The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1907-03-07
FOR MAJORITY RULE.
six States and over a Hundred Congress
men.


men.
In the 1906 election six states voted
for some form Of the initiative and ref
erendun or elected majority in the
legislature pledged to such a system,
while nationally lot members Of the
next house are pledged to the establish
nent Of a national direct vote system.
The states are Massachusetts, Maine,
Delaware, Michigan, Montana and Ok
Iahoma. Previous to this six other
states had adopted the direct vote sys-
tenn or the voters had declared for II.
These states are Oregon, South Dako-
ia, Illinois, Ohio, Utah and Texas. Ne
vada has the referendum.
In Delaware there was an advisory
referendum vote instructlng the legls-
lature to establish the advisory initi-
alive and advisory referendum. The
vote was In the affirmative, s to 1.
In Massachusetts, the house and SEN
ate are pledged to establish the ad-
visory initiative and advisory referen-
dunn. twenty-five OF the forty state
senators are pledged, with a practical
" unanimous vote In sight in the house,
In the TIVE preceding legislatures the
house passed measure which was de-
feated In the senate
In Oklahoma nearly all the delegates
elected to the constitutional conTen-
ton, which assembled Nov. 20 are
pledged to incorporate in the proposed
system OF government the initiative,
referendum and recall.
Up ID Maine both the leading parties
have pledged to submit constitutional
amendment for the initiative and ref
erendum.
III nearly every instance where the
direct vote system for public cues
lions has been declared for the moving
cause has been the organizations that
do not nominate for office-referendum
leagues, labor unions and oranges The
method employed has been the ques-
tioning Of candidates. This has raised
the issue, and most Of the leading can
eiIaates have pledged or were defeated.
In cities, too, this nonpartisan sys-
tenn and the pledging Of the aldermanic
candidates Cor the advisory initiative
and advisory referendum have restored
the pa3ple's power In local Affairs
Bellept IL. was thus emaneipated
from Il ie rule this year. Buffalo
has ~ ssed the system for two
years AL Detroit. Mich, for -four
years. Winnetka, ILL.,, where the sys'
tenn originated, has used the advisory
referendum for ten years
The only difference between the initi-
alive and referendum and the advisory
system Of that name Is that the vote
under the. Initiative and referendum Is
legally binding. while under the ad
visory system the vote is morally bind
ing. The moral obligation is complete
ly effective. however, for the leglsla
tive candidates while up for office are
pledged in writing to obey the will Of
their constituents when expressed By
referendum vote.
The establishment Of the advisor.
system is much easier than the secur
Ing Of constitutional amendment, ant
1t leads to constitutional changes
For these reasons Massachusetts
and Delaware have made their star
against mae1iRe rule by instructing TO
the advisory initiative and advisor.
referendum. Illinois has the advisor.
initiative, and nationally 1o7 member
OF the next house are pledged TO tn
advisory initiative and advisory refer
endum. The national programme
however, limits the system at the star
$ to eight legislative topies--namely, In
J terstate commerce, civil service, in
< migration, trial by jury or any mod
1 fication Of the law Of injunction, eigh
/ hour day in government contract wor
, and the submission of constitutions
amendments for the initiative and rel
erendum, election OF United State
senators by the people and election Q
fourth class postmasters by the patron
OF each office.
This national movement has bee
brought to it's present stage throug
: the combined efforts OF Referendum
+ leagues, the American Federation
q Labor and state oranges In sixtee
4 states, The A. r. Of L. and the labt
Y representation committee Endorsed Il
y questions, which we're presented
y the National Federation For People
K Rule, largely composed Of Referendum
leagues.
The argument that is advanced q
4 the proposed national system for dire
4 voting "a that IT'S establishment VI
q Danish machine rule and restore n
y jority rule in other words, will r
" store the government to the form
= which it existed in the days OF Was
ington. Jefferson, Madison ana Monrc
At that time the voters instructed
win AZ town meetings in rural Ne
England and elsewhere at mass mes
inRs Furthermore, the candidates I
.. the state legislature and for the y
az tionnI house were pledgel BY distric
~ ana not BY machine rul&d state al