davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Dickinson press., 1907-02-23
Initiative and Referendum

legislature when the house recon-
sidered a former vote and on Sat-
utday passed the initiative and
referendum bill. In the senate on
Monday the Plain initiative and
referendum bill passed, having
been made a special order, but
the amendment permitting con-
stitutional amendment by the
initiative as other matters, was
defeated.
Referendum is the reference to
the popular vote of the question
whether a proposed measure shall
become a law. Our state consti-
tutions and amendments thereto
are adopted by popular vote, and
by legislative action certain spe-
cial measures are sometimes SUBJ
mitted to popular vote.
In certain cantons of Switzer-
land a sort of referendum has
been in practice since the 10th
century, where it has worked so
we'll that it has conquered all
opposition. There, certain meas
ures must be submitted to DoDu-
lar vote if demanded within 90
days after publication by 10000
voters. From 1874 to 1891 out of
149 laws, ~ we're referred to the
people and IS of them rejected.
The referendum presents to the
people a single clear issue and
their judgment is not biased by
the fog of argument or the power
of oratory.
In the United States the refer
endum is making slow but steady
progress and it is a noteworthy
fact that in the West the greatest
development in direct legislation
has been made.
Four states, South Dakota,
Utah, Oregon and Missouri have
direct legislation sections incor-
DOrated in their constitutions.
Nebraska and Iowa and other
western states have laws indicat-
ing the popular demand for a
direct vote.
In practice in the United States
the referendum means that no
law, or, if in a city, no ordinance,
may go into effect until the ex-
piration Of specified time, dur.
ing which, if a reasonable minor.
ity, from $ per cent in South
Dakota to IS per cent in Wash
ington, petition for a referendum
the law cannot become operative
until ratified or rejected by &
majority of the popular votes.
This gives the people the veto
power over bad laws representing
the negative side of direct legis.
lation reform. The positive side
of direct legislation is the initia.
tive by which a minority ranging
from 8 per cent in Oregon to L!
per cent in Los Angeles, may file
a petition for a law or ordinance
By means of the initiative a direct
primary law was enacted in Ore
gon in 1904 by a vote of more
than 5 to I; and the passage
nearly q to I, of a local option law
which had again and again been
defeated in the Legislature.
The Dickinson press., 1907-02-23

SOUTH DAKOTA is trying to Sc
cure an appropriation to induce
immigration and cites North Da-
kota as a shining example of what
can be done along that line.
The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1907-04-27
TOO SEVERE PUNIsH,ME EMIT.

William r. Stead, the London editor,
puhicist and all around reformer, has
promised Chicago that he will soon
visit that city again. When Mr.. Stead
last visited Chicago he wrote a book
about what probably would happen elf
Christ came to Chicago" The book
was not all prosaic, to say the least
and, under the circumstances the peo-
pie of Chicago ought to be under Sc
we're nervous tension. Mr.. Stead may
write another book. The only time he
to talk and when he stops talking he
commences to write.
He has been talking ever since he
landed in New York, and Carnegie's
peace congress has done little more
than listen to Stead. He anagnani-
mously stopped long enough to let MIR.
Bryan say a. few words. Perhaps this
courtesy was extended on account of
Mr.. Bryan's recent visit to London.
Stead is equally at home promoting
a peace congress, interviewing Euro
pean monarchs and making midnight
tours through the Sums of great cities.
In fact, il he has a speciality outside of
writing and talking, it is examining the
underworld of the large cities. Just
why he should select Chicago for two
visitations is hard to understand. Chi
cago has been reputed to be IL wicked
city, hut we do not think it deserves
such a severe punishment.
The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1907-04-27
SOME GOOD LEGISLATION.

On the whole, work Of the legislature
Just adjourned will result in Il distinct
gain for the state. Like other legisla-
lures it attempted to do too much.
Perhaps it sinned in this direction even
more than any of it's predecessors, but
some measures have been enacted into
law which are steps in the right di-
rection.
Reasonable rate regulation Of pas
senger and freight traffic ought to re-
suit in ending agitation which has been
damaging both to the railroads and the
people. In this matter of rate regu-
lation the legislature has bowed to the
public demand, and the action Of the
members of both houses has given the
people assurance that they are the rep
resentatives of the people, and not OF
the railroads.
The establishment of a permanent
tax commission, if that commission
rises to it's full opportunities, will
eventually prove itself the most i'm
portant measure that has been enacted
for many years. Minnesota is in a, way
now to take it's stand among the most
progressive of the states of the Union
on the important question of taxation
Heretofore it has been far behind most
other states.
The registry tax law for mortgages
is sane and enlightened measure that
will result in producing revenue for
the state, and will do away with a
great amount of tax lodging. 1t will
enable investors and borrowers to deal
with certainty.
The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1907-04-27

produce many superior pieces of work
"h'ch give them international reputa-
lions among connoisseurs. but they re-
main forever among the vast army of
medlocrity. Among the many strug-
cling artists who are now working in
Paris, probably none has worked with
greater success than Andrew O'Con-
nor. whose talents are recognized as
unusual, and whose work is witness of
his rare ability as sculptor. O'Con-
nor was born in Worcester, Mass.
thlrty-two years ago, of Irish parent
age, and early in life was employed
with his father in the more or less I'M
attractive work of cutting out grave
yard decorations from stone. His abil-
ity with the chisel early brought him
much admiration and the opportunity
to perfect himself in his art in foreign
countries. Before he went abroad,
however, he produced some decorations
for st. Bartholomew church, New
York, which showed the latent posi-
bllltles which he is now developing.
The critics predict great future for
|O'Connor, and we can hut add the ex-
preston of confidence we feel in the
young mans future success, based upon
his successful past and the racial ten
dency to stick to what he attempts
which is his inheritance.
The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1907-04-27
The learned Deln1as and Jerome and

The learned Delmas and Jerome and
the wise Fitzgerald succeeded in prov
ing that Harry Kendall Thaw is not
insane, but drove twelve men crazy in
so doing, besides sowing more tares
in the garden Of the Lord, thanks to
the great long arm Of the press, than
all the Sunday schools in the country
will be able to weed out in a thousand
years, says the Midway News. So sue
cessful was the demonstration that it
is to be repeated in the fall. In the
aneantime another batch of criminal
lawyers will Thaw out a few $1,000
williams for themselves during the
summer months, and the young Harry
will be given hot time for his money.
II the stuff holds out the daily press
hopes to turn the entire United States
dnto one vast madhouse.
The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1907-04-27
the employer although his very life de-

the employer although his very life de-
jpends upon fair treatment and living
wage, and the reason seems to be
that the laborer had no voice in maxi
ing the laws, and the principle of pro-
lection to laborers not having been in
Icorporated in the early structure Of our
laws, hence we have so many enact
ments for the protection of the life
and health of laborers set aside on
constitutional grounds.
Anyone who wishes to learn of the
awful crimes perpetrated on the people
of the slums and sweat shops of New
York, on the thirty thousand children
being deformed in body and soul, or
slowly drove to death in the cotton
mills of the South, and of the other
thousands sacrificed at the affairs of
mammon in the silk mills, the cotton
mills, and the glass factories, and coal
mines Of the north, may read the har-
rowing tales in Jacob Riis' How The
oIHeA 1AdAl LIVES anu Ill socHaIol hoV-
eridge's speech on child labor, speech
that every citizen should read. Doubt-
less that overworked text,-"The poor
ye have always with ye," will be
urged, but it is no extenuation of crime
against the poor. Man, by his power
over the forces Of nature, has increased
his producing capacity perhaps one
hundred fold within the last quarter of
a century and this is particularly true
in the United States; hence in America,
with it's rich soil, it's varied climate,
its boundless resources, it's energetic
should be no poverty; eliminate the in
justice that is the fruit of greed and
avarice and there will be a suff1ciency
for all. Our Lord did indeed say that
the poor would be always with us; so
did He say that great multitudes would
go to destruction: that the world
would be His enemy; but He certainly
did not will those things; is not His
prediction of poverty always in the
world but another count in that terri
BILE indictment that He forewarns us
He will bring against men on tho last
day? So with all due submission, 1t
would seem that there is great need
now, not of a protector or a defender
for the rich among our hierarchy, but
of another st. James to say to those
who get wealth by depressing the poor
and other unjust means, go to now,
We rich men, weep. and howl, for the
hire of the laborers of which you have
defrauded them crieth out, and the
cry Of them hath entered into the ears
Of the Lord Sabaoth.'
P. j. M.
jacksonville, Cal, April 16, 1907.
The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1907-04-27

DIR. Crapsey who WAS expelled for
heresy by the Eipiscopalians a few
months ago, is going to start church
Of his own, says the Omaha True
Voice. His decision is no surprise. 1t
is in accord with the natural evolution
of Professionalism. Whenever Il preach
er is kicked out from one sect he pro-
ceeds to form another with his heresy
as its central doctrine and himself as
the leader. He is simply following the
EXAMPLE of the founders of the sect
which he left He is no worse than
they We're.
The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1907-04-27
TALK PEACE AND PRACTICE WAR,

While the Peace Congress was in
session, France was carrying out a
plan to almost double her navy, the
United States was hurrying the build
ing of six new battleships, Russia was
constructing Il brand new navy and
Japan and England were keeping pace
with the others. All this goes to show
that men talk peace but practice war
and they justify their war prepara-
tons by peace talk. They say that
the large navies and large armies are
necessary to preserve peace, and that
the maintenance of these instruments
of war are preventatives of war. The
fact that men are beginning to talk
peace as a permanent condition is evil
dence that they see the folly of war.
In ages gone by war was the play and
pastime of kings and soldiers We're
their playthings. Peace takers can do
much good in this material age and
day by calling attention to the finan-
cial side OF war;
1t Is hard to comprehend what the
thousands and millions spent annually
for war preparations would do if spent
in promoting the welfare of mankind.
Just try to imagine what the annual
cost of the maintenance of Germany's
or Frances army would do IL used to
promote fight against disease. Sup
pose that the millions used to support
millions of soldiers in idleness-sol-
diers who produce not dollars worth
of the worlds goods-were used to
combat the natural enemies of man
kind, such as fevers. swa,nps. malaria
and deserts. If used for such a pur-
pose these millions of dollars, instead
Of being used to promote murder would
be used to save life and to promote
health.
Our own country is at present doing
much to make vast areas of territory
lnhabitable to make sage brush des-
erts beautiful orchards and the abode
Of thousands Of human beings. We
The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1907-04-27

The government at Washington
should ask the publishers of Websters
Unabridged and the Century Diction-
airy to define the word "sectarian,"
says the st. Louis Western Watchman
1t has been used in a. very loose sense
in all departments. The suit brought
by tha Indian Rights Association, in
the name of some members of the
Sioux tribe, against Commissioner Lee
upp to restrain him from paying to the
Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions the
sum of $4,000 on a contract for the
support, care and maintenance of ESQ
aborigine pupils at the st. Francis
Mission School, Rosebud Reservation,
South Dakota. was on April S. decided
by Judge Ashley Could in a District Of
Columbia court, against the contract
schools. The judge holds that treaty
funds of Indians can not be applied to
the support of "sectarian" schools, and
he has signed an injunction to restrain
the Commissioner of Indian Affairs
from making the payment above men,
The government will appeal the
case, and then, no matter which side
gets the decision, it will be taken for
final opinion to the Supreme Court.
The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1907-04-27

New York is trying Il new expert
ment. It has Governor without
boss. and Legislature without lob
nv. The Republican machine in New
York, which has won so many victories
in the last fifteen years, has been
smashed. The Democratic organiza-
ton, which was built up by Tilden and
maintained by Manning and Hill,
passed out of existence years ago. 1t
will be pretty hard to predict what
New York will do on election days
hereafter. 1t takes time. money and
brains to build political organizations
in a state like New York.
The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1907-04-27
Mr.. Bryan seems to have a hard tim

Mr.. Bryan seems to have hard time
trying to avoid becoming a conserva-
tive. His friends are not particularly
pleased over the open support given
to him at Brooklyn by Edward NJ.
Shepard. Mr.. Shepard is a. very learn
ed gentleman. whose democracy seems
to be founded along traditional lines.
His private and public record is I'M
assailable His only offense seems to he
that he is chief counsel to the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad company, and that he
is lawyer whose principal practice
has been for corporations. These are
hard days. The average man seems to
lose sight of the fact that corporation
lawyer is just an employe of the COR
poration.
The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1907-04-27

For the most part the present legis-
lature has not been influenced by par
tisan politics. Its determination to
leave the appointment Of the tax COM
mission and place the responsibility for
that commission on a Democratic gov
ernor, rather than to divide the re-
sponsibility and leave it to ii Demo-
cratic governor and Republican audi
tor and Republican attorney-general.
shows that the partisan spirit was not
strong. 1t is to be regretted that a
couple of members of the Hennepin del
egation thought it proper to play small
politics by opposing an increase in
salary of the Democratic Mayor of
Minneapolis. While supporting an in
crease for Republican judges and other
officers. The day when that kind Of
politics prevailed has passed. The
Hennepin members in question found
that their views were not popular with
the great majority of the legislature.
The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1907-04-27

has been retarded in the past by the
spirit Of clannishness which has ex-
listed between students of different sec
tartan institutions. He regards the
movement made by Bishop McQuaid as
a step in advance and as a recogni-
ton by him Of the need of more in
termngling between the large state
universities and the smaller denomi-
national institutions.
The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1907-04-27

Andrew D. White, first President of
Cornell University, and the intimate
friend Of the founder, issued state
anent lately declaring that he favored
the proposition of Bishop McQuaid Of
the Catholic Diocese of Rochester, New
York, to establish a Catholic chapel,
residence, hall and lecture room at
Cornell University. He says that he
Is in favor Of the establishment Of Sec
tartan and UNCONVENTIONAL schools in
the netehborhood of large universities
In order that the students may get a
broader insight and a wider vision He
maintains that the cause of education
The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1907-04-27
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The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1907-04-27
ENGLAND'S SOUTH AFRICAN
GUESTS,

GUESTS.
London is now entertaining two dis
tinguished personages from South
Africa. One is Louis Botha, who
comes to the meeting of colonial pre-
miers as the Premier of the Trans
vaal, and the other is DIR. Jameson,
who represents another British South
African province. These two men are
enjoying equally the applause Of Lon
doners.
Louis Botha was the leader Of the
Boer forces that caused John Bull so
much trouble recently, while DIR. Jame-
son is the person who inspired the
raids upon the Boer territory, which
finally brought about the Boer war.
Louis Botha's presence at the confer
ence of British premiers is a striking
Illustration of how rapidly it is pos
sible to accord a people recently at
war full control of their own affairs.
The Beers who, few years ago, en-
gagged the attention of 100000 British
soldiers have elected the leader of
their war forces to represent them at
a conference of British premiers in
London. There can be little doubt
that both England and the Beers gain
by such a result. England will prob
ably be able to rule South Africa sue
cessfuly by letting South Africa rule
itself.
The attitude of England toward the
Beers is in striking opposition to it's
attitude toward Ireland. England has
always tried to conquer Ireland by
force or bad government. Its attempt
has been a failure The result is that
the Irish people are practically enemies
of the British government. That thew
will continue to be enemies until they
are given the same privileges and
rights that are accorded to the colon
lists of Australia, Canada and South
Africa there can be no possible doubt.
England persists in it's unreasonable
attitude toward Ireland with a stub
borness that has never been equalled
except it be by the stubbornness of the
Irish people in refusing to submit the
government of their own affairs to an
alien race.
No unprecedented person could give
good reason why there should not be
an Irish premier at the conference in
London. Why treat Ireland, whose
people belong to a different race, diff
ferently from the people of Canada and
Australia. or the Beers In South
Africa? 1t will hardly do to say that
the Irish people in Ireland are not as
we'll fit to rule their own affairs as
are the Irish in Australia. The atti-
tude of England towards Ireland is
due to race and religious prejudice
which is so deep seated that it OBJ
scures the best interest of England
and the whole British Empire. In all
the world England and Englishmen
are the only ones who maintain that
the Irish people ought not to rule
themselves. Some time, and the friends
Of Ireland hope that that time is now
near at hand, England, either from
sheer exhaustion over their never
ending trouble or by force of public
opinion and enlightened thought of the
world, will be forced to admit that the
rights and privileges accorded to every
other race and nationality in the civ
ilized world ought also to be accorded
to the Irish.
The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1907-04-27
ST. PAUL.

hSA0AOl 4<C. LIZ "a W "A. W. IL,
conferred the degrees OH a large class
of candidates at the last regular meet
ing Wednesday,, April "a, at Hibernian
hall. After the meeting the division
entertained Division No. with short
program Miss Reddy and Miss Nc
Donald giving piano selections. Miss
N. Dunford and Miss Margaret Clarke
gave vocal solos, and Mrs. Jas. ]. Nolan
reoited Ninety eight" After the pro-
gram refreshments were served. The
feature of the meeting was an Irish Jig
by Mrs. Degnan and Mr.. Mahoney.
Division No. 4, A. o. H., held their
regular meeting Wednesday, April II,
at Hibernian hall. The meeting was
largely attended. One of the principal
features Of this meeting was the reci-
tation of Erin's Flag by Mr.. w. ].
Regan.
Division No. 8, l.. A. to A. 0. H.,
entertained at cards and dancing Mon
day evening. April %, at Hibernian
hall. The affair was both social and
financial success.
Division No. 2, L. A. to A. o. H.,
will give grand May ball wednes-
day, May 8, at Hibernian hall.
Division No. 6, A. o. H., held their
regular meeting Tuesday evening.
April 23rd, at Fibernian hall. A num-
Der Of candidates were obligated.
Division No. 9, A. o. H., held their
regular meeting at Hibernian hall
Wednesday evening, April "a. A COM
mittee from Division No. waited on
them and invited their degree team
to confer the degrees on class of
candidates at Division No. SIS next
meeting. Wednesday, May LIST. Divis-
ion No. Q accepted the invitation. A
large class of candidates await the
visit Of the team to be initiated. All
members of No. 9's team are requested
to be present.
Division No. 1. A. O. H., held a very
interesting meeting at Hibernian hall
Thursday, April rs. They initiated
several candidates and received sew
eral applications.
At the last regular meeting of Divis-
ion No. s, A. O. H., resolutions Of con-
dolence were passed on the death of
Mrs. Julia Lane. wife of Dennis Lane,
an old and respected member of the
division. A beautiful floral tribute was
sent to the home Of the deceased.
Patrick o'Brien was found dead in
his room in a building at Ninth and
Wabasha streets Sunday. He was
formerly a conductor on the Great
Northern railway and had grown old
in the service. Coroner Miller said that
his death resulted from heart failure,
O'Brien was 40 years old and a MEM
Der of the Hihernian division at st.
Cloud. OF late years he had been en-
ployed in saloons in this city. The
body was removed to the morsue.
The body of Patrick Condor. 142 z.
ROBBIE street. was found in the Mis-
The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1907-04-27

While the legislature has attempted
to do a great deal, it has not done
anything very radical. The railroad
legislation of the session will probably
railroads without question.