The Detroit times., 1911-03-10
IS STRONG FOR
DIRECT ELECTIONS
Millionaire Says Ie Is To Interest Of
Business That People
Should Rule.

SACRAMENTO, Cal, March To-
A man of millionsf a representative
OF big business--but honest hib husf-
ness--has been a tower OF strength In
the ranks of the progressives at Sac
ramento In the administration fight
for direct legislation.
IF that fact Is remarkable" says
this man, "mores the pity"
He is DR.. John II. Haynes. OF Los
Angeles To those with an intimate
knowledge OF the history OF politicaf
progress In this state, Haynes Is
known as the father of direct legis-
lation in California" A student, who
has travelled and examined the gov
ernments of almost every nation In
the world, Haynes for years has been
quietly but effectively applying his
his knowledge in this state. With the
introduction In the legislature OF the
constitutional amendment providing
for the initiative and referendum,
Haynes was called to Sacramento that
the administration might have the ad-
ministration might have the benefit
of his expert counsel.
rs 1t not unusual and remarkable"
Haynes was asked, that man worth
million dollars, interested I'm large
business enterprises, should be devot.
ing much time of considerable value
to him In a campaign for popular
ruler
Perhaps more or les unusual" was
the reply, "but not at all illogical or
unreasonable. II Is In the interest OF
business that the people should rule.
| can Sc no reason why any wealth
that / may have should deter me from
aiding wherever | can In this cause.
/ can see abundant reason why
should be here"
"As an officer and director In sew
eral powerful corporations?
"Emphatically, yes. Honest cor
porations conducting their affairs
along honest, legitimate lines have
nothing to lose and everything to gain
by the establishment OF Democratic
government.
Mary You, | use the term demo
cratic IN it's broadcast sense, not
specifically, but generally, not apply
ing to party, but to form OF govern
ment
Democracy, as distinguished from
autocracy, is the best government In
the world. Show me nation with the
fpurest democracy and I will shou-you
/ the best governed country in-- the
world You Will ind no millionaires
and mo paupers. no class hatred and
no political unrest In Switzerland and
New Zealand. Democracy Is the an
swer.
Il believe the way out of the
slough Of corruption into which this
country has drifted Is through direct
legislation, For direct legislation aims
directly toward democracy. Honest
men will direct government when the
government can be controlled directly
by majority OF the people. The initia-
tive and referendum are the instru-
ments of this control"
'Your Judgment as a business man,
again, is that this revolution in gov
ernment would not hurt business?'"
"Only dishonest business. 1t would
squeeze water out OF stocks; destroy
fictitious values; destroy those enter
prises that are now making enormous
sums out of nothing, corrupting gov
ernment and robbihg the people for
their selfish interest, | would rather
lose all that | have than see the peo-
pie robbed. And am not the only
business man Of my kind.
And mark this: The creamy days
of the public utility corporations have
passed. 1t will not be long before
men of brains and ability in these cor
porations, men Of the type OF Patrick
Calhoun, will be working for the
state, on salary. The day that marks
that change win mark the end OF
business, justice for the man who
works, the end of the appalling sat-
rifice of human life for dividends.
why have | interested myself in
the work of reform? Partly, perhaps,
because II is In the blood-my grand
father was radical in England, my