The Boise citizen. (Boise, Idaho) 1906-1910, 1908-09-08
THE PEOPLE WILL RULE
From the Syracuse Ionrnal

We have seen the hand OF Hartman seize the highways o ~
nation over the WINE cups at Washington have heard hin
dominate tie governors of his provinces We ., iil
aohor President Garfield pcuring the states as "i m
eregns following in chains the riumpha chariot Of tb
,rs railways We have witnessed this centraIz -
and political power until many have begun to deso;r Is
government
But behold, the people that walked ii 1arlnsss h.
great light Out of Oregon sign A mighty o L
born and magic watchword has been sounded as cen
the peope-hat the blazing banner which gathers
victorious host s''is'S 'ouay
The demand for the initiative and referendum is in te i
many, the most porentous movement in American politics
The bose have seemed hardly notice it and the
have only recently taken alarm But it too late AS se5t
tide this great undecurrent of democracy has surrounded them
has cut them off
Like thief in the night revolutionary principle has
the constitutions OF live OF our states It knocking now at the
doors Of 20 state legislatures II is in full operation in half hun
bred cities The supreme courts of five of the states have bowed n
And while the corporations asking the supreme court If
the United States to outlaw it their case hopeless
The movement irresistible Government by private ,or
lies has run its course The hour has struck The people are rs
Consider the history we have been making
South Dakota through the initiative referendum esab
hed popular sovereignty in 1898 This fall the people take d
rect their divorce laws.
The right to make unmake laws by direct vote at the no
won by the people of Oregon Since then they have
voted 80 Sevenfou per of the electors on
the average have participated in these 81 votes
After inexpensive educational campaign OF few months the
people have passed. by overwhelming maores laws that would
have taken years get through their obbydden legislatures
The people of Nevada acquired the right of referendum voting
1905 This the legislature passed bill an army
OF mercenar1es tor the benefit OF mine But of
the mine workers hold up Between them legislature
the people will decide.
The right of direct legislation incorporated the cons
of Montana in 1906 This year people going after
three laws direct primary for United States senator's an-
junction law and an employers liability act
Oklahoma started with the initiative and referendum
year This fall referendum be taken the question
whether the 100000 of school lands shall be seized by
the spectators be saved for the children of the commonwealth
This the roll call of the free states And the number stead
growing Republican Maine and Democratic Missouri pass upon
an initiative and referendum amendment this fall North Dakota is
the heat of referendum campaign Organized labor in Ohio will
demand referendum pledge of every candidate for the eg
ature.
This the line of march in America The people everywhere
going make and unake their laws when they
isfed with the work of their representatives b
The amazing advance of this idea in single decade recalls the
words of Mazzini's prophecy :
and there that earth which tyranny long suppress
the peopehe power and future of the people Their destiny
will be accomplished and the day will surely when the people
Sampson and huaniyw raise their to heaven and with
one blow of the by which thrones shattered burst every
bond break every chain overthrow every barrier and arise free
dom, masters of themselves"