The newspaper., 1909-06-11

INV such means can the peoples sovereignty be
sured and the representative properly guarded 1t
1a thoroughly practicable and sensible method for
preventing possible despotism under the form OF
republic, wherein the public servants assume COM
pete the in the republic OF Venice
ctunder the Council OF Ten and later under the Three
ttnqusitors state Guarded representative govern
evolution from the less perfect unguarded
system and tends to ideal civilization in which the
people of great cities states and nations become the
sovereign power and act through representative gov
ernment The initiative is the right OF certain per-
cetage OF voters usually five to ten cent? to pro-
pose a law, ordinance or constitutional amendment
for action by the legislature, decision at the pols
both. The referendum means the referring OF law
h or ordinance OF specific question to the people
for decision at the polls The referendum also means
the right of the people to demand the submission OF
y any enactment measure not concerning the imme-
date preservation Of the public peace health and
safety the voters for decson and it is also used to
:, designate statute constitutional amendment Sc
!, curing this right
the United States established the present system
OF law making by representatives OF the people, cor
poratons, combines, trusts monopoles and million
I aires unknown and the representative system
was effective but the conditions have changed. The
evil Influences OF these mighty combines OF capita
seeking special privileges through the Legislature
have changed our system OF law making by repre-
Z sentatives to system OF law making through the
power Of lobbyists They have changed a govern
the people, by the people and for the people,
to a government by political parties, for political
bOkees and pOlitlcal macnines
{ !, We Americans pride ourselves upon our democ-
racy upon "rule Of the people,, upon our repre-
sentative government, and yet our political affairs
are carried way that would not he tolerated
In any monarchy the face OF the earth
{ Every one knows that the making OF a new tariff
law is the greatest event in current history in
which Is directly effected by legislation The
tafih is Intimately interviewer with all business
activities The men who make revenue law
hold In their hands the power to give prosperity to
industry and deny 1t to another This Is giants
power and 1t is be used at all it should he used
with wisdom. and with the collective wisdom OF the
abest and patriotic and best informed men IN
our country. But matter OF fact under the con-
ditions which now exist in the American Congress,
representative government is almost a farce One
man make N tariff law for W,0OO,OOO people That
man Senator Aldrch. OF Rhode Island. The Sen
itself Is in the grip of system. Aldrch is the
leader and boss Of that system. The Congressmen
consider useless to oppose Aldrich in his measures
because OF his great influence Can we call this just
representation?
The same corruption may he within
State You are all aware OF how the Seventh
general assembly appropriated Illegally n large sum
OF money and then sold the bonds to the public
school fund, losing for one and one half million
dollars worth OF school lands. We could name many,
many such instances where public right and justice
nfrnged upon by the influence OF lobbyists
in legislature. These things could not exist II
would use the power that is within our hands
The Initiative and Referendum has been embodied
In the constitution OF Oregon Oklahoma, Missouri,
South Dakota and other States
We invite your attention for IA moment to the
government of Oregon. we choose Oregon because It
pioneer In these matters. and genuine democracy
has been highly developed in this state than
anywhere else i'm the country. The Initiative and
Referendum established in Oregon in 1902 aud
she has made OF her liberty. her restored
right OF self in the biennial elections of
1901. and 1905. when two, eleven and nineteen
ouestions respectively submitted to the voters
for decisicu The election emphaticully empha
the of the preceding ones that the people
fasovereiu state sufficiently qualified and inter-
ested settle directly through their ballots, the
great ques of government in which they
cerned Oregon has demonstrated the success OF
popular government. The U. s. Senator from Oregon
says that when wonderful purifying effect Of the
Initiative and Referendum becomes more widely
known and appreciated 1t viii be adopted through
out the Union. -.-.
Many the cities of California and of the middle
west adopting form Of the initiative and refer
endum in their charters. They have been awakened
to the great possibilities which before them.
good example this is the city OF San Franc1sco.
Not long since they compelled their mayor to resign
Examples like these but the workings OF the ideals
l.vy plr hQf