The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1912-10-03
COVNOR TEATS AND
DIRECT LEGISLATION.

GovnOr Teats, the Progressive par
tvs candidate for lieutenant governor,
who last week visited Bellingham and
Blaine, and delivered not only interest
ing addresses before large audiences.
but dealt the old stand-pat gang OF
wreckers sledge-hammer blows right
from the shoulder, is one of the ablest
public men in the state. At the next
session of the legislature, the senate
will be presided over by an able and
worthy manly man of the people
because Govnor Teats, of Tacoma,
along with Bob Hodge, is going to
be elected.
Mr. Teats has issued a pamphlet OIL
direct legislation, the initiative, refer
endum and recall, which can be OBJ
tanned by addressing postcard to him
at Tacoma.
The initiative, referendum and re
call constitutional amendments set
forth are the measures Endorsed by
the joint legislation committee. Direct
Legislation League of Washington, the
State Federation of Labor, Farmers
Union and State Grange. After years
of untiring effort their submission by
the legislature to the voters was Sc
cured, and it is for the purpose of set
ting forth these measures that they
may be studied by the everyday citi-
zen that Mr.. Teats has prepared his
pamphlet.
Pointing out how legislatures have
forgotten their pledges, once in office.
and the demand for direct legislation
had grown, the author goes on to say
that older states have adopted the
measure and that the present bill is
up to date. He asserts that about the
only argument against the measures is
that the voters do not know how to
vote on laws. Inquiring into present
methods of legislation, the writer very
pertinently says:
1.-THE ordinary legislator is an Ordi.
nary man and generally knows little
about legislation before he gets well
through the legislature land l was in
that class, and what else can you
expect but inefficiency? During the
sixty days he is allotted he is flooded
with rules, letters and petitions, books,
pamphlets from all the departments OF
| the state containing information he
should have, with bills falling on his
desk every morning by the score deal
| ing with subjects from labels on cans
Of condensed milk to a massive COM
pensatiOn act, insurance code or in
dustrial commission, dealing with pub
lie utility corporations, etc. He can
know very little about even small
percentage of the total number of bills
placed before him for consideration.
| q am speaking from experience as
we'll as observatory
Under direct legislation bill pre-
scented to you will be in a pamphlet
with arguments for and against as is
done in Oregon. (The amendment to
be submitted to you provides for this
method.) You will place that pamph-
let in your pocket and for about two
months you can study and learn all
about every feature of the bills, and.
in the language of an Oregonian. That
pamphlet becomes your Bible"
In final paragraph Mr.. Teats
makes this appeal for a purer de-
mocracy:
THE people of Europe have watched
the democracy of America. They have
given it limited duration. When
they look into our legislative halls and
see the peoples interest disregarded
and the interest of big business al
ways provided for, they have short
ened it's duration. Fhere is only one
way, there is only one method to con-
tinue our American democracy, and
that is, the greater, simpler and purer
democracy by the direct vote of the
people. We must reach the heart and
the soul of the individual voter. We
must make it possible for the pusla-
ton of the heart and soul of our peo-
pie to be recorded in the formation of
the lays of our country. The law
that promotes the general welfare of