The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-09-11
Editor Palladium q:

Editor tali9ulOm.
The discussion over the voting ma
chimes brings 10 mind this thought
concerning the functions OF the ballot
as well as the correct counting OF II.
How often do we hear the profane ex-
preston, what's the use, they do as
they please anyway?
And We are forced TO admit that
there is some truth in the foregoing
remark. But let's investigate and as
certain the reason.
In conversation with a friend the
above remarks were made.
said. my friend, you are right. we
don't vote for legislation. we vote for
Legislators. Let's see-the worker Gre
ates all wealth. Therefore the non
wealth creator must through legisla-
ton possess the wealth He must Sc
cure laws to suit his purpose TO the
end that he may rob the wealth Gre
ator. He. therefore. must deal direct
ly with the Legislators. who have the
unrestricted right to enact laws in the
interest either of the common good
or the privilege seeking capitalist
When the legislator is elected to Of
flee he serves under a fixed salary,
and no matter how efficient he may
be, he will receive the same salary.
But the ever present lust for dollars
| inspires the legislator or public serv-
ant to accept the graft, and bride of
the privilege seeker and the electorate
of the commonwealth. Privileged to
do as he pleases, with power TO ig,
more the will of the people. and the
people have no recourse. Let the pub
lie wise up on this question. Let
them awake to a realization that they
have no direct connection with legisla-
ton of any kind, and therefore can't
expect legislative enactment in their
interest
Socialism proposes the initiative,
referendum and recall, not of judges
only. but of all public servants. This
would give the people the right TO
GUST any Official who failed to act in
accordance with the will OF the ma
jority. The people would have power
to initiate by petition any law, or 10
enact any law or repeal, or amend any
law.
This would give the people supreme
legislative. executive and judicial pow
ers, where such powers are needed to
prevent some officials from selling
out to some privilege seeking inter,
ests. When the local option issue was
before the people of Ohio. l had the
opportunity to participate in that bat
tie which resulted in the people Sc
curing the desired end.
| If this issue would have been sub
mitted to the legislators of Ohio, every
saloonist and every brewer in the
state would have had their lobbyists,
and bride offerings at Columbus to
battle in their interest, just as is the
case in franchise grants and contract
awards. OF course the church would
have lobbied, too.
The dealer in Christian literature
who opposed the saloon, would have
been there with their bid for privi
| lege. But by referring the question
to the people, through the medium oil
the initiative and referendum, the PEG
pie possessed absolute power, and
simultaneously. eliminated graft and
bribery, demonstrating the practica
bility of direct political action as ad
vocated by the Socialist party.
In conclusion. l would say: The
voters in 1908 were promised the full
dinner pail-well they got the promis
es. but not the full dinner pail, Why
Because they voted for candidatet
only and not for the full dinner pail.
| Yours truly,
| J. w. Putterbaugh,
| 113 williams street