The Greeley tribune., 1910-12-08
Legislative Club Needed


am trusting to your interest in
the initiative and referendum to-
make you willing to give publicity
to what seems 10 me to be a very
important consideration for the ul-
innate success OF the measure. The
tremendous majority in its favor
Notwithstanding the active opposi-
ton OF powerful interests Is indica-
tive of the strong popular sentiment
in favor of the peoples assuming a
larger share of responsibility In mat
ters of government. The danger NJ
pesent is that row the measure has
been adopted the agitation will sub
side, the great mass OF the people
will cease to take any interest In the
matter, and the amendment will be-
come either a dead letter or tool
to be employed by organizations
that want to use IT for the promo
tion of their own selfish interests.
While this is danger to which
most progressive movements are en-
POSED the initiative and referendum
is in special need OF watchful care
on the part OF its friends. It's sue
cess depends upon high degree OF
intelligence and public spirited in
terest among the electorate. Self
government of this form is imposs-
BILE II the people give no heed to po-
litical matters except at election
times. To attain the best results
many problems must be solved. We
should know the needs OF our state
and the possibilities in the way OF
advanced legislation; We should be
able to detect the measures that are
likely to be detrimental to the COM
mon veal. This nessitates know
ledge of what other states are doing
and a high degree OF political sa-
gacity to select or to devise
measures that are best adapted to
our needs.
To accomplish these purposes we
should have in every country OF the
state club organized for the study
of problems relating to the working
of the new law. Such clubs, per-
haps best organized into q state fed
Grafton, would constitute forum for
the discussion OF political questions
from a non-partisan standpoint and
for effective training in citizenship.
They would stimulate . more gen.
eral interest in public affairs. which
is SO essential to the success Of this
new form OF government.
1t is not proposed, Of course. that
such clubs should become bodies OF
professional agitators. We need to
avoid the tyranny of the majority.
who may be too much inclined to at
tack established interests. public-ser-
vice corporations for example.
simply because their welfare is de-
pendent upon the patronage Of the
people. What We need IL rather an
organization of sane. practical. level
headed men who will b. watchful Of
the public interests. 80 ~
Not the least important benefit re-
sulting from such organizatJons
would be the aid they could sfford
in securing the service of'a body OF
legislative experts who could assist
in drafting new measures II any are
needed, and could be helpful In
many other ways In safeguarding
the policies to be adopted. Both
friends and foes of the initiative and
referendum know that its ultimate
success will depend in large
measure upon the possibility of util-
izing the services Of the expert in
connection with its operation. This
is the age of specialists in all de-
partments OF life, and this must be
true in government as well as else
where. The proposed clubs could do
a great deal in the different COM
munities In the way Of discovering
and securing the services of public
spirited men who are capable Of
helping to shape wisely the policies
of the state.
trust. Mr.. Editor, that you may
be willing to use the columns Of
your paper for the discussion of this
subject. and that we may have re-
vival OF interest In the civic affairs.
In view of the splendid opportunity
now within our reach 1t IL up to the
friends Of direct legislation, In the
common parlance. Ito make good. :"
D. D. Hugh.