The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-02-09

tenn OF good roads. Tne noed OF this |
Is great and the cost too heavy to be
horne by present taxation. The i'm
rrovement Ia permanent and its ben
cfts are not confined to those who
make It. So the expense may we'll
be spread over period Of years by
Issuing bonds under a careful limit
OF amount, with proper provision for
q sinking fund. IL was with great
regret that felt bound to disapprove
the good roads bill passed last year,
because the large levy It made would
have defeated the plans for tax re-
forms then under way, whose full
success Is now assured by the results
of the first experience under them.
Subject to strict Limitation Of the
! over to tax and incur Indebtedness,
as we'll as to the prohibition Of lend
ing their credit or otherwise engaging
in any but strictly public enterprises,
think cities and villages should be
left free to select their own form OF
government and manage their own To-
cal affairs.
"rhe board of public works should
he abolished and replaced by an
agency to be created by the general
assembly and subject to its control.
Initiative and Referendum.
"I always keep an open mind for all
proposals to make our government
more efficient, economical and re-
sronsive to public needs. And I be-
lieve that within the safeguards of
personal rights and other limitations
they themselves impose by a consti-
tuition prepared and adopted with de.
llberate care, the peoples will is the
supreme law, which 1t should be
made as easy as possible to declare
end enforce.
But | am not convinced that the
initiative and referendum, applied
generally to subjects of legislation,
would be an improvement on our sys-
tenn of government by representa-
tives, which, while it has shortcom-
ings, like all human Institutions, l do
not believe has proved a failure.
"These shortcomings are doubtless
the chief cause of the continued ad-
vocacy of direct legislation, and if it
could be confned to their correction
or prevention there would be less
ground for doubt about the desirable
ity of it. But 1t seems to be con-
eeded that such limitation is not
practicable.
"The measure is confessedly an OK
pertinent, and as several states have
recently undertaken 1t, my attitude
ic like that of the man from Mis-
souri, have always found it wiser
In matters of doubt, when could,
to profit by the experience of others
rather than by my own.
"And no one can justly claim that
this new departure in government
has yet passed the experimental
stage in other states,while even "
it has, none of'them' have SO large
or so diversified population as Ohio
or such a great variety of interests.
"a somewhat wide experience, as
we'll as observation, has taught me
that government, In all its branches,
is a complicated and difficult bust.
ness which requires careful study and
close attention, besides the consider.
alton of many things in the doing Of
each one. And my doubt is whether
these essentials can or would be sup
piled by a large, busy and widely
separated body of electors acting di
rectly in matters of general legisla
| tion.
ut Is safe rule to Judge others by
ones self, and | gravely question
whether, as a private citizen i'm
mersed in business and personal af
| fairs, should be able, however will
ing, to devote to a proposed measure
unless 1t were very simple one In
volving no details, the study of its
own provisions and of their effect or
other laws or subjects, which is re
quiIed to qualify one to take part in
the important work of legislating foi
a great commonwealth. My action
would lack the sanction of an oath tc
peIfom my duty to the best of my
ability. ! am certain I would not ant
could not give it the care and atten
| tlCn L now give 10 my part III LHe
making of our laws. And l do not see
how merely multiplying the number
of private citizens in the like situa
tion, without opportunity for confer
ence or discussion with each other
could better the result,
~ believe the work of Legislation
can be properly done only by bodies
small enough for each member to get
the advantage Of conference, debate
and deliberation, with the concur
renee Of both required and absolute
rules to prevent hasty action b!
either, as well as final approval b!
another and Independent actor in tht
proceedings. This is one of the mair
features which made our government
"a broad and liberal democracy bu
compatible with ingrained respec
for parliamentary methods and con
stitutional checks as it has beer
well described.
Opposed to Hasty Action.
"Of course II those agencies al
prove incapable and corrupt, IL To-