The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-06-22


tional questions is to be provided by
the legislatures, just as it provides for
the election Of congressman. Action
by the legislatures is to be secured
through the pledging of candidates,
which Is the method whereby the In
1t1at1ve and referendum system Is be-
ing established in the states.
Before a measure initiated by the
people can pass congress by means
OF instructions, it must receive a. ma
jority vote in a majority of the con-
gressional districts. and also in ma
jority of the states. This double-ma-
jority system, as it is termed, pro-
tects the small states. It is this sys-
tenn that is used in Switzerland, and
1t is a notable fact that wherever a
national measure has received ma
jor1ty Of votes in the districts it has
also received the approval of ma
jority Of the cantons' or states.
Tho Advisory System in the States.
Illinois and TEXAS have the advisory
initiative, but there is no provision
for public hearings, or for competing
measures. Last year in Massachu-
sets majority vote in both houses
was pledged for the advisory vote In
structed the members Of the legisla-
ture to install the advisory initiative
and advisory referendum.
Representatives are Agents.
The basis of demand for a system
whereby the voters can instruct their
representatives is that the represent
tat1ves are agents and therefore are
subject to Instructions. In seventeen
states the Bill Of Rights In the con-
st1tution expressly declares that the
legislatures shall not interfere with
the voters right to assemble to in
struct their representatives.
Favorable Changes in Representative
Government.
After the final power is transferred
! to the voters. the character and abil-
| ity of their. representatives is i'm
proved, for no longer is it PORTABLE
TO would-be. monopolists to invest
their funds in debating nominations
and controlling the elections and the
levying of blaeknaail by machine OF
a so-caIled representative is ternin-
| ated. The recent Oregon legislature
completed session untainted by g
single charge of corruption.
The Coming Campaign.
The outlook for the coming cam
paign is promising, for through the
non-partisan system of questioning
candidates the peoples rule has al.
| ready been re-esta blished, or is In the
final stages of establishment ir
twenty-six states, while nationally
more than one-fourth the members o.
the National House are pledged. tt
continue the work and with increased
power a nationaI initiative and refer.
endum committee: is being organized
1t will question the candidates fol
congress and the presidency, and will
| Cooperate with Initiative and refer.
| enduIn state coi1am1 tees and with tn.
existing leagues and declarations. Thu
strategic feature> chiefly relied upo1
Is the fact that candidates who will
! not pledge for more power In the peo
i pie cannot. secure their votes. TIL,
questioning of candidates will pre-
vent an evasion Of the. issue. Here
J tofore in national campaigns the plat
! forms of the conventions have deter
mined the. issues: but next year tn,
questioning of candidates: as to tn.
initiative *and referendum principle
will make it the paramount issue
Machine rule is passing and soon will