The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-09-26
Voice Of the People
For the Initiative aud thu Res,

49, hho IL IAebl.
To the Editor OF The Times-Dispatch:
Sir.-ln YOU issue of September 20.
In an editorial. Good for Governor
Mann" you quoted the Governor aa
saying: IF it ever comes to pass the
adoption of the initiative. referendum
and recalD l shall retire from poll.
tics 1t is more than probable thai
Governor Mann would not be the only
official who would retire" However
we think from what we have learned
of the Governor he is unduly alarmed.
1t seems to us that a man who trusts
the wisdom of u minority to put him
in office should have confidence in a
majority to retire him from that of.
fice.
In commenting upon the Governors
remarks YOU aid that is straight
Democratic talk" In discussing such
a subject as the oregon system"
which is bound to exert a tremendous
influence upon our political Institu-
lions. why not. in stating u fact, he
sure that that fac is correct9 Wap
the Governors talk straight Demo-
cTatic?' What is Democracy? Is the
initiative. referendum and recall DEM
ocratic in its aim or not? Is this
irresistible tendency of the people to
get closer to their government Dor
OF their love of Democracy?
me people are beginning to under
stand" you say. Understand what1
That the initiative and referendum is
Democratic, and that a representative
government lobbied by vested in
terests Is plutocratic3 That tho few
are easier to get at than the many,
But they Will come back CONS
back to what? The Democracy of JET.
ferson, or will they rush on toward
a rockribbed centralized government
of a Hamilton? Ito the law of the
Modes and Persians. which altereth
mott why speak of the initiative and
referendum as the Oregon SYSTEM
They had done much Tor tho political
development of switzerland long be-
tore the noble redmen" of oregon had
been driven into reservations By their
Virtuous and justice-loving palefaced
brethren.
Professor r. T. Ely. director Of the
school OF economics and history In
the wisconsin University. snys: swift
zerland is. politically. the most demo-
cratic country in the world and
1T is a country in which social reform
has advanced more rapidly than in any
other. 1t seems that social and po-
litical reforms, which are within the
reach of the people. have, in the main,
ABSORBED their energy and directed
into peaceful channels the social cur
rent which, in other countries. has be.
come revolutionary. The Swiss
development has been superior to the
constitutional development OF the
United States. The swiss system en-.
ables the people to kn,p their hands
upon the government at all times.
. Under the referendum and initia.
tive every law passed may be vetoed by
the people. and any law may be pro.
posed which a small fractional par,
OF the population desires to see
enacted"
In light of the bitter personalities
OF the senatorial contests n the r
cent primary election. 1T might BIO
profitable to quote further from tho
same author:
one of the chief advantages OF the
referendum and initiative is that they
would teach Americans to discuss
measures more and men less. Our
politics have e. tendency to become
purely personal, and personal poll
tics are apt to become petty and in
significant. When great measures be-
come live questions good men viii
come to the front"
a. C. SMITH.