Devils Lake inter-ocean and Devils Lake free press. (Devils Lake, Ramsey County, N.D.) 1905-1909, 1908-12-18
DEPEW SPEAKS ON REP
RESENEAEINE COVER ME|NT
Givesa Sound Argument.

50 :.,9$t- .f3 :. : e - E.s2
Excerpt from Speech: by chauneeyi
M. pepew, delivered April 25, 1908,
at the Sixteenth Annual Dinner Of
the montauk Club of Brooklyn, In
Celebration Of Senator DepeW's
Birthday. -; ~ 12s.. PET, :,~..~ i
"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 it's
work. The New England town meet
ing was ideal government; but it was
the gathering of*neighbors, limited in
number and in territory, intelligent 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. I have made diligent in
quiry among the Senators and Con-.
gressmen from the States where all
these experiments are being tried.
The initiative permits eight per cent.
of the people to- propose bill, and a
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
small majority con infict upon the
state recurring creations OF the cranks
who are always urging sxperimental
and untried@- suggestions I'M 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 important measures are first re-
ferred to a committee which has that
special subject in charge. There it is
subject to hearings pro and con by it's
advocates and opponents. Then the
committee gives days and some times
weeks of their time to its perfection
before it is reported. Then it 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 the$revieW 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. gen ral discussion and
comparison Of views and have no COM
mittees for perfection of details, and
that they can act more wisely than the
representatives whom they have chosT
en- to the upper. and lower houses and
the executive, is: a patent absurdity.
Some, states have adopted direct
nomination BY the people land the
abolition of the conYentio ion practice.
Senators and Repres atiVes from
these states tell me that no poor man
can run for office. Other things being
equal as to- character and eputa ton,
the man with the most money wins.
1t is "a proof Of tina with which we
are familiar, the resist1ess power. of
organization, and rganizat ton Us ex-
pensive. Al every voter nnot#go on
the party ticket, iesess laws Usually
provide that q candidate to set his
name Oh the official bail lot for the pr.
mary must file d petition signed BY
at least five per cent Of the voters.
In some states It is more New
York City, It'll IT'S six hundred and
fifty thousand votes q candid date for
III ayor ould req ,iiTez for his etItion
Z tllirtytwo thousand five hundred sig.
4 natures: Even # at ten cents apiece,
! which would be a very low estimate
this would cost three thousand two
hundred and fifty dollars. But for q
Governor or State officer for New York y
state the cost of. the petition would be
eight thousand dollars. r. several can
didates secure q requisite number
then comes y most penslVe canvass
preliminary to the primar vote fhe
newspapers are filed with the adver
tisements and scofnrnun catIens Of s st.htls
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