Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1909-05-10
Direct Legislation
The INITIATIVE, Referendum
and RECALL DISCUSSED.
Direct Control Over Legislation. How
the Plan Works. John Z. White
Contends Supreme Courts All Over
Would Be Improved BY Such a
Law.

Inc iolloWihS AdOdreSa recently de-
livered by John 2. White, of Chicago.
before the Philadelphia City club.
on direct legislation, will interest all
who favor a government by and for
the people in fact as we'll as theory.
That part referring to the recall law
will be particularly interesting in
Chehalis county at this time, when
II such law was in force, the ma
jority of the board of county commits
sioners would hardly venture to leg
islate in direct opposition to the
wishes, of vast majority of the peo-
people as they seem. disposed to do
In all security for the full term of
their office:
IF you believe in popular gov-
ern ment," said Mr.. White, "you can
not refrain from indorsing the initi-
ative referendum and recall. When
legislation is unsatisfactory, the peo-
pie are empowered to file a protest
with the Secretary of State, and
through the recall they can vote out
OF office those individuals who are
not doing their duty. The principle
is not revolutionary, but is right
within the spirit of the growing
American Republic. It means that
public officials must take the public
into their confidence, and is on the
same principle as the New England
town meeting.
Switzerland Model.
''In every canton, save one, of
Switzerland which has a heterogen-
eous mass of three distinct citizens,
French, Germans and Italians, it
has had harmonizing effect. No
where in the world has there develop
ed strong sentiment for the repeal
of the inatiative and referendum
when once given a trial"
He cited several incidents showing
the working Of the system in Ore
gon. A roadway used by large
lumber company was offered for sale
to the State as public thoroughfare
after the company had gooten all
the timber from the forests through
which it led. The people defeated
the purchase. Express, telegraph,
railway and transit companies were
dealt with he claimed.
There was a movement to increase
the membership in the Supreme court
of Oregon. "In this instance the
people showed their regard for the
Supreme Court" he stated, "by bad
ly defeating the proposition. The
experience there, as in many other
parts of the country was that when
ever decree was handed down from
the Supreme Court it was always
A number of public officials had
a bill passed providing for free rail-
road transportation, whenever they
were on public business. The people,
he claimed, defeated this bill by
vote of $4,000 to $4,000. The peo-
pie registered their protest against
the building or enlarging of State
he said, but responded lib
orally when more funds for educa-
tiOnal purposes were demanded. He
described the election of Ex-Governor
Chamberlain to the United States
Senate by republican legislature.
The fear of the recall made them
support Democrat for whom the
people had expressed their prefer
snce, despite the fact that Federal
influence was used to defeat him."
Business Men as Legislators.
Mr.. White has a poor opinion or
business men as legislators. Con
lemn a professional politician as
you please" he said "but the busi-
hess man in City Councils is worse.
he has so many business and social
alliances that he's afraid
o do anything. New York has tried
business men over and over again,
'ut it always reverts to Tammany.
You can't get government from any
me class; you must go to the people
md you can only do that by a refer
,ndum."
He digressed into a criticism of
supreme courts, passing lightly over
he recent decision of the Pennsyl-
'ania court in which a hair line, not
by the ordinary citizen,
vas drawn as a distinction between
! charge and a rate. "Tha Supreme