Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-09-21

49," 49,
1t Is with real pleasure that / nave
read @ number Of the articles in your
Public Forum, ard especially the
one by Mr.. Clancy. The matters on
which l agree with the views express
ed in those articles will not be better
understood by affirmation or repeti-
ton, and, while | do not wish to make
this letter controversial. / shall, almost
as a matter of necessity, deal with
those matters only on which do not
endorse those views.
The chief characteristic of a num-
Der Of articles, and especially of Mr..
Clancy's, seems to be fear of inno-
walton on the existing order; in other
words, what is call conservatism We
should by all means preserve Coon
serve) all that is good in our present
purely representative method Of legis-
lating. but should we not adopt also
whatever of good we may find outside
the present system not Inconsistent
with or %repugnant to it? Our revo-
lutionary forefathers adopted and
promulgated the idea, decidedly revo-
lutionary in their time. hat govern
ments derived their just powers from
the consent of the governed. The gov
erned could signify their consent or
dissent in but one way-by partici-
patton in the work of government.
The declaration of independence,
therefore. contained the idea that the
governed had a right to such partici-
patton. Today We are committed to
this principle more firmly than were
the revolutionists; we recognize it
more fully and unreservedly than they
did. In this view of the matter we
find that the principle of direct leg
i%slation, even if adopted to the COM
plete expulsion of legislation by rep
resentatlVes, Would not be as reVo-
|lutionary as might at first glance APP
pear. We should still be retaining the
foundation principle-the right of the
people to rule themselves. But the
adoption of the initiative and refer S
endum would not involve the over
throw of representative government, 5
of legislation by representatives. Rep !
resentative legislation would be re- {
tanned in its entirety, and the right {
Of direct legislation would simply be !
added to it for use in case of neces-
sity or emergency ,
II has been argued that, since pub [
lie sentiment is the most tickle Of t
mistresses, those entrusted with leg !
islative power should be as much as |
practicable free from direct respons- q
Utility to the people; free to exercise |
their own judgment. This truly is z
revolutionary. The following of such t
advice would be n long step backward, C
- tOiil litlG REVERSAL OF our STEADY al 1
vance oward government more fully t
"of the people. by the people. for the s
people" Public sentiment is tickle on g
~ to the extent that the people are c
ignorant. Let US therefore educate e
ourselves and our children and thus s.
make public sentiment more stable c
ourselves means ignorant and b
learned alike. for education in gov r.
matters is needed just as e
much to correct the viewpoint of the b
as To increase the knowledge b
of the ignorant. o.
1t has been urged against direct e
legislation that it would give the ma Ia
iority too much unrestrained power, Il
would facilitate the passage of hasty &c
and ~ill-advised legislation. and would SC
weaken the foundations Of our W
government; rob it of its stability. OF
The time is long past when such an Ell
argument could "a force. Govern W
ment with us has passed its formative re
period. Our people respect the man ~
date of the majority. The willingness
the minority to peacefully acqui- la
asce in the viii OF the majority forms .,
he foundation on which our splendid 81
governmental structure has been rear al
Instead of being properly an Il,
argument against the initiative and Ii,
'eterendum, this is the IN
argument in their favor that occurs or
% me. 1t is a fact that in recent 10
'ears our people have lost much Of I'm
heir respect for the law as SUCH, the on
'casou being simply the incompetence 10,
'r unWillingness. or both. of our leg st.
s~laturcs to represent the majority OF ma
he peoplc,-to give expression to the sti
wishes OF the majority. as shown by m
he failure to pass laws needed and vi
Iosirod by the majority and by the on
'assage of Inadequate or |palpably un- re-
laws. We cannot afford to al m,
ow disrespect for the law to grow, a.
nd therefore We should adopt meas re-
res which will secure for us such 90
avs as our people can and will re- W.
poet, The initiative and referend- re
m would make this end much more ~
crtain of attainment. al
II is argued that the initiative 81,
'ould entail great expense upon the a.
tate. This same argument was used re-,
gainst the adoption of the elective m,
ygtem for officers instead of the
ppointive system. our ancestors as M
lmed the burden Of the additional arr
Expense i'm order to keep the govern m,
tent nearer the people. But all laws -,
, be passed on. under either the in or
iatlNe or the referendum, could be n
TO the voters at the regular ati
mes for the election of officers. hN,
here would be additional expense. NJ.
ut not SO large as some of the OPP mn
onents of direct legislation would sio
ave us believe; certainly not large WI
lough to Justify objection to these 70,
forms on that ground. III
The argument that the people would Ia
ot give TO a bill the same thorough ~,
,n~sideratiou that the legislature a.,
Guild give is hardly sound. As "A ~
after OF fact they would be likely an
consider IL more thoroughly. for il
ould be presented To them alone or "a,
conjunction with only a few other a.
and ample time would be pro- H.,
ded for its consideration. The rep ~,
'sentatives have a large number OF ha,
lis TO consider within a limited time. 80
il Is well known that numerous H.
lis are pushed through at the end ~,
each legislative session. national or -
ate. which the legislators have con- NJ,
iered very little or not at all and aass'
practically nothing about L.
Mr., Louis q. Wilson Saws bad cor -
'ration laws are not passed hy our -
sislatures and challenges any one 80
point out mi such. ! believe plen- -
~ such laws could be pointed out -
Mr.. Wilson. but that is aside from 20
e. question now. Corporations and 81
hers who enjoy special privileges NE
not need bad laws TO help them. -
J they need, though not an they ~
ant. Be- To- Ice let alone. They have 81.