The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-05-25
WILSON DECLARES CORRUPTION FORMAL
 PART OF POLITICAL
 SYSTEM OF STATE
Demands Laws Granting Power Over LegIs. Iation to the People as Only Remedy
 Likely 10 Meet the Situation

Lynn W. Wilson made the following speech before the committee on Judic- isry, yesterday, favoring an amend ment 10 the constitution for the initia- tive ana referendum and favoring the immediate enactment of public opln- ion bill. MT. Wilson said:
 The matters upon which your com mittee has consented to hear us are two measures introduced by Senator McNeil. One is a proposal TOT an viding for the initia tive and referen- dunn. after the usual fashion.
 The other is a So-called Pubic Opion bill, usually called the adVl- sorry initiative and referendum. The amendment is substantially the same as that adopted in the State of Ore gon The Public Opinion bill is modelled after that for some years in use in Illinois.
 Both measures reach for the same goal. They are both intended to make the will of the people known, the ballot box They are each in tended to get the will of the people. thus expressed, accomplished.
 The chief difference between them is that the amendment to the constl- tuition would make the expression Of the people a command, which the General Assembly, nor the courts nor any other tribunal, could override, so long as the command was in occord- ance with the Federal constitution. and in accordance with the constf- tuition which the people of the state should set up.
 These measures fall within that system which has come to be gener- ally known as 'The Code of the Peo- ple's Rulc."
 This code has been conveniently compiled. in this volume here, Senate Document, No. sos, which was com piled by Senator Owen of Oklahoma, and ordered printed by the 61st Con- gress.
 This code contempiates the substi- tuition of popular for delegated gov ernment It includes other measures than the initiative and referendum, as the recall, direct primaries, limita- ton of campaign expenses, and oth- ers of which the initiative and refer endum Is deemed the most useful and important.
 The initiative is a means by which the people may cause any measure to be submitted to ballot, and make 1t a law when it is approved by a ma tority- of those voting.
 The referendum is a power by which the people may bring before them any measure adopted by the General Assembly, to be approved, or vetoed.
 The proposed amendment to the constitution which we advocate allows the initiative to be exercised upon pe- titicn of eight per cent. of the vot- CTS as established. It allows the referendum to be used upon petition of five per cent. of the voters.
 Under the Connecticut system this amendment cannot be immediately submitted and is not an immediate remedy.
 For immediate remedy of existing conditions the Public Opinion law is proposed.
 It provides that on petition of 10 per cent of the voters of any town, city or county, the proper authori- ties shall submit any question of pub lie policy petitioned for, or to the electors of the state, as the case ma y be.
 The decision of the people in this case will not be binding upon the General Assembly in any other sense than the decision of the people of the several states is now binding upon presidential electors.
 I do not know what you gentlemen will do. But I propose to show you that this legislation is necessary, that it is demanded by the people, and propose to show you, whether you do or do not favor this addition to the powers of the people and to the equipment of the Democracy, that it is bound to come in the several states, and in the United States that it is to apply even to Federal questions, that the people propose to take into their own hands the final and sover- eign power lover their laws and their constitutions, and that they have al- ready gone far on the road that leads to the goal they have established.
 Let us ascertain what forces are behind this legislation, who is it that has given it legal force, who advo- cates it, and who deems it necessary to the we'll being of this nation.
 Here are three small pamphlets. They were sent to me respectively from the headquarters of the Ma tional Progressive Republican League, The Democratic Progressive Fedora ton and the Non-Partisan Progress sive Federation.
 The objects of the National Pro- gressive League are explained in this communication from Senator Jona- than Bourne, Jr.
 He says it is to purge politics of special privilege and to make the gov ernment directly responsible to the public will. The programme of the league is to have direct election of United States Senators, direct prirnar- ies for the nomina tion of public of- ficers, d presidential preference act in every state, and amendments provid- ing for the initiative and referendum in all state constitutions.
 This is substantially the program laid down by the other organizations So far as the Republican organiza- ton is concerned it is headed by such men as Senator LaFollette and the eleven other Republican progressives in the Senate of the United States. Its mem berShip includes the gover- nors of some eight or nine RepubIi- can states and many famous and po- litically prominent men.
 The Democratic organization is aded by such men as United States Senators Gore. Owen and Chamber lain.
 You will note that the pamphlet isssued by the non-partisan league is headed Freedom in 1912" and car special interests
 Its membership numbers noted pub lie men and many of the most fa- nous publicists in the United States.
 The state Fedora tion of Labor in many states have endorsed this leg iSiation. As early as January, 1902 the state granges of nine states had demanded it, namely in Illinois. Wis -cnsin. Minnesota. Missouri, Cobra to. Pennsylvania. West Virginia. Ehode Island and Maine. Many oth- CT state granges have since taken the same ground.
 So it appears my friends that there Is great body of opinion behind this legislation and favoring it.
 Much of this opinion is that of men government
 There IS not to-day in the United States a body of men in office SO powerful. so beloved of the OeonIo