Denver labor bulletin., 1915-10-16


York State Constitutional convention in
Albany. j. w. Sullivan, general lecturer
for the American Federation of Labor,
advocated adoption of the initiative, re.
call and rcfendum clause proposed by
Delegate James II. Dahm, former presi-
dent of New York Typographical Union
No. O, in the following convincing
terms:
'.'rhe A. +. OF l.. convention of 1891
adopted as its first political plank the
initiative and referendum. Every year
since. President Gompers has especially
recommended the system in his annual
report, and the conventions thus ad-
dressed have formally reaffirmed IL as
embodying a principle OF the first I'M
portance for labor. State conventions OF
labor organizations invariably incorpor-
ate the proposal in their platforms. The
New York State Federation of Labor
has upheld it for more than twenty
years.
THE referendum is in constant prac'
tice in nearly all branches of organized
labor. Every question affecting the or
ganization vitally is 50 decided in all
the firmly established trade unions. In
ternational bodies OF fifty thousand
members elect their officials by gen
cral vote. The two and a half million
members of the A. F.of L., the railroad
brotherhoods. and the unaffiliated un-
ions regularly exercise control over
their representatives by means of mass
direction through the referendum.
Strikes, assessments, arbitrations, trade
agreements are thus democratically de-
termined The trade unions are hence
national schools for advanced democracy.
In the face of these facts, how can any
one offer doubt that the initiative
an dreferendum is labor measuref
"In governmental legislation, the in
itiative and referendum is no longer at
the initial STAGE where it can be blocked
by the eNaggeration OF a possible flaw.
Following MIR Smiths method of test
ing a great principle by selecting an
alleged single failure. fault-finders could
abolish every human institution. The
legislature occasionally sending to the
people for their vote n technical, I'M
timely. or unimportant matter j. not
the referendum. That procedure is
mockery OF the peoples viii; calling II
a referendum is a misnomcr. The refer
endum in full play places political SOW
ereignty continuously with the voters,
they to decide upon the occasion Of it,
uses
"A member OF the New York Consti-
tutional Convention OF 1894 might have
been pardoned had he predicated a doubt,
in regard to this principle OF govern
ment on single unsatisfactory popular
vote upon measure coming under his
observation. but member of this con
vention of 1915 in doing 80 exhibits him.
self as tagging far behind the march OF
events In fact. to students OF the sub
ject in this state, these two conventions
are historical landmarks. In presenting,
nd Mt ksr
cause of th.. A. +. OF T.. before the con
venticn of 1894. | was obliged for the
most part to cite facts drawn from
Switzerland: the outlandish terms OF the
proposed innovation evoking the con
temptuous mirth of conservative con
yer.ion members-mo-t of them now
passed away from earth and their names
faded from public memory. while the
scheme they laughed to scorn has be-
come an American institution that prom
ises to last A. long as the republic IT.
self. In 1915. terms and system are do
mestic and familiar.
The initiative and referendum j. in
the constitutions of seventeen state
South Dakota tIsosl; Utah $1,000. Ore
gon fI902i; Nevada 1905 and flgl2t;
Montana fl9O6,; Oklahoma (lo07l
Maine (10Osl; Missouri tl9osl; Arknn-
sas 1910; Colorado tlalol: Arizona
n9lB; California 1oln; Nebraska
i10I2l; Washington tl0l2l: Idaho
loI2j Ohio 19l2l; Michiganf 1919.
In eight OF these states the system is
working to the satisfaction of its most
eNacting advocates. in the Others, ns
vet. with more or less impcrfection.
"Of the sixteen million voters in the
United States. -four millions have II in
their power to initiate and vote upon
state laws In 1914. in the seventeen
states. forty three constitutional amend
ment- were initiated from the masses Of
voters. and by count made by the Ma
tionnl Popular Government league. more
than two hundred and fifty other meas
urcs 40 initiated have from time to time
gone. to the popular vote. Further. in
states which have not formally adopted
| the initiative and referendum. votings
at the polls ON questions submitted by
the Legislature have become more and
more common. indicating gradual sub
| stitution of the will of the voters for
that will of legislators.
Thus, in 1914. Wisconsin voted on ten
issues; Georgia on ten; Louisiana on
| fifteen; Massachusetts on three; Ne
braska on seven: North Carolina OH ten;
| South Carolina on eleven. Minnesota
voting on eleven measures. gave .OOi
for the initiative and referendum TO Al,
5I7 against, with the result. however,
of rejection. since the affirmative vote
was less than majority of the total
votes for candidates-an example here
of the obstacles to be overcome in the
progress of the system.
"In municipal government, the initia-
tive and referendum has been extended
into all but the most backward states.
II has reached even New York. thru
the home rule law of April 10, 1919,
on franchises. Three hundred and fifty
American cities, now administered un-
| dor fbe cify commits a;op pr;p,;pIo xx;tl,