Devils Lake inter-ocean and Devils Lake free press. (Devils Lake, Ramsey County, N.D.) 1905-1909, 1908-12-18
6iveS2 Sound Argument


Excerpt from Speech: BY chauncey;!
M. Depew, delivered April 25, 1908,
at the Sixteenth Annual Dinner, Of
the Montauk Club Of Brooklyn, In
Celebration. Of Senator DepeW's,
Birthday. ~ss' F. ~+:,3s y :,s2 =,
1.-THE initiative or referendum. and
direct nominations BY. the primary
abolish practically the fundamental
principle of our institutions, which is
representative government. While
they have not been universally
tried, yet the experiment has gone far
enough in some states to illustrate its
work. The New England town meet
ing was ideal government; but it was
the gathering of.sneighbors, limited in
number and in territory, sintellige as
to their local needs, and knowing each
other and throwing the responsibility
upon each individual by an open and
viva voce vote. : The fathers believed
that in the crowded communities
which they saw must come with in
creasing populations in the govern
ment of States and of the country this
power must be delegated to represen-
tatives chosen by the electors to act
for them. 1 have made diligent in
quiry among the Senators and Con-,
gressmen from the States where all
these experiments Il are: being tried.
The initiative permits eight per cent.
of the people to propose a bill,,sand q
majority Of those who vote can adopt
it. From lack of. general public inter-
est which we all know exists, except
in exciting contests. the result is that
a small majority con infiict upon the:
state recurring creations Of the cranks
who are always urging Experimental
and untried suggestions In govern
ment. Can the million, SIX hundred
thousand voters of this state prepare
and perfect a law with as much care
as it can be done by two houses OF the
legislature and the governor selected
for that purpose? In practical legis-
lation importantsmeasures are first re-
ferred to committee which has that
special subject in charge. There it is
subject to hearings pro and con by its
advocates and opponents. Then the
committee gives days and some times
weeks of their time to its perfection
before it is reported. 1Thenait passes
through the ordeal Of discussion in the
two houses with the opportunity for
constituencies. to be Informed and to
inform the representatives, and finally
it is subject to hesreview Of the Presi-
dent or the Governor and their official
advisers. TO say that the same results
could be accomplished by millions of'
voters who are absorbed in their sever
al occupations and .labors, and who
cannot meet for general discussion and
comparison Of views and have no com
mittees for perfeetio Of "details, and
that they can act more wisely than the
representatives whom they have achosS
en- to the upper and lower houses and
the executive, is q patent; absnrdity. 81,
Some states have adopted direct
nomination by the people and the
abolition Of the convention practice:
Senators and Represent tatiYes from
these states tell me that no poor man
can run for office. Other things being
equal as to charaeter and equation,
the man with the most money wins.
1t is proof&of that with which we
are familiar the resistless power Of
organizations, and rganization Is ex-
pensive. AS every voter cannot go on
the party ticket, these laws usually
provide that q candidate TO get his
name on the 5ofieial ballott for the pri-
mary must file a petition signed BY
at least five per cent or the voters;
In some states IL Is naore. "a New, New,
York City, with its s,ix hundred and md
fifty thousand votes. az candi didate for
Mayor would require ffor his petition
thirty-tWo thousand Ave hundred sig.
natures: Even at ten cents & apice,
which would be very low estimate,
this would cost three u ioslsand two
hundred and fifty dollars But for. q
Governor or State on Ger for New York
state, the cost of the petition would be
eight Thousand dollars IL several can
didates secure requiaite number
then comes 4 mcst xpensiye canvass
preliniinary to the primary vote hs ls
zaeyyspa apsrs are filled with the adver
tisernenta and eomrn,lnie ieat Lions sof this