The Boise citizen., 1910-07-08
Schools for Citizenship
Kin6,i i'm the Public
George Judson Kin9, in the public


mne former President any distinguished should awaken
views he discussed always sign of political health but that
nt Of waiting interest WHICH inlie'' ~ W " " " ~ an
think" is not o.4; oo1a 81 +l ;4, 1, 41s
roent in their hands, entertain for instant the idea
on,, ran on horseback them the presence
any rae with this sentiment: 'We ourselves. The
r Republic the OF policy depends upon the
Inns Of no party OF men ,
oosv about square DEAL is sad confession OF their own
,4c;encv as citizens OF a republic
Once when in Bern Switzerland sought an interview with the
pdent Mr. Brenner, but found he spending short va
No. n Germany A few days later called upon Mr. Muhllann
of Canton Berne at his residence to secure some daa
M nubic utilities owned and operated by the canton In
uv asked Mr. Muhnann if President Brenne had returned
d Reay do know, but he lives Just across the street
find out there Afterwards did ascerantrom the
msemad without the 1ornalty ol cdluS' Su"lu' ' WV ~
ssves or pomp of any sort ,
The incident was typcaly Swiss President Brenner an able
oroed and mucloved He has influence, but MS per-
onin1ons or even his actions not vital to the welfare
@ democratic people What they think counts and they 40 not
degrade themselves by maudln hero-worsnP or render ei
49, existence nolerable by vulgar curiosity or py1ng into MS
[ affairs do not suppose in fifty in Switzerland
. Ireu her President out of the country
m ey all did know popular vote soon to be taken upon
amendment to the national Constitution placing the water power
M nation under the absolute control of the Federal Congress- TO
. be used for the public good - Doc;
~ were not interested in Mrs Brenner wardrobe, or Fres-
dent Rnners daily itinerary but they were discussing the private
monopoly formed seize the power sites and truSy ue Peoe
white COAL they picturesquey call their mountain While
% WHICH, e @ t' ia bout # and waiting for Teddy home
The difference in the attitude the Swiss and the American Peo
pie toward their public men is pregnant with nealg - '~
ANALYSIS it spells life death for popular government
# not the result of any superiority of the SWISS IN point o
natural intelligence but of different methods OF political acro
We elect men do things for u.s. they not oy eeo % "
they hold the power do things themselves 49, H.
We identify political with the personalities OF leaders, ~
separate issues from politicians. , .,
We are forced pin hopes tor reform upon oo0 ~
some Dartv thev look to the voice of the whole people
We depend Jpn representative democracy they upon direct p
Wber s are ,srenresened we howl yow protest and eec
other men, usually to find betrayed as before they po
vote of the people upon the issue at stake setu W
end the whole farce, and the land has peace IT,: +t
In Short the American waits tor some leadel u '" '
Swiss waits not, but himself - ,ol,e
If the Swiss Federal Congress enactS a law Wio Pd +,
enough popular disapproval lead 10000 citizens 70 ~
of formal petition, popular vote thereon uo tI
law determined at the polls by that ultimate legSauie
people This is called the Referendum . h. nett
Should desired laws be delayed $4,000 czelS o "a
ta secure action bv this larger legislature, and II ug m %
finds favor it enacted by the people without deldy
power of the Initiative - go
Itis r, 70 add that copies of all laws so voted up
are circulated among the people before the po IS tN
widely discussed Such laws void OF legal ose
plain language are easily understood, and woe 10 u n,
law which is obscure IN meaning or contains the gentle Joker -
m time Swiss representative appears before the P Of
lore or after election is when he takes the Pid'io
pose measures up under the referendum = zc1
This luminous phrase in the constitution III T On neon
puts the Swiss point of view before in nusneil. 1o+rre
exercise the aw-makng power with the assistance o. ulo
In local. State and national affairs the PeoPle i nract
ing legislative functions for half century surrey @ exr
experience has been had determine the reSu - satisfe
democratic system The Swiss people heiSe tIt as e,
with the Initiative and Referendum to such degt c;es ne
resident Frey in an interesting letter, writes Ill r,nose
PIE will give them up and you might Just as wei e 70 aba
gange the Swiss republic into monarchy as 10 eNP
4n these constitutional rights r. aresults
But this does necessarily answer the Then, basr
we consult the authorities we shall find majority 10 81 oon ii
e whole estimate upon the legislative Poud d The democrat
ana OF laws which have been adopted OF reJec @ he thin
student points to some change made by the people d not ha
Srabe and says "There, hat eglSialu; success
student digs up what thinks vast mistakes ld nopuar III
5 on the Of the people and cries 4oF " The Referendu
S9! legislature would have known pelI ne we're tempt
Is failure" So the authorities clash over what one W.