The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-03-12
BRYAN ADDRESSES
OHIO CONVENTION
Upholds Initiative, Referendum
and Recall Before Con-
stitution Makers
EVOLUTION, NOT REVOLUTION
Defects Of Government Not in
the People Themselves
Rather They Are in Representative OF
People When They Use Powers
For Own Ends.

NpluUibuSi ~, Mdfcn lZ,-Wm. d
Bryan today gave the Ohio consttu-
tional convention his views on tn,
making Of the constitution. He spoke
in favor of the initiative and referen-
dun and the recall. saying the recall
is an evolution rather 'Nan reyolu-
ton. Mr. Bryan said:
"The only difference between the re-
call, as now proposed. ana impeach-
ment az II has been employed is that
in impeachmcnts the trial is before a
body Of officials, while the recall places
the decision i'm the hands Of the peo-
pie"
Mr.. Bryan discussed corporations,
taxation. elections, and labor. among
other subjects. There is no darker
page in our industrial life" said Mr..
Bryan in urging laws for the protec-
ton Of women and children and for
the regulation of hours of employ
ment." than that which records indif-
ference TO the welfare of children
the coming of dividends out of child
hood, TIE darkening of the prospects
OF rising generation and the inn
poverishment Of posterity."
In beginning Mr.. Bryan said:
"The initiative is the most useful
governmental invention which the
people OF the various states have had
i'm recent years. 1t Is the most ef-
fective means yet proposed for giving
the people absolute control over their
government with the initiative in a
constitution. constitutions defects,
either Of omission or commission, be.
come comparatively harmless. for the
people are in position TO add a pro-
vision which they deem necessary and
to strike out any part OF the constitu-
tion which they dislike.
Defects Not in People.
"The initiative and the referendum
do not overthrow representative gov
ernment-thcy have not come 10 de-
stroy. hut to fulhll. The purpose of
representative government is TO repre-
sent and that purpose fails when rep
stituents. Experience has shown that
the defects of our government are not
I'm the people themselves. but in those
who, acting as representatives of the
people, embezzle power and turn to
the.r own advantage the authority
given them for the advancement Of the
public welfare. II has cost centuries
to secure popular government-th'
blood of millions of the best and the
bravest has been poured out to estab-
lish the doctrine that governments de-
rive their just powers from the con-
sent of the governed. All this struggle
all this sacrifice. has been i'm vain, If
when we secure a representative gov
ernment, the peoples representatives
can betray them with impunity and
mock their constituents while they
draw salaries from the public treasury
"The initiative and referendum dc
not decrease the Importance If legis-
Iative todies. nor do they withdraw
authority from those who are elected
to represent the people; on the con-
trary, when the people have the ini-
tiative and referendum with which to
protect themselves. they can safely
confer a larger authority upon their
The fact that the
people can act through the initiative
AMI referendum makes it less likely
that they will need to employ the rem
edv-their will not be so many bad
laws 20 complain Of when the people
reserve the right To vote, and 1t viii
be easier to secure the enactment of
good laws when the people are not alb
solutely dependent upon legislators for
the enactment of such measures as
they may desire
Favors Recall of Judges.
I'm discussing the recall" said Mr..
Bryan. 81 have assumed that il would
apply without discrimination against
all officials including the judiciary.
The argument that a judge should be
exempt from the operation of the re-
call. even when IL is applied to other
officials. has no sound foundation. A
iudge IL as much public servant az
any one else: If It is insisted that he
enjoys public confidence 10 a greater
extent than other public officials, THIS
very argument answers itself because
that superior confidence will protect
the Judge against injustice-in proper
ton as people have confidence In the
bench they will he slow to remove
Judge on insufficient grounds. II Is
not necessary to reply to the argument
that the recall will make powers oil
Judges: the judge who would be swerv-
cd by fear of a recall would not he III
for the rlace anyhow. II there Is any
position in which we need rigid, nm
compromising uprightnes, II IS upon
the bench, and the recall instead OF
mcnacing the independence OF the ju-
dietary Is more likely TO improve th'
character of those vh~ occupy Judicial
positions"