The Somerset reporter., 1907-04-25
The Next Step.


September 1908. The previous course
of this legislation in other countries,
and in four states in this Union where
it has already been adopted, leave no
constitutional amendment, will be ac-
cepted by an overwhelming majority.
We may therefore speak of the In
itiative and Referendum as an accom-
plished fact and profitably discuss its
powers and what use we may best
make of them.
The tenth amendment provides that
the people may vote directly upon
any measure they please, originating
and adopting any statute that seems
to them wise and repeating any act of
the legislature of which they do not
approve. The Legislature has hereto
fore had all power, absolute and final,
over the law; the people may here
after review, supplement or annul the
work of their representatives. 1t is
not probable that this power will be
frequently used, and it is no argument
against Direct Legislation to say that
it is not as desirable as it should be.
The possibility that their work will be
reviewed will make the Legislature
very careful to pass all laws for which
there is we'll defined demand, will
cause them to refrain from passing
opIy or ti1ta ran,1nopf tn tho oiort "
and will render utterly useless the
profession of the Lobbyist who seeks to
secure special privileges from the
legislature to the disadvantage of the
general public.
Oregon was the first of the United
States to adopt the Initiative and Re-
ferendum and the first law that the
Oregonians insisted upon, after they
had the power Through the Initiative
and Referendum to have what they
wanted, was the Direct Primary. This
{ is the next step in Maine. Who is
there who would not prefer the pre-
cedure of the September election to
the method or lack of method now in
vogue at the caucuses. The party eau
cuses, for selection of candidates, are
now held at any time from May to
September. They are very scantily
recognized by the Maine statutes
The voter must be on hand at just
such an hour or he will lose his vote.
As all must attend at the same time
the polling place is always uncom-
fortably crowded. The voter strug
giles to the ballot box to deposit his
ballot under such uncomfortable cir
cumstances as to cause him to regis
ter vow that he will never take part
in another caucus. He is very GER
tain that had he the strength to pass
round with the crowd again, he could
vote second or third time and he is
led to believe that repeating of this
kind is often done. He hears charges
and counter charges of bribery. He
knows that there is no method of ex-
Guiding members of other political
parties from the hall and he feels that
the result as finally declared is not a
fair expression of the majority of his
political faith.
The September election is in sharp
contrast. The voter goes to the hal
at almost any hour of the day that
suits his convenience.
He casts his ballot without fear of
intimidation and with the knowledge
that bribery is almost impossible. He
knows that none but registered voters
may take part in the election. He
has every reason to believe that the
result will be approximately a fair ex
preston of the will of the community
The caucus is often more important
than the September election as nom
ination by the dominant party hat
been, and will continue to be, equiva-
lent to election in the majority of in
stances, 1t should by all meal be
surrounded with all the safeguards
of the Australian ballot system. The
Direct Primary is the next step to-
ward political responsibility in this
state. Let's have it, The last Repub
Iican platform promised it and tive
excellent bills were presented to the
last legislature but the politicians and
lobbyists were able to defeat them
We now have the Initiative and Ref
erendum and can compel the nexi
Legislature to enact a Direct Primary
law, or enact one ourselves. Gov
ernor Chamberlain of Oregon in writ
ing of the political progress in hit
state, recently said, eve now have
the Initiative and the Referendum
and the Direct Primarya and with then
must inevitably go corruption in pub
lie life"
The Direct Primary should be the
next thing to receive the attention Of
the people of Maine.
Obituary.
Alonzo Varney, respected citizen
Of {biu DIoca 6ia6 Thursday of laat