The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1912-04-27
CHARTER ELECTIONS SIGNIFICANCE


The coming charter election in Duluth is Of state
wide Importance. If good majority is rolled up in
this city for the initiative, referendum and recall
1t will encourage the people in other portions of
the state to get busy with their representatives in
the state legislature so that the whole state will
enjoy that for which the people of Duluth made a
gallant fight.
Big Business, and by that we mean the public
service corporations and the special interests that
are forever seeking favors from the peoples law
making bodies in city and state, will be against the
proposed charter amendment The probabilities are
that Big Business will not out in the open and
show it's hand. It will work beneath the surface
in silent and mysterious manner in the hope that
1t will catch the people asleep.
This fight in Duluth is only the skirmish The
next big fight will be at the coming general election
when we will be choosing members of the legisla
ture. If win this fight the next one will be easier
On the other hand if Big Business wins this fight
it will declare that the people do not want the
initiative and referendum for did not the voters of
Duluth repudiate the principle of Direct Legisla-
ton? Ii the people vote against the charter amend
ment on May 7th Big Business will make this claim
Big Business is interested in the election of all
kind OF lawmakers. Whenever it becomes necessary
it brides legislators and aldermen it gets away
with the goods.
You probably never saw any of the bribery, be-
cause when an agent of Big Business hands over
bride he doesn't invite everybody to come and wit
ness the bribery.
Lorimer. That fact has come out in the wash -
Illinois lawmakers were bribed to defeat the in
ltatlve and referendum amendment after the people
had voted three to one for it. That fact has not
come out in the wash
New York lawmakers were bribed by insurance
companies and bridge companies and the facts came
out: One legislator had to resign.
Ohio legislators were bribed two years ago. That
fact has come out When your lawmakers take
brides do they represent you? Do they divide the
graft with you? No, and you don t want any of it.
Big Business controls lawmakers by bribery, or
by influence, or by threats Do you want your
representatives controlled in that way? Do your
representatives represent you when they are con-
trolled by Big Business?
What is Big Business? In two words, it is
"Capitalized Privilege" Do you believe in that |?
Capitalized Privilege crooked deal for most
OF the people; it means that some men have an un-
fair legal advantage over all the others. Do you
believe in that, or do you want "square deal .?
The people can't get square deal if their law
makers controlled by few men. The people
! can't rule govern themselves when a few men
rule the lawmaking business. We can't have honest
lawmaking if Big Business brides or controls legs-
lators aldermen.
The people need new deal, a square deal, so
| that they can control the making of laws under
which they must live and do business. They can
give themselves square deal when they have the
| initiative and referendum