The midland journal., 1915-05-28
The Referendum.

To THE EDITOR OF MIDLAND JOURNAL:
In this final article with regard to the Ref
erendum, desire to refer briefly to some
opinions which have been expressed at various
times with regard to its workings. take
few words from summary relative to its
workings in Switzerland:
Fifty years ago Switzerland was more
under the heels of class government than we
are today political turmoil, rioting, civil war,
monopoly, aristocracy and oppression OF the
Swiss, until within few decades. Today the
country is the freest and most peaceful in the
world. What has wrought the change? Simp-
" union and the referendum; union for
strength. the referendum for justice.
In the Outlook of August 26, 1911. President
Wilson. then Governor, said:
For fifteen years. taught my classes that
the Initiative and Referendum would not
work. can prove it now; but the trouble is
they do. The immediate thing we have got to
do is to resume popular government. We are
cleaning house, and in order to clean house
the one thing we need is good broom. The
initiative and referendum are good brooms"
President Roosevelt said in q recent speech
II believe in the Initiative and Referendum,
which should be used not to destroy repre-
sentative government but to correct it when
ever it becomes misrepresentation"
Governor Shafroth, of Colorado, a State
possessing good Initiative and Referendum
system, said:
'.The Initiative and Referendum places the
government nearer the people. That has al
ways been the aim of the trainers of all re-
publican forms of government"
In q recent article entitled "The Oregon
System at Work, by member of the Port
land, Oregon, Bar, a contrast between our
present method of electing officers. with the
Referendum method of considering meas
ures, is well placed in the following words:
"What man really represents is known
only to him and his Maker, and his future
conduct in detail under new and untried con-
ditions is past finding out The educative
effect Of the discussion Of matter of public
interest. generally participated in, with audi
ence for everybody who has anything to say
and with everybody who cares to think about
it having voice In the result, followed by a
second decision, simply cannot be exag-
gerated."
He adds that the composite voter whose
mind and purpose are portrayed by these
votes, appears to be s'desirous of improvement
Of his institutions; open to thoughtful advice
but adverse to visionary Innovations"
I have recited these few authorities, which
might be infinitely multiplied as tending to
prove that in operation the Referendum has
'vindicated the views expressed in my prior
letters.
My hope is not simply that direct popular
government shall be applied to state affairs.
and that the people of Maryland shall so vote
SO far as the Referendum is concerned this
fall. but that we may so develop the idea that
war and danger of war shall be checked and
restrained by the necessity of reference to
vote of the entire people, before we enter upon
hostilities. This development of popular gov
ernment may be far in the future. but it is a
development which we conscientiously and
determinedly should labor to obtain.
thank you for the courtesy you have ex-
tended to one who feels a deep interest as q
citizen Of Maryland in the progressive extern
sion and development of true popular gov
ernment. JACKSON H. RALsToN.
Hyattsville. Md