The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1912-04-13

The rapid development Of the science Of govern
ment and the universal study at the present time
Of things pertaining to this subject makes it op-
perfume for the people Of the city of Duluth to
write into their charter provision for the In
itiative Referendum and Recall.
The socaled progressive policies advanced by
the honest and clear-thinking Of today are
founded the theory that the people competent
to govern themselves. This theory is not openly
disputed in this cty-not yet at least-even by the
most ardent machneites and defenders Of Privilege
But they have taken precious good in the past
that the theory should be given as little practical
expression as possible
There should be as much opportunity for pro-
gress in government there is in business in iv-
ing, and in everything else in life. A school Of
thought found it's way into the Federal Constitution
al convention in 1857 that doubted the ability Of
the people to govern themselves. 1t the pupils
OF this school that offered Washington crown.
When he refused it they set to work to build
obstacles in the Constitution. They gave us the
Supreme Court with it's members appointed by the
President to for life They gave us the United
States Senate and provided for an indirect method
for choosing Senator'S.
They refused to permit the people to choose
president by direct vote, but arranged it so that
college of electors did the real electing while
the people OF each state went through the form of
choosing President, and not infrequently Pres
idents were elected who did not receive the votes
They further curbed the power of the people by
giving Senate, President and Supreme Court
the power and authority to veto all measures passed
by the one law making body members Of which
owed their allegiance directly to the people.
. Now we hear good deal of twaddle about |'our
historic and Constitutional SYSTEM" just as if the
people Of this generation, with 125 years of ex-
sperience back of them, are no more competent to
conduct their governmental affairs than were
kindergarten citizens during the formative period
OF our nation
This twaddle will not fool the people today: We
know considerably more about our form Of govern
ment than the citizens of the early days. for we
have experience which they did not have
They first had the kind of government that King
George gave them. 1t big step from mon
archlcal form to even restricted Republican gov
eminent. Our fathers might have prevented many
OF the restrictions that were placed upon them
were it not for the fact that the men whom they
trusted doubted the ability of the people to CON-
pletely rule themselves.
The people of this day demand that the restric-
tons placed upon them when this was put an infant
Republic be removed. They declare that they are
dully capable OF deciding upon men and measures
Tor themselves, and they propose to have restored
to them power that was taken away by men who
were monarchists at heart in the Federal Constitu-
tlonal convention when the system Of representa-
tive government that finally found it's way into
our states and cities was agreed upon
The presentday leaders Of political thought in
America stand with the people this proposition
colonel Roosevelt, Senator La Toilette, William J.
Bryan, Woodrow Wilson, progressive Republicans
and Democrats Socialists and other advocates of
social reform all unite in demanding that Popular
Rule be restored.
The people of Duluth will have the privilege
OF taking to themselves the Initiative and Veto
power OF men and measures at Special Election
to be held in May. The campaign is on. Let
every voter do his duty.