The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1907-07-13
THE REFERENDUM.

AS~NS W RORNANeA eSFfSS'N-A NNtSNN-FTs-S -
view Of it's frequent and critical at
titude towards government by COM
mission. 1t says in effect now, that
under various conditions proposed
changes in government have been
submitted to the people for their APP
proval and that no harm has come of |
the practice. 1t says: THE refer
endum has been urgently demanded In |
defense OF home rule in cities and has
been granted again and again, but no
deadly harm has come to Connecti-
out institutions from 1t, Those who
assert that extending it TO the whole
voting population of the State creates
a deadly danger must make this clear
before they can expect others to ac-
cept their Judgment" Very true.
In the first place 1t should be I'M
derstood what this proposition means
which is to introduce into the political
life of Connecticut system of auxili-
airy government by which the original
scheme Of representative government
is to be either abandoned or so modi-
fed as to conceal its original intent.
The founders of the State were not
unaware of the value of a limited ref
erendum. They provided for it in the
constitution in matters which affect
the form OF government under which
1t Is agreed we are to live. The con-
stitution itself cannot be amended
without the consent Of the governed.
1t is that fact which has justified the
argument that in matters affecting the
life Of a locality politically its citizens
shall have the right to pass upon
them. Beyond that, however, the
agitation in behalf Of the referendum
has been based on an unjustified sus-
plcion of the weakness Of American
forms Of government. 1t Is not the
government that has failed where fall
ure to crafty the will OF the people
has been recorded; the men whom the
people have elected to office have fall
ed to do their duty. II the people will
persist In electing unframed and inef-
fcient men to Office, what gain will
there be when they are asked to par
| ticipate in the task of governing !?
What reason is there to believe that
people who will not select their Of
hcers with care will examine their
work carefully and intelgentiy? 1t
would seem rather that people who
do these things are people not to be
trusted with the care of their own af-
fairs at all, and with that view In
mind the referendum becomes a con-
fession of governmental failure, not a
way out of the wilderness Of disap-
Ipointment and vexation of spirit.
The referendum is the discovery of
ambitious office seekers and practical
politicians who are playing the game
for all 1t is worth. They are appeal
Ing to the vanity of the people by as
Isuring them that they are not gov
ernlng themselves and that they will
not govern themselves until they take
the reins into their own hands. If
the people are not governing them
selves who is governing them? There
is no way of taking from them the
power which the constitution gives
them unless they acquiesce in the
theft. There is no way Of oorruptine
them unless they are willing to be COR
rupted. While the present genera
ASSEMBLY is justly criticised for It's
shortcomings the fault for its existence
must be charged up to the people VIII,
so thoughtlessly elected It. 1t may b.
said that If the members were now tc
be subjected to referendum as tt
their usefulness in public Office thes
would stand condemned but thai
would be hindsight on the part Of the
people, not foresight SO the more the
idea of the referendum is considered
the more evident it becomes that 1t Il
not principle of popular government
at all but clever political trick to ge
votes, The fact that it has been re-
sorted to in the State Of Connection
without harm means nothing. The bi
partisan system of organizing city
commissions has been tried In the cit
les of Connecticut and they have no
been ruined, but the fact remains tina
the bipartisan scheme offers all of tn
time the trimmest opportunity imag
Unable to deal corruptly with the af
fairs of the people
The main objection, however, to tn
general use of the referendum is tina
it offers no assurance of better gov
eminent beyond the word of polltica
z spellblnders. Already the people o
this State and this city are asked t
! bear a greater political burden tina,
is good for them. Add to the in
: Vulnerable offices they are unneces