Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-23
IN LABOR CIRCLES

the local labor field is the continuation of
the strike Of the carriage and wagon
workers. and the interest among plumbers
and others Of the pipe trades as to the
outcome Of the dissensfons between masters
and journeymen, which is now awaiting
decision at the hands Of the board of arbi-
tration.
The strike Of the carriage and wagon
workers is in the hands Of Mr.. John III.
Brinkman, president of the Central Labor
Union. and his supporters, embracing the
membership of every labor union in the
District, arc confident that success will ul-
courtesy of the Bartenders' Union Mr..
Brinkman has been given headquarters
rooms in their club house. 9O5 E street.
The workingrlen of Washington are much
interested in recent reports from Helena,
Mont, which state that there has been
amendment for the establishment of the
peoples rule in place of machine rule This
amendment was proposed by the last legis-
lature and was carried in the recent cleo
ton by six to one vote. Thus the cleo
tors in Montana have established the
initiative and referendum.
1.-The vote was 36,374 for the system and
6,61G against it. This vote is rs per cent of
the vote for candidates. Thirteen thousand
two hundred and seven of the electors Who
voted for men did not vote for or against
the proposal for initiative and referen-
dunn system. They were too ignorant and
thereby were self-disfranchised. This elm
ination of the low-grade voters is one OF
the striking features of referendum voting.
1.-The adoption of the system is direct
result of the efforts of the Montana State
Federation of Labor. Four years ago the
state conventions OF both the leading par
ties refused to promise to submit con-
stitutional amendment The executive
council of the State Federation of Labor
recently issued circular letter to the CEN
trail and local unions in the commonwealth
requesting them to at once appoint two
comm: tees, one to call upon the legislative
candidates and request them to pledge that
if elected they would vote to submit
constitutional amendment for the initiative
and referendum, the other committee to cir
culate for signatures among the electors an
agreement to vote only for such candi-
dates as should pledge to vote for res
toration of majority rule.
Another step was made soon after cleo
ton day Petitions to the legislature were
printed and circulated throughout the state
and during the session when the .1nltiative
and referendum amendment was up LOT
consideration seven to fifteen petitions were
read daily This was continued for twenty
days -.
When a vote in the house was taken II
passed without open opposition. In the sen.
ate it received more than majority, Out
la cked the necessary tWO-thirdS for half
the senators had held over. -
Thus the action of both state conventions
was overruled as the result Of action by
non-partisan organization. The question
ing of candidates for the popular measure
prevented an evasion of the issue and the
circulation of petitions helped to educate
the voters.
In the next campaign the political leaders
We'd with each other in declaring for the
initiative and referendum, the state con-
ventions of both the leading parties de-
clared for the measure and the next Ie2lS-
lature submitted 1t.
The private monopoly corporations, how
ever. ''doctored' the proposed majority-rule
system The political machine, controlled
by them inserted provision that no
measure should be proposed by the voters
to amend the constitution or local or special
laws and that no state law should be pro-
posed unless it should receive the required
percentage of signatures in two-fifths of
the counties. The system submitted pro-
vded also that measures passed by the
legislature and for which vote by the
electors is ordered should not be suspended
by the filing OF petition unless 10 per cent
of the voters join in signing it.
Subject to these important limitations the
system as outlined in the constitutional
amendment is the same as the oregon
amendment, But everything depends upon
the character of the provisions IN the
statute law to put the system into use.
ing of the majority system is confided
to the legislature. The machine Is en-
trenched in power and 1t does It's utmost
to continue so. It's self interest is to frame
This difficulty can be obviated In other
states if the reformers will work for the
establ ;shment of the advisory in atiVe,
for then the constitutional amendment can
be framed at a conference of the non
partisan organizations. Such conference
would have the peoples interests at heart
and therefore would submit the very best
form of initiative and referendum system
The measure thus agreed upon would be
attached TO initiative petition, printed,
circulated for signatures and when signed
by the required number of voters 1t would
be put to a referendum vote at the next
election. The candidates for the legislature
would be pledged to submit the measure
should their constituents so request.
Bat without waiting for the amendment
the needed reforms. such regulation of
railroad rates could be instructed for
through the advisory Initiative, while the
advisory referendum would enable the peo-
pie to veto undesirable acts of the legis-
lature.
Briefly described the initiative and referen-
dunn is system for direct voting by the
people on public questions. 1t is used in
combination with representative govern
ment and is a return to the principles OF
government that existed in this country
until the rise of the delegate convention
system during the years 1923 to 1880.
Previous to the convention system the
voters instructed at will by direct vote
This was done at town meetings in rural
New England and elsewhere at mass meet
ings. Furthermore, the members OF the
legislature and of the national House were
pledged by districts and not by machine
rule state and national conventions.
To return to the principles of majority rule
has been the object of the initiative and ref
erendum movement in Montana. The voters
have instructed the legislature to frame a
system whereby they 1.-THE voters can bring
to a direct ballot any questions they may
choose to handle except those mentioned
in preceding paragraph Governmental
machinery is to be provided whereby 5 per
cent of the voters can refer to their fellow
citizens one or more of the laws passed by
their legislative representatives. This Is
the referendum. frequently described as the
peoples veto. The initiative is another por-
ton of the system. The governmental sys-
tenn is to be such that per cent of the
voters can propose a measure and have it
put to a direct vote of the people. This
Initiative system is known also as direct
legislation.
The system of government as a whole
legislature initiative and referendum-fs an
up-to-date form of representative govern
ment. Machine rule is not representative
government, for the machine is ruler. 1t
does not represent the people
The restoration of the peoples rule is pro-
ceeding with graf rapidity. The movement
has succeeded in twelve states while 1O7
members of the next national House are
pledged. The states are Oregon. South
Dakota, Utah, Texas, Illinois, Michigan,
Ohio. Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts,
Oklahoma and Montana. In each Of the