The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-06-08
MAJORITY RULE AN ISSUE.

In weighing the so-called arguments
against the restoration of majority
rule that are being put forth through
out the country, bear in mind that
wherever there is no special privilege
in a bill the guardians of the public's
welfare are willing that the people
should vote on it, but wherever a
special privilege is wrapped up and
tucked away in bill or other public
measure these public guardians are
wildly opposed TO government by a
mob
Charles P. Taft, brother Of the Sec
rotary of war, is q millionaire pres1-
dent of the Cincinnati gas monopoly
and is vehemently opposing the restor-
alton of majority rule. His connec-
ton, however, with private monopoly
is not shown in the biographical sketch
in who's Who" written by Mr.. Taft
himself. Why is it that this is con-
cealed?
Senator Lodge of Massachusetts is
another open antagonist. But every
one knows that Mr.. Lodge is one of
the chief speakers in the Massachu-
sets Republican machine.
Only the ruling few or the uniform
ed are opposing the restoration of the
peoples rule.
The referendum has been part of
our political machinery from the be-
ginning of the government. The con-
stitution of the United States was
adopted by referendum. So were
the state constitutions. In a somewhat
awkward and expensive form it is a
regular rule of British political pro-
cedure, as it is in France. Only the
other day the German emperor made
use of it. When his parliament diff
fered from his colonial policy he re-
ferred the matter to the people and
they sustained him. Instead OF being
rejected by the founders of modern
political institutions, the referendum
has been adopted with more or less
completeness by them all. Every civ
ilized nation. except Russia, refers all
questions of fundamental Importance
to the voters for ultimate decision.
Nor is it otherwise with the initiative.
In our national affairs the initiative
works painfully and with cumbersome
impediments, but it is there none the
less. For example we may cite the
slow but certain triumph OF the pop,
ular election Of senators. This is the
initiative, hampered but unmistakable
and there are few to deny that 1t
would be better for the country could
the process 20 more directly to it's end
What Mr.. Bryan wishes is the same
unimpeded initiative and referendum
in national affairs which Oregon, Da
kota, Okla homa and other states en-
Joy in local matters
The initiative and referendum are
still in the status of experiment. They
are steps in the cropping progress OF
the people toward genuine self-gov
eminent and they may be blunders
Time will tell. But thus far where
the experiment has been tried it has
worked we'll upon the whole. The
idea is one of the most vital in pres
ent-day politics. The trend of popular
political aspiration throughout the ma
ton is toward measures identical II
principle with the initiative and ref
erendum. In other words the tend
ency is toward government by the pee
pie without Intermediates. How t.
accomplish this desirable end is
question of method merely. The en-
itself will never be abandoned, and
one path fails to reach it, some othe
and better one will be chosen.