The Boise citizen. (Boise, Idaho) 1906-1910, 1909-05-14
WHAT THE INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM IS

The legislature agreeable passed without
referendum, said Wolcott had made it
derstood that bill without referendum would be vetoed The
filled with the companys arguments only be-
ey took ground against the reayng, and it loaded
with instructions Vote the track question: large
type on the front and paid for advertising matter Yet
spite OF all the monopoly could do it showed under by the
people"
The case of the divorce law in South Dakota where the people
in the right by majority especially to the
point In the January Equity said This South Dakota
the that those which opposed to the nta
tive and referendum used prior to the election as warning
against the danger OF letting the people rule Ihe argument was
that the who interested IN the divorce industry would be
active and freely while the people at large would be
Indifferent AS consequence affirmed this bad law would
the books Now that the result different
papers the part maintain yocferous silence
We Oregon Here find the most overwhelming
proof the peoples willingness and ability decide for
themselves The given the October Equity and should
be frequently referred to.
Nineteen questions voted Pamphlets of about 12O
pages containing describing and arguing for and against each
of measures by the secretary Of state
April 1 and copy mailed voter Discussions galore
these by all sorts OF societies and clubs and
were engaged citizens of every rank and class Such cam
pagn education cycs and training in public interest IS an
altogether American life Ii the refer
endum had other result this would amply justify its cost
study the results will leave doubt that the peo-
pie of Oregon know what they want and how TO get It, Whene
they always wise another question: Wheher ne are
or not does their fundamental right to self government
believed however that for the most part the people OF Oregon
voted not only with with wisdom Not being
ready for some advanced they voted them down. they
had right When they ready for them they viii enact
them However wise may be in themselves 1t IS not
wise them people till they are prepared Tor them
wemeanng legislators to force their reforms on an u
willing people To prevent this nearly important to pre-
vent other of bad legislation Thus the referendum works
both ways for good
AS to the general Oregon Mr. Robert Treat Paine r
saws e recent election emphatcay emphasizes the lesson OF
the two preceding one that the people OF sovereign state are
sufficiently qualified interested settle directly through their
ballots great questions of government In which they are con-
ment'
S much for Oregon We of the gandest ref
edu systems ever the history of human government
the New England townmeeting system Mr. B. o. Flower com
eng on this system the Arena for October 1904 ruhtuy
saws: Nowhere the history OF American municipalities has
government been so free all tan of corruption marked
m wisdom and public spirit in the old New England owee
Here we find the happest and most convincing Illus
tons of an democratic government IN practical opera
for here community whole actively interested IN
the management of public affairs and through oet
and rtcpacn in the solution of all the important questions
wholesome public interest is stimulated and maintained 1t is IN
rsng to remember that Thomas Jefferson attributed the break
down of the embargo the New England system OF town
meetings y which people whole educated on pot-
cal affairs and kept perfect touch with economic issues and
were able by public meetings. resolutions and systematic ana Ell
ectve agitation powerfully influence pubc OPINION Iar
confines of the states the conditions favorable to
democratic government obtain President Jefferson though o
~ agrng the failure of the embargo act, greatly admired
system of government which made its defeat possible because
he saw the perfect Oublosoming Of the democratic ideal and
The and majesty of united educated and alert cleo
torate exercising its sovereign right
Mr. Flower then goes describe the government OF Brook
line Mass said to be richest town in the world He says
wears assessment levied on SS7l729Oo The popua
m town is estimated by the municipal officers to be 235OO
~ we think is moderate calculation in view OF the fact that
M assessment 6194 citizens The town IS surrounded
m the cities of Boston and Newton Mr. Alfred Chandler one
the prominent public spirited citizens OF Brookne and an emil
BOSTON lawyer thus admirably characerizes this unique ex
ample of pure democracy:
No town offers such demonstration OF the elasticity ana
adaptabiy of government as Brookne It furnishes the
helm solve the general municipal problem Its solution will
@ an astonishing improvement in all public administration
% ~ extend the towmeeng system to municipalities large IN
and valuation last been worked out either for