The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1911-07-22
DIf this mode of legislation is per-


mitted and becomes general, it will
soon bring 10 "a close the whole sys-
TEN Of ffes esentative government,
which has been SO Justly our pride.
The legislature will become an ire.
sponsible cabal. too timid to assume
the responsibility of lawgivers, and
with Just wisdom enough to devise
subtle schemes of imposture to mis-
lead the people. All the checks against
improvident legislation will be swept
away, and the character of the Con
stitution will be radically changed"
The population of state is not
homogeneous throughout the state.
There are. for example, sections de-
voted to agriculture, others to min
ing, others to manufacture, others to
cattle and sheep raising, and so on.
There is the division of our popula-
ton between the great cities and the
country. The advantage OF the repre-
sentative plan of legislation is that
representatives are elected from these
various sections so widely differing
in their manner of living, in their
habits of thought, and in their mater
ial interests. In the legislative assem-
bly, all these are represented, their
views and interests heard and consid-
cred. In shaping laws of general APP
plication light is shed from all direc-
lions, the question is considered from
every angle of vision. In the case of
direct legislation the inhabitants of a
city may look at a question in one
way, those of the country in another.
Farming sections nave have one
view, mining sections another. and
sections still another.
II the city vote largely predominates
in a state, 1t is the city view which is
likely to prevail. If the rural vote
predominates, 1t is the view of the
country which will probably prevail.
and legislation is more apt to reflect
class interest and class prejudice
than where consideration Is given in
a deliberative body where the views
of all may be fairly and fully consid-
cred and harmonized
A government of the people in a
territory of vast extent. OF large pop
ulation, and of great and increasing
diversity of pursuits and interests,
can be administered only by a sys-
TEN Of representation. 1t is almost as
impossible for the people en- masse
under such circumstances to directly
perform the various functions of gov.
eminent as it is for the human body
in its entirety to perform the func-
tons of the heart or the brain or the
lungs. In a primitive state of society
the one may be done, as in the most
primitive forms of life the other may
be done but as society becomes com
pick and as the forms of animal life
become complex special organs to
discharge special functions are neces-
sary
Mr.. Woodrow Wilson, in his very
valuable book, Constitutional Govern
ment in the United States" has ex-
pressed the thought clearly and force
fully. He says
"A government must have organs
1t can not act inorganically by mas
ses. 1t must have a. lawmaking body;
1t can no more make law through its
voters than 1t can make law through
its newspapers.
Thus spoke the president of Prince
ton University, in the days of his
tranquility, before the microbe of poll.
tical ambition had invaded his sys.
TEN.
Mr.. Chamberlain. Mr.. President
The Vice-President. Does the Sena-
tor from Utah yield to the Senator
from Oregon?
Mr.. Sutherland. | do.
Mr.. Chamberlain | suppose the Sen.