New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-08
-LnE0RMAL REFERENDUN.n

/ direct government of the people by the peO-
nle is ideally the best but in real life is a sheer
impossibllty being Appropriated only III very
small primitive communities. The same must
he said of that orthodox instrument Of direct
government the referendum only under eXcep-
tional and very limited circumstances can II lac
employed in large states. And yet some Of Its
advantages are 80 great that they VIII always
be sought by the best leaders in any democracy.
The most modern instance of this is Governor
Hugbes's employment Of what might be termed
an .infornal referendum" SO significant is this
policv that II merits attention and support
II has long been the custom Of governors to
secure the passage Of such legislative measures
as were dear TO them by using their powers OF
veto and appointment against the opponents OF
those measures. History records in unambigu-
ous words The efficacy of this method, but with
the comment that if serves bad ends as often ms
good and facilitates the displacement of calm
deliheration by anxious, crafty diplomacy IN
legislatures. 70 4 man whose political ana
moral ideas are cut out with the sharp shears
Of logic resort TO this device must always be
distastefuI even when necessary. And so II is
with Governor Hughes. who has declared his
unwillingnoss 10 interfere in this wise with
legislation. Some politicians laughed inwardly
ar this declaration, which seemed TO them
stupid surrender OF the only gubernatorial
c1ldgels worthy Of n legislatures fear. But they
had not taken the informal referendum into
account.
While the informal referendum is by no
means n recent invention, having been used
spasnlodically ever since the days Of Greek de-
mocracies. its true value seems seldom to have
been realized To an overworked executive,
bringing obstinate legislators into line by deny
ing them favors is obviously much less trouble
INlfr Of
convincing addresses after office hours. He may
consider also that there is nothing flagrantly
improper in executive interference with legisla-
ton. such interference being hardly avoidable in
practice and warranted, with qualifications, by
theoretical students of the art of governing.
Nevertheless. while interference may be justi-
fed as a necessity, popular appeal should be
praised as n peculiarly frank demonstration OF
sincerity and also as a means of interesting and
educating the public in vital issues In an ideal
government the legislature would frequently re-
sort TO the informal referendum" just Gov
ernor Hughes is now doing and in case of a
serious conflict between legislators and the chief
executive the contending party who opposed a
popular appeal would straightway bring down
suspicion upon its motives. In government
not quite ideal popular disrepute of many mod
ern legislatures is easily traceable in large
measure TO their eagerness 10 settle important
matters before popular opinion has taken form
and found expression.
The informal referendum" seems destined 10
grow in popularity, if we read the signs Alright.
1t is being helped along by the ever deepening
trust Of great leaders and distrust of petty
ones. Our citizens are learning that neither
wisdom nor honesty is a peculiar and private
property of assemblages but may be possessed
by single men. And with this conviction the
appeal Of an executive TO public opinion gains
4 new force. Many Of us may live to see the
day when even legislatures will be enlightened
enough 10 use the informal referendum in
case of honest doubt or dishonest opposition. 1t
may then appear that Governor Hughes's most
significant reform was this quiet unofficial IN
nOyation.