The Boise citizen., 1910-07-08


welfare depends upon themselves 1t has exalted the of the
private filled him with pride citizenship.
Arnold of Adorf the home of William Tell may be elected to the
Federal Congress but he still Franz Arnold and not held to be
suddenly endowed with supernatural wisdom legislative ability by
the incident of election His constituents also have opinions and the
Referendum has made them all legislators As long Nationarat
Arnold represents them fairly and honestly they will return him.
not stupidity 90 fury forget his whole record and
him. should he for they dislike They
will simply the Objectionable at referendum and send
Franz back try again he Natonaat may think one way
they think another and they will deprive themselves OF the
service of able legislator because he differs from them on few
points.
In Switzerland these fearful wonderful things called laws
have lost their halo of ancty and power and suppress he
people accustomed to make and unnake They have found that
laws simply proposals agreed and that they quite as able
legislators determine their utility and value II mistakes are
made they know themselves to be responsible and SO they have
caution prudence and and only due de-
itaton.
"Does the Referendum lead to intelligent and actively
interested citizenship NJ CASTOR de Mura banker
servave descendant of o dSwss pacan family and the British
consul at Bern.
81 think so by all means" the reply
''How do you know that? From what do you Judge?
From my experience am continually led to the inyes-
gaon of questions by being called to vote upon them which one
wise would taken interest have lett to the city or
State councils decide From conversations with trends on
pending questions and from the general interest aroused conclude
that this increased interest is true OF all
1t was interesting highly educated business man state
matter of way that the Referendum had educated nm and
made him better citizen.
knew it universally since in all essential features
Swiss politics were before introduction of Direct Legislation
exactly the same condition American politics todayapa IN
difference corruption, and ALL
A1i Direct eoaion as practical expedien for securing
eoue laws the Swiss only got the laws they wanted Du
they have discovered the world far greater thing PGHc
bod Of making efficient citizens Their school for citizenship
~ for the future democracy the school OF Pestalozz
Zurich for the education of children They have not hnlshed the
aon nor are they terrestrial angels but they are very busy VIII
fundamental and social Problems and as fast as the
mind advances needed changes made SO institutions are KEEP
be Switzerland is the only country on the globe IN winch tn'
political center of gravity lies in the people, ana III Wcn II 10 m
possible the people to be betrayed
# would no doubt be mpernent and unparoc to suggest tina
we wise Americans could learn anything from little country k
nd since we have so many dollars, skyscrapers anC
- If land than they But surely the sons OF Uncle Sam Wh,
ae that the high carnival Of misrepresentation government w
has n going on in this country these many years is mainly que
patfv and stupid partisan preudices OF the peop
se1ye cannot afford up their noses at Anieriea s
t1tions and experience - -, ,d s+or+e
ol for citizenshp-hat is have adopted the Initiative an
Referendum and if find that the citizens OF nese o m
I M and disctarging their duties with hitherto unpece
waxing R nav he cheering to those who have lost hope AM
@ Of the perpeng abrnt in which in the other state
we find ourselves go, c44 a Pe,,bl;car
D,ocratic Oregon has voted upon 81 questions IN I'll
m CT elections held since the adoption OF the Initiative an
D fndnn Oklahoma has had one election ana vo.eu o tt
6len1s 1t were highly interesting Dut 0utslue e ;tel
discuss those laws the people have enacted OF eJece'
wrg is "What been the effect OF the Referendum up0
the people? - f ny ner cent Of those who 90
us m % :: 0egon vote upon questions shows 1--we interest
7ona the average stands at ~ per cent m ms b @ At so ne
The lowest stands at 61 per cent the hgneSl dt 90 y
i cent On all mPorta" S''e
concern by their votes C,-eo, Srnrerne Court writes
o Il am satisfied that tins i ie'Aou =
the % Johnson editor Of the Pacific Grange Bqen ne1d WI vi
jssss ossg 9s .1s H5ts the MASSES Rs @ marks
marveonSy Submitted to them and thergood Judgment HI
bee sls results s.n ST s1 sad 'b0s8 y soms os Bas @ that
dicted by the become laws by the of interest amor
qa int would Be aGodd with dxss fDss Ws 79a m
wise legislation Du' educational factor The responslbli
found this s dpeety upon the has caused them in individually InI
ssa nssrs sasd e % 13ss si we'll
Referendum but all o IN all matters affecting the welbeing OF