The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-02-02

ruJcd by the people. 1t has always
brcp ruled by those who hold special
nriyjIcdecs on their Servile tools
ihe politicians. Whenever a pub
lie olhri..! from president down to
dop-catchcr is elected the people at
nrrsrnt have no power by which
70 govern that officials public acts
and he is free to do as he pleases. He
NAV carry out his pledges to the
pcopIc or he may accept the brides
Of those who would profit at the
expense OF the Masses.
!. The Initiative:-
BY the initiative we mean that
auv time when demand is made
for q law or measure a petition may
be circulated calling for this and if
signed by the requlslte-percentage
Of voters generally five or ten per-
ccnt-thcn the proposed measure
must 20 before the legislature or be
directly presented to the people for
enactment.
In this way the people will at all
times bc able to make their PROPOSE
ton and begin the process of law
making.
,. The Referendum.
After the proposal of the measure
has been made through the initia-
tive by the requisite number of
voters, this measure is submitted
to all the voters for action, if
majority vote in favor of the pro-
posed measure then it becomes a law
if a majority vote against it, then
ii fails
If at any time the legislature
cnacts Il bad law the people may
call for vote on it by all the electors
for rejection or acceptance-this is
called the Referendum. 1t simply
means to refer to the people. The
original meaning OF tLc void is-it
ought to hc referred.
3. The Recall.
The rccal! means that any legis-
atlvc or public officer from the
highest to the lowest may be re-
called and his off ce declared vacant
at any time the people deem it
necessary. In the face of all the
corruption and vicious legislation
and in the face Of the absolute re-
iusal on the part of tie legislatures
TO enact some very nCct tssary meas
urts into law Tie people have tegun
to cMmor for their instrument of
protection and power.
The Socialist party has always
held that Il democracy must have
the greatest possible freedom in its
mode Ut Government.
FOR that reason the Socialist
party constitution and platform
specify tLlt the first necessity is the
initiative, referendum and Recall
on account of the danger of loss of
votes the republicans and Demo-
ctA'shrgin to fall in line and promise
to support a law providing for the
initiative and referendum. 1t is
however Saf" to say that even if the
majority favor this measure the
legislature will not enact any effect
we initiative and referendum law.
HIS Is not a new demand. For
many years the people have been
calling lor this But the legisla-
lures tHS not listened. 1t is readily
seen that there could be no object
ION to a l.w like this by the rank
ana Tile. The people do not object
10 placing II power of government
into '.eir own hands. But another
loFr" lus been fighting with tooth
anu tahg. 1t is the owning
c4pita.!sj class. The owners of mills
and ttfturts 5 and other industries
","%i o"n rhr legislature--the smaller
d'g K 'llr.at1Irc, the easier to own it.
II ]lr isrPjc become the legisla-
'Ert II "tu he hard to own it. 1t
WIZ c"rs more money, be-, ause the
h'oHs" tHry demand the right to
I'VE. Il small groups of legislators
Uo'' DO - the money men tell
I'm, they are defeated at the polls
-! i:lrH' rN and misrcpre esentation.
n'l II WOULD be difficult to defeat all
."e " IT" at the polls. You see
VIZ =, WHY the big owners do not
%"'' Tic initiative and referendum
Is '@.r" my likelihood that these
G.I1 T4ti'e L".7ls are going to let thei1
!I'lN IN grants, the legislators, put
5I'e power Of Initiative and referen.
:-ii f, Ill Jne peoples hands. (Guess
!% pHr.Il
=; " s"H put half-dozen Socialist
;",' lAe legislature you will al
:.->s q icaring for your bill. 4
~" socialist can and arlH make (:
'''' ''-.o4a noise III favor of th'