The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-03-23
PEOPLES RULE PLAN
SWEEPS the NATION
Number Of State Legislatures Pass
Initiative and Re-
ferendum.
Minnesota, Usually in the Lead,
Not Registered With
Progressive.

rum OuT washing tO1A Correspondents
Special to Labor World. Duluth.
March Fl, 1907-The initiative and re-
ferendum is sweeping the country, as
have the Australian ballot and the d.
rect nominations system. The Miss
ouri legislature has just submitted
constitutional amendment for the initi-
alive and referendum, and the Okla
homa Constitutional convention has
adopted the system. In Oklahoma
there were only five delegates who vot-
ed against it. In Missouri there was
a practically unanimous vote in the
House, with but six negative votes in
the Senate.
By vote of "a to II the North
Dakota house has passed a bill sub
hitting to the people constitutional
amendment.
In the state Of Washington the
House has passed a bill submitting a
constitutional amendment, the vote
standing sc to 26.
Leaders of the several parties in
Wisconsin are each advocating a bill
for the initiative and referendum.
Something will surely be accomplished
this session.
In Michigan, at a recent joint ses-
sion of the committees of the House
and Senate having in charge the bills
for initiative and referendum, argu-
ments were presented by the heads OF
the State Grange, State Federation OF
Labor, State Referendum League, Pro-
gressive Voters League and other non
partisan organizations 1t is believed
that this union Of the city and cOun-
try voters will carry the day.
The Ohio legislature, an adjourned
| session of which meets next year, is
pledged to submit constitutional
amendment.
In Pennsylvania, both the State
Grange and State Federation Of La
bor also a State Referendum League,
| are demanding a direct vote system for
public questions and a Republican
| leader, former state Senator Finn, has
taken up the issue. Sometime ago he
| framed a bill for the initiative and
| referendum for cities and borougs, and
secured it's introduction in the House,
| The bill has been reported unanimous
ly, and the local Oranges and Trade
Unions are bringing pressure on their
| representatives.
In New Jersey, too, the restoration
| of direct vote system, for public
| questions has become a live issue. Bills
| for the initiative and referendum for
| the state have been introduced by re-
quest Of the peoples lobby, represent
| ing all the reform forces in the state.
The State Federation of Labor is de-
handing the measure, and it is said
that the House, which is Democratic,
is pretty sure of passing the bills; thus
putting it up to the Republican Senate.
which cannot afford to defeat these
! popular measures.
Adjoining these last mentioned states
is the formerly boss-ridden state Of
| Delaware which is completely redeem
ed. Two years ago the legislature SUBJ
mitted to the people the question,
"Shall the legislature establish the
advisory initiative and advisory refer
endum?" At the election last fall the
people said YES" and by an 8 to
vote. In the city of Wilmington the
vote was II to 1. This winter the
House has unanimously passed bill
| for the advisory initiative and advisory
referendum for Wilmington, with a
state bill pending.
| Over in New England, the former
"cradle Of liberty" both the great par
ties in the state Of Maine have PROM
Used to submit a constitutional amend
tment for the Initiative and referendum
The details Of the measure are now
being worked out.
! In Massachusetts, where the House
has repeatedly passed bill for the ad-
| visory initiative, both the Senate and
the House were pledged at the recent
election to pass the bill
! Previous to this practically unani-
nous action in these thirteen states,
seven states had established the direct
vote system, namely, Oregon, South
Dakota Utah, Illinois, Texas, Nevada,
and Montana, while nationally 100
members of the next National House
are pledged. The pledge is to work
and vote for statute for the imme-
d1ate establishment of the advisory
initiative for eight questions, and the
advisory referendum for laws Of Con-
gress and bills passed by either House.
! Bills have been introduced and are
being considered in all the other
Northern states, also in Arkansas and
Virginia, at least.
This wide-sweeping movement for
final power in the voters-the termina-
ton of Machine Rule-is part of the
more general movement for complete
dominance of the people. No party or
faction is openly opposed to the
change. The program is eminent
ly American and will surely succeed,
The tendency of the world is towards
Majority Rule. Machine rule is fast
disappearing. The new regime, judy
Ing by what is taking place in Ore
gon and South Dakota, is to usher In
a new era Of liberty and of progress