The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-01-13
PUBLIC OPINION
"THE SPIRIT OF LAWS"

If1E ioHlIII OE LAWS
To the Editor:
Sir-Mr. Arthur Lefevre of Dallas,
Tex, in the New York Post. makes a
pretty strong plea against direct legls-
lation, quoting 1.-The Spirit of Laws,
by Montesquieu, published in l74S, in
support of his position.
This authority is rather ancient, con-
sidering that none Of the present re-
publics were then in existence. and
that the conditions which compelled
the adoption of the initiative. referen-
foreseen by him. He says: Let the
people seek some good representatives
and petition them to accept the bur-
den of office, and let them cease from
merely choosing the best mixer out
Of several candidates.
In his attack on the new propaganda
he pictures only imaginary evils, and
utterly ignores the evils resulting art
er over century of experience with
purely representative and Delegated
government, and over forty years or
successful experience in direct leg1sla-
ton by the model little republic of
Switzerland.
The very first organizations of pop
ular government on this continent
were the town meetings of New Eng
land and they were purely a system
Of direct legislation. While that
ties. the representative system was
found to be better as communities
grew, eliminating in our present FED
eral system of delegated powers. AND
it must not be forgotten that the very
essence Of our government is contain
ed in the preamble of the Constitu-
ton. beginning with 1--WE. the people
of the United States. not we the
delegates. or we the rulers or property
owners. etc.
-, 1nI1
represen tatives. on account OF the Or
ganization of enormous aggregatlons
of wealth in corporations. who looked
for legislation granting special pr1V1l-
eyes. were corrupted by them through
the agency of the political machines,
good men" are selected, or how
many waves Of reform have arisen.
the people were. and are. constantly
sold out.
These facts are unquestioned. and
no power on earth can save this re-
agencies of wealth. luxury and cor
ruption. which befell all the ancient
republics, except the exercise of that
power inherent in eve. the people OF
the United States exercised in the
same way. so successfully illustrated
in the case of Switzerland, as well as
in the splendid results SO far obtained
in Oregon. The ancient republics
neither had the remedy nor as intel
ligent an electorate as we have to
exercise it.
If Mr.. Lefevre will take the care
to get the facts mot from the "taint-
ed' corporate sourceS) of the results
accomplished in such a short time in
Oregon. he may change his opinions.
The political machines have been alb
solutely smashed. a Republican Leg
islature has elected Democrat to the
United States Senate. and to cap e
climax. both the Democratic and the
Republican Senators from that State,
equally enthusiastic over the new
system.
The representative system and form
of government is still the same. but
the people exercise the power Of su-
pervision and initiative. and one Of
the most astonishing results is the
conservatism with which the people
en- masse have voted for or rejected
legislation. They had thirty-two prop
ositions before them at the last cleo
ton. mainly because their so-called
Representatives" misrepresented them
in not carrying out the peoples
wishes.
The only instance of the exercise Of
the recall so far is the case of the
Mayor Of Los Angeles. Cal. where it
only remedy. Nothing would suit the
interests better than the
present way of being unable to get
rid Of a bad official during his entire
term 50 long as he kept within the
law" We have a higher law than
the mere letter OF statutes.
d. BARBRACH.