The Boise citizen. (Boise, Idaho) 1906-1910, 1909-05-14
SHORT HISTORY OF THE DIRECT LEGISLATION
MOVEMENT in THE UNITED STATES
(From the Equity Press, Philadelphia, Pa

M these calls by personal letter impossible At the expense
some repetition therefore, herewith give the leading
fvo Of direct legislation order put resses weapon in
o hands of who called upon make aggressive
a0n or to the objections of opponents The facts
ven are largely from the Arena and from previous
bers of Equity
We begin with Switzerland great many lies told by
noion about this country We say es because there
other term that will suit They downright bodfaced
msabe ies speakers favorng direct legislation should keep
this fact in mind.
the highest authority Hon. Numa Droz former president Of
switzerland says "Under the influence of the referendum
profound change has over the spirit OF parliament and peO
p result has been great tranqzng OF public lie
Prof Charles Borgeaud of the faculty of the University Of
Geneva distinguished educators and economists Of
Europe in paper prepared expressly for the Arena has this to
saw on the results the referendum in Switzerland: The refer
ndum has won its Unquestonaby has proved boon to
Switzerland and has enemies of any following the gen
Grafton of today give instance to illustrate what
advance In that the last to intro
duce the canton of GeneVahere the bill bears
the date of 1879 parties conservative and radical just
quareng lengthy articles and In political speeches about
the real promoters the The novelty OF twenty-five years
ago such unqualified success that every party IeeS eu
to boast of being counr benefacor who introduced in the
constitution AS matter OF fact was naugurated at
by the conservatives who from that time really deserved
the name which they assume, of democrats.
NoW why that institution popular IN switzerland tI o
one would of proposing that should do away with
go back the purely representative system OF 840! be
cause has proved an ecacous remedy meeting large meas
the evils which may be consequent upon that form Oh govern
ment."
Prof Frank Parsons of Boston, who recently visited
Switzerland conversed freely with all classes says da
not find who wishes to back to the OLD plan oI a
ison delegates without chance OF appear " o
people"
Charles Edward Russell writing Everybody declares that
the Swiss are by all means happies people in Europe 1h
called upon endure anything which they 90 not
They have all in their hands machine mooHe s" anu
Efficient by which they work reforms and eHecV changes
So much for Switzerland Let now turn TO America
LolaT
ing minds will be unable discriminate properly concern
ing the laws they really desire If by the legal mmd IS W
ability frame that they must be obeyed py Ihe pun
while the rich may violate them with lmpunIty the pol'
conceded To frame laws thus is preemnenty the work OF pro
fesonas But if is meant that the people do not Know
they want, and not vote ineigenty when e 9" =
fairly before them the point is denied we wiz No" w @
stances which prove decsvely that the people 90 kno" " @
want Here the people did in Boston nne years as @
stated by the late Prof Frank Parsons IN the Cons s
February, 1900:
Among the many benefits of direct legislation there Is o
lay special stress on its tendency improve the
abor and to destroy rule of monopoly lhese poin
een true fact and they in the nature Oh
low we have and brilliant illustration OF the sILes
referendum in directions inst indicated The people OF boS
have just overwhelmingly to adopt the elgntouI
all city aborers. and to refuse the street railway [
privilege of replacing its tracks on Boyson ana ~ b the
the heart of the city. The legislature gave lVS co
people turned down the monopoly Here are tle oUeS NJ
On tbo oioh. ,... -. .62,625 1858
IN relaying the tracks @o' -, r
The track affair shows that although giant noilopoS
manage the legislature and control the press Is not IN
the people to its will only little while since te
fremont and Boylston streets have been taken up Tho
used to be crowded TO saplaon with and other
subway voted by the people and built on purpose -
.ns congestion. 1t part of the plan to take up do
tracks in the heart of the city The company was
this We now go in FIVE or ten minutes distance that ueo
qenty to require twenty thirty minutes ana a. b
NJ Nun reasonable speed the streets where the TRACKS & P
Inc subway far from being up to its capacity YET