The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-02-08

The great task of the time is how
to make and keep the government
really representative of the people.
Powerful forces are constantly at
work TO pervert IL.
This is the initial problem which
must be solved before real progress
along any other line is possible.
In the final analysis everything else
of a political nature is either inciden-
tai or auxiliary to it.
The initiative, the referendum and
the recall have been proposed as ef-
fective means for accomplishing this
result. They have engaged the
thoughtful attention of the entire
country, and in the recent campaign
i'm this state received the endorsement
of all political parties. They are close
iy related to each other. have a COM
mon object and embody really cut
one idea--that of placing the people
in actual control OF public affairs.
The Initiative.
The most important OF these re
forms is the initiative. AS its name
implies, ii contemplates giving to the
people the power to initiate, that IS.
TO propose bills directly and without
the intervention of the legislator, and
TO enact them into law, IL they so
desire. And so also of amendmeI, IS
to the constitution. This power OF
original and affirmative action II
legislation by the entire electorate OF
the state, is not likely to be exercised
except in reference to matters oil
great public Importance, and then
only after the legislature has been
shown 10 be unresponsive In giving
effect to- popular demand.
The initiative is not designed 10
abolish representative government or
even to limit its scope, but rather 10
perfect and improve IL. IL should not
be employed in reference TO too many
questions at one time. But | do not
approve the notion that the scope OF
the initiative should DE so narrowed
as to exclude any subject, however
special or local it may be. In my
opinion no such limitation is defensi
BILE or practicable. The idea is rather
that il many subjects be submitted
to the people directly for their dc
termination. they may not take timf
10 study all of them sufficiently to
vote wisely. This is the view, TO Dor
row an illustration from another
field of closely related political
thought. of those who advocate tho
short ballot. The people can be
trusted to act prudently in govern
mental affairs in every case where
they are i'm possession of information
necessary TO enable them TO form
Intelligent judgments. But they should
not be asked or expected to do work
which ordinarily devolyes upon the
legislative branch OF government
There are some problems which the
people themselves. acting directly
should solve: there are others more
complex and less fundamentally i'm
portant which the Legislature, with
its machinery OF committees and op
portunities for debate. may handle e
better advantage; and there are still
others so complex and intricate that
tneither the people nor the Legislature
can be reasonably expected to take
time to comprehend or fully master
but which should be turned over e
commissions composed Largely of ex
perts. A
The beneficial effects OF the initia
] tive NAV be realized. ! believe, by
making It. as Il is intended to be
/ spur and corrective to sluggish ol
disloyal conduct on the part OF Pub
lie officials and public bodies. The
initiative petition should therefore
contain such percentage OF the mares
/ CT all electors as will limit it prac
| tically within the scope herelnbeiorC
described and vet make IA yaIunb,f
As an alternative means OF securing