligent votes the Initiative and Refer
endum will do work, that must be done
before we can hope for better cond.tionsi
At present many voters cast votes be-
cause they belong to party and consider
it a sort OF dlscredit to desert that party.
But the true spirit Of loyalty will lead a
thinking voter to desert a political
party just as soon as that party ceases to
do effective work for better laws. The en-
iehtened citizens often throw away their
votes, as it Is called, when small party
holds a balance Of power that will COM
pei a larger party TO help il gain a point
Under the Initiative and Referendum
the intelligent voter will ask himself the
question. What is my object in votingy II
he is truly enlightened he will answer
II somewhat as follows: Il am voting TO
| assist In passing such laws as will make
business coed; employment at coed wage s
easy to get for when everyone Is at
work producing some kind Of wealth tho
whole country profits by it. and grows
| rich"
But what kind of laws will produce this
resultg All, here the educational work
comes in. The voter must learn that there
in reality one question at present more
..taly important than any other question
20 those who must earn their living by
heir own labor. That question is an eco
aomic one and deals with the production
md distribution Of wealth. Il matters lit
ie to the working man and woman which
OF two rival candidates Is elected. 50 long
as rents are so high that only a bare liv-
ing is left to the mechanic after It is
paid. Little good does It do the farmer
which OF the parties win as long as rail-
way rates take from his produce all the
profit over the bare cost OF producing IL.
Party harmony is a beautiful word. but II
simply means in most cases good posi-
tions at high salaries to the successful
wire puller and his faithful friends who
share his good fortune.
There is no darkness. but ignorance. -
1t is their own ignorance Of economic
laws that is the real cause of the help
less position OF the working men to-day
Not knowing which way to turn for relief,
and mised by the statements Of papers
fN'H'ANA Ah Aht interest OF the bankers
and the corporations. they have Tor
years voted against their own interests
or have from sheer indifference. failed 10
use the ballot while every law in favor
OF the hnanciers, the trusts. and the cor
porations has been backed by powerful
lobbies at the capital and strictly en-
forced. our representative system has
been responsible for much Of this. for
again and again have a few good men
and true. been elected by the people, only
to find themselves utterly powerless in a
legislature swayed by their enemies The
placing OF the real lawmaking power in
the hands Of the people. by INTRODUCING
the Initiative and Referendum will
change the whole aspect OF the political
world. and make the people the masters
the lawmakers, and the arbitors Of then
own destines, in the coming years.
The value OF the popular vote, as an
educator in schools and colleges has been
proven by its successful introduction into
tho leading colleges of the country to pre-
serve order and to discipline offenders
When il comes 10 choice between an
archy and missrule and law and order
most students are entirely in favor OF law
ana order in spite OF the hazing custom
which has brought disgrace on many III