The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-07-15
THE WEEKLY JOURNAL
A POSSIBLE REToLUTIoM.

! the people of the State of Connecticut of the bond-issue suggested for stated public Improvements clearer under standing will be had all around of the | particular kind of government that has grown up here and been tolerated Hitherto the government of Connecti- cut has been attacked for its unrep- | resentative character in the halls of i legislation. There has been taxation without representation, and is today, | but it has been impossible to arouse the interest of the people to the point where 8 correction could be had. The 1 agitation has never ceased, but pro- gress has been repeatedly postponed.
 The enforcement of the idea of the referendum in connection with the pro- posed issue of over six millions of State bonds to accomplish certain State ends, or rather its proposed enforce ment, is directing attention in new and more practical way to the faults in government complained of. We are sur prised that the esteemed Springfield Republican does not see this, but on the contrary lets its enthusiasm for the referendum run away with an other wise calm judgment of what is going on here. The referendum in the State of Massachusetts Is one thing, the referendum in the State of Connecticut as principle of government is an en- tirely different thing. The Republican refuses to see anything worse in the reference of the bond-issue to the peo- pie than would be found in the refer erlce of any other matter of public in- terest to the people, and as we said in the case of the Hartford Times there .ie- something to be said theoretically upon that side of the case, but from more practical point of view the refer eLdum in the State of Connecticut Is made directly objectionable, first, be- cause it sins against representative government, which we have not got, and second because 1t to that extent supports the practice of unrepresenta- five government.
 Ii the State of Connecticut possessed a representative government, in which the voice of the people was in fact the voice of God, as the old political con- troversalists used to put the proposi- ton, there would certainly be two sides to the proposal to make the people, who form social compact because they cannot attend to their public business, a responsible sharer in the work of the legislature The more substantial side, as we look at it, would be that which put upon the shoulders of representa- tive government, except where changes in the form of government, State or local, were contemplated, the task of government, leaving it to the people at the polls to see that government is properly and honestly organized. In that way the original balance of the found CTS would be preserved. But to intro duce the referendum in a State which has long since lost its representative character as little republic is to no nV,lx, fi,rt1oar ooro nltoo+a O on,,o ylioa Fad situation but to further postpone what of all things 1t Is most desirable to es. 4ablish, real representative government The Republican sees this when it ad mits, though rather curtly, that an, sort of referendum here is revolution ary as against theory and practic of government by town acres insteat of by the people, and Connecticut" adds, "cer1ainly needs lot of revolu ton of this kind"
 the proposed use of the referendum il the case of the bond-issue shows t MndI all 6Al6llL iOOSS lQShS III lllG Oldl of Connecticut with regard to govern ment ideals have come to prevail. w have strayed so far from the princi pies of representative government tha people have forgotten what 1t is an have grown correspondingly indifferer to it. It Is now proposed to introduc another loosening tie in exactly th same tlippant manner. The referendul is not suggested here from any faith that idea of strengthening the rule { the people. It is suggested in the hol and expectation that if it is enforced this instance the popularity of u good roads movement will carr through the other two Appropriation without further discussion. Ever sinC the need of extensive appropriation came under discussion to be met vii the issue of State bonds the plan h.
 been to bunch the three and let u good roads movement pull all thr