The Washington herald., 1907-09-09

Editor The Washington Herald:
The Herald recently quoted from the
Reader an account Of Des Moines new
city charter. which provides for the cleo
ton OF a commission to administer the
affairs Of the city. but which CRAFTS on
that bureaucratic plan the fundamental
democracy OF the full Initiative and refer
endum. and which also permits the
turning out of Office OF public servants
by vote Of the people Cthe recalD.' This
experiment will be watched with great
interest by al students of political prob
lens II should be Of special interest to
the people OF Washington. who are gov
erned by a commission Of three, but are
denied the right of suffrage.
There has been some agitation for the
restoration Of the suffrage in the Dis
trict Of Columbia but the undoubted fact
that Washington. without the right OF
suffrage, Is better governed than most
large cities where the people are allowed
to vote has taken the wind out Of the
sails" OF our local reformers. Those who
oppose District suffrage also remind us
that when washingtOnians had the priv
ilege of eecting their own officials, an
ignorant and venal set Of negro poll
ticlans controlled everything and dis
gTaced and plundered the city. These
comparisons would seem to justify an in
definite continuance Of the present form
of government in the District but the
comparisons are misleading. All they
prove Is that municipal government by
three able and honest Commissioners,
who are appointed, and not elected to
office, is preferable 70. municipal govern
ment by a party machine. The initiative
and referendum would destroy machine
rule, and enable the citizens to vote for
their own interests on all important ques-
tons, regardless of party lines The cor
rupt political machines Of New York.
Philadelphia, and other cities were built
up by alliances with equally corrupt cor
porations, which We're granted special
privileges at the expense Of the citizens.
When the citizens have the power In their
own hands to grant or withhold privileges
sought by corporations. the machine loses
its power. This fact has been demon
strated wherever the referendum system
has been given a fair trial
II this direct vote system were estab-
lished in the District Of Columbia, the
natural consequences would be % that
the more ignorant voters, whether white
or colored, would be automatically dis
franchised. and ~, that good citizens, re-
CARELESS of former party differences.
would be found voting together for the
best interests OF the city on nearly all
important issues submitted to a refer
endum vote. The experience Of Oregon
tends to prove that many who cast a ball
lot for governors and other state officials
do not vote on the questions submitted
at the same election, for the simple rea-
son that they do not understand them,
and Oregon's experience also shows that
party lines are disregarded in referendum
voting.
In The Washington Herald a week ago,
Mr. SHIRLEY pointed out very clearly that
under the direct vote system the menace
Of the ignorant colored vote in the South
would disappear. His line of reasoning
would seem 10 apply equally well to the
District Of Columbia
The Commissioners now holding office
In the District have shown a commend
able disposition 10 respond to the VIII Of
the people, as expressed by individual
citizens and through citizens assoeia-
tons None the less. the present system
of government is out of harmony with
the spirit of American institutions. Sooner
or later the people viii turn to the initia-
tive and referendum as the most hopeful
solution Of our local political problem.
". D. MACKENZIE.
81 street northwest