Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1912-02-21


clear cxaotiy what methods are D.
legal. aud then the Judiciary VIII De
In a better position 60 punish adc-
quatciy and reicutivrsly those who in-
slst on denying the clear legislative
docrcrs ! DO not believe any abso-
iuto private monopoly IS Justified. but
Il our great combinations ore prop
criy supervised. 70 that immoral
practices are prevented. absolute NOM
opoiy will not como 20 nasH az the
laws 90 ompetltion and efficiency arc
against Il.
"Shepo your constitutional action
90 that the people will be able through
their legislative bodies or, falling that
by direct popular vote, 90 provide
Workmcn'a compensation acts. 90 roE-
Hate the hours OF labor for children
and for women, 10 provide for their
safety nj work, and TO prevent over
@ork or work under unhyRonlc or un,
safo conditions. Soc to it that no re-
sirictiong are placed upon legislative
powers that VIII prevent the enact
mont ~ laws under whlcn your poo-
pie con promote the general welfare.
the common good.
$50 much for tho ends or govern
ment and I have. OF course. merely
skotched IN outline what the ends
should be- Now for the machinery
by which these ends are 10 be achicv-
ed; and here again remember ] only
sketch IN outline and do not for
moment pretend 10 work out IN do
tail the methods OF achieving your
purpose.
I'm the flrst place. believe In the
short ballot. You cannot get good
service from the public servant II you
cannot see him. and there Is no more
effective way of hiding him than by
mixing him up with multitude OF
others so thnt they are none OF them
important enough 20 catch the eye OF
the average. worknday citizen. The
crook in public life ia not ordinarily
the man whom the people themselves
elect directly 20 a highly important
and responsible position. The profess
sional politician ana the professional
lobbyist thrive most rankly under n
system which provides q multitude OF
elective officers. Of such divided re-
sponaibility and Of such obscurlty
that the public knows. and can know.
but little os To their duties and the
way they perform them.
THE people nave nothing whatever
10 fear from giving any public SER
want power so long as they retain
their own power 10 hold him account
able for his use OF the power they
nave delegated 70 him. You viii get
best service where you elect only a
few men, and where each man has
his definite duties and responsible
tiles. and Is obliged TO work In the
open. so that the people know who ne
is and what he Is doing and have the
Information that win enable them q
hold him TO account for his steward
ship.
II believe IN providing for direct
nominations by the people, including
therein direct preferential primaries
for the election OF delegates so this
rational nominating conventions
believe in the election OF United
States senators by direct vote. be
, licve In the initiative and the refer.
cndum. which should be used no
20 destroy representative government
but 10 correct IL whenever IL becomes
. misrepresentatiye,
N Il beifoe6 -tfat -me, initiative an,
| referendum huould De uheus not "A
1 substitutes for representative govern
ment but as methods Of making such
q government really representative. Ac
= tion by the initiative or referendum
. ought not to be the normal way o.
; legislation: but he power 90 take !
y should be provided In the cOnstitu
= ton, SO that ~ the representative
q tail turly 70 represent the people 0l
- some matter of sufficient importance
TO rouse popular interest, then tn
= people shall have IN their hands tn
facilities TO make good the failure.
n And / urge you not TO try "a pa
j. constitutional letters on the legisla
q ture. as so many constitution maker
l. have recently done. Such action ol
l. your part would invite the courts &
'e render nugatory every legislative ac
n 10 better social conditions, Give IA
r. legislature an entirely free hand arr
r then provide by the initiative and ref
<, erondum that the people shall hav
q power TO reverse or supplement IN
l. work OF the legislature should Il eve
become necessary.
re- "Aa 10 the recall, I do not beliey