The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1914-05-16
..0PE:||I|s|IA1E FIGHT |
F!O|!R|:||,.PE0P|!||'' S'RuLE
Or. D. a. Day and Frank Grass
weller Start Campaign Of Edu-
cation at Bryant School.

The Importance Of the ii constitu.
tional amendments was emphasized
| at the Bryant social center meeting
"wednesday when Dr. D: III. Day and
Frank H. Crasweller began a city wide
campaign to educate citizens on var
1ous suggested reforms in legislation.
Urging that every voter should cast
vote for or against the amendments,
instead OF treating the matter indif-
ferently, Frank Crasweller gave the
initiative and referendum. the change
IN the number Of judges from five
10 seven IN the supreme court, and the
recall, as the four most important and
detailed the pYrport of each. He said
that there were several amendments
that were of no great value but as a
Whole. the amendments would do
much in placing the government d.
rectly IN the hands: Of the people.
the initiative and referendum. He
said in part: .
How Laws are Made.
"The people. elect John Smith as a
representative and John Jones as a
senator from their particular district,
and send them down to st. Paul, there
to Join their wisdom and experience
With other senators and representa-
t1ves from all over the state, this joint
wisdom and experience to, be used in
making the laws which govern us and
In spending the money collected from
the people In the form Of taxes, tor
the various public needs Of the peo-
pie of the entire state.
/. And the people, trusting in the
honor and integrity of John Smith and
John Jones to truly look out for the
interests of the whole state, stay at
home and pursue their regular occu-
pations.
but the railroads., the breweries,
the telephone and telegraph COM
ranies, and other special interests are
not so trustful. They know that John
Smith and John Jones are drawing
mighty small salaries. They also know
that John Smith and John Jones will
be asked to vote for the bills of other
senators and. representatives in re-
turn for the votes which they will
get for their own pet measures. So
down to st. PaulEwith John Smith and
John Jones; stop at the same hotel
with them: go up to the capitol with
them, and stick right with them all
the time. For these special interests
propose to see to it personally that
such laws as are passed shall meet
with their approval.
Explains Initiative.
'The initiative. simply stated, means
that where the legislature refuses to
pass a law that the people demand,
then the. people themselves shall have
the power to make that law. And
when law is once made by the peo-
pie no one, not even the governor Of
the state can veto it. A law once
made by the people can only be
changed by the people.
''In actual practice, of course, the
initiative is seldom used. When the
legislature receives 'o1ie Of those initia-
tive petitions: the mem bers generally
boone pretty we'll CONVINCED that the
people who signed the petition mean
business, and so the legislature itself
passes the bill and the submission of
the. question to the people is not
necessary. i: :. -
1.-THE initiative is simply the voice
of the people saying in no uncertain
tone: You are our servants, not our
masters. We want this bill to. become
a law. If you won't act, we will
THE referendum simply takes the
veto power, out of the hands of one
man and places 1t in the hands of the
people themselves, should they, by
signing proper: petition, demand
such action. .-.s
Thus, If the legislature should pass
a law that the people we're convinced
was unjust or oppressive they could,
by signing a proper petition, have that
law referred to them at state cleo
ton and either accept or reject it as
they see At. ~