Omaha daily bee., 1910-05-05

lhltlANlNe ana hcNeFehhuns
OMAHA. May 3.-To the Editor Of The
Bee: Were it not for the supposed influ-
ence OF member OF the legislature, the
rather ignorant estimate OF the initiative
and referendum made by w. r. Stoecker
would not deserve an answer, but as an ad-
vocate Of this wholesome reform for nearly
twenty years, ! must set the representative
right
Mr.. Stoecker's attempt 10 confound the in
| itiative and referendum with prohibition is,
20 say tho least, the profoundest ignorance.
| This great change in Legislative forms was
| first established, in modern times, in Swltz-
erand. where the people today have abso-
Lutte control over their government Mr.
Stoecker says that by this method the leg
islator would not be permitted to make or
repeal all laws Nothing Of the kind. The
Legislators could introduce and vote upon
any possible measure that now may come
before the legislature. This measure merely
gives the people whom ne represents the
right to approve or veto his act, He says
he would not wish to represent any people
who had the right to pass upon his acts
by means of the initiative and referendum.
Is this not a rather naive remark to be
made by member of the legislature? 1t is
just because so many members Of the leg
lsatures Of the land feel that way that
the people should have the power of APP
proving or of vetoing their acts.
MI Stoecker says he wishes the implicit
faith and confidence of his constituents,
else he will not play" 1t strikes me to be
the height of impertinence in a member of
the legislature to make such a statement,
and then refuse to have the same implicit
faith and confidence" in the people he pre-
tends to represent.
1t is not that the people would forever be
demanding the right TO vote upon questions
passed by their legislative bodies that rec
ommends the initiative and referendum to
us Rather, it's chief recommendation lies
in the fact that the people having this
power, legislators would not dare to enact
the vicious legislation they now enact, be-
cause they know that the people may veto
their act.
Mr.. Stoecker labels himself a democrat.
Democracy means government by the peo-
pie and for the people. The initiative and
referendum is the practical application of
that prnciple--it is democracy in action.
Mr.. Stoecker does not seem to understand
that as a legislator he is merely servant
of the people and not their ruler. If he is
the servant they are the masters Since
when did it occur to him that, the servant
should decline to be directed by the master?
Upon what theory of government or of COM
mon sense can it be asserted that the
master should obey the servant?
The Typographical union, with about So
900 members, Is entirely governed by the in
itative and referendum and has been for
many years. 1t is a model OF the wisdom
I that the people who are supposed to obey
the laws should have a voice In making
them.
Mr. Stoecker denies that this is a popular
reform He may have his opinion of that.
He evidently does not know that it is the
basis of legislation in several progressive
states. notably South Oak ia ana Oregon
and it would be impossible. except by a
trick, to take it out of the fundamental
laws of those states. He dares to assert
also that 1t is a movement in the interest
of special interests and Wall street. Just in
passing allow me to express sympathy
pity, even-but add that Just two days be-
fore Edward Resewater died he asked me
to prepare some articles on this reform, and
in doing so he said to me: II can see that
the initiative and referendum means self
government for the people. and that the
railroads and special interests would fight
against it. That is why l am for it." And
that is my statement also
L. j. QUINBY.