The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1916-06-22

stitute something new or aoollsn
something old we have got TO walt
whole wear before we can express our
desires. Then maybe the damage Is
done and it's too late, or maybe aIOer
we do make our pleasure known our
will is frustrated because the men we
nut in office to carry out our Will ae-
eide to take Just the opposite course.
When man walks away from the pal
lot box today he is dead as Lazarus
until his next political resurrection
one year later. -,
Commission government Will give
us a vote every day in the year ana
then it won't make SO much dlffcrence
whether we go to the polls electlon
day or not for the very next DAY we
can vote to put out the man that was
put in the day before. Then we won't
have to wait a whole year II we want
something done or undone-Wltn inc
initiative and referendum we can go
ahead and do things ourselves WITHOUT
consulting the pleasure OF our ser
wants in office. Docs anybody sup
pose for one minute that with the I'M
tiative, referendum and recall avalia-
blc a situation like we have been wit
Messing for months would ever arise?
Lots of people look upon the initiative,
referendum and recall as something
horrible. Let's see about that. Let's
see if they don't mean good business.
Suppose an employer decided to try
some new plan in his business and all
the workmen said they wouldn't stand
for any such thing. Everybody knows
what that man would tell his men.
"I'm boss around here and I'll lnstl-
tute, I'll initiate what l please" That
is the initiative and every business
man has got to believe in it, for 1t ex-
lists in every business. Again, suppose
the men this time decide to do some
thing without consulting their en-
ployer. What will the employer say!
sI'm boss around here and nothing
goes without my approval. l want
all such matter referred to me for
nv o. K" That's the referendum,
and every business man has got to be-
lieve in it for it exists in every bust
ness. If a servant proves unfa1thful
or incompetent his master discharges
him. That's the recall and every bu-
siness man has got to believe in it,
for it exists in every business. We
have been using and applying the inl-
tiative, referendum and recall ever
since the relationship of master and
servant has existed, ever since the
first man employed another to work
in his business. Now if you agree
that our city government should be
run on business principles how can
you consistently object to the use OF
the initiative, referendum and recall p?
Lots of people say: "What good
are these things, they are never used.
Did you ever hear of an official being
recalled 2" We have, of course, but
let's assume we haven't Oftentimes
the beauty of thing is the fact that
you never have to use it. If you hold
club over a man who is down and
tell him not to attempt to get up or
you will strike, that man is never 60
ing to get up if he has any sense.
Yet somebody will say the club didn't
keep the man down because it was
never used on him. If you carry a
gun for protection that same man
would have to say it afforded you no
protection because you never used it
on anybody. The recall is a club and
gun for the peoples protection and
the fact that it is but seldom used is
the strongest possible Endorsement of
it's efficacy. Some business institu-
tions boast of the fact that they have
never discharged clerk. Now who
would be foolish enough to say they
didn't have the power to discharge a
clerk simply because they never did
discharge one? Isn't the argument
of the man who says the initiative,
referendum and recall are no good be-
cause they are seldom used just as I'M
reasonable?
\ One of the finest things about COM
mission government-du due in large
part to the initiative, referendum AND
recalls that. it always gives the
people just as good government they
ought to have. Under the present
system it is impossible to tell wheth-
er we are getting what we want or
not. From what / can hear and OBJ
serve in going around the town am
afraid we are not. Under commission
government it is possible to have con-
ditions just like the present or even
worse if we want to, and it is also
possible to have much better. That's
the trouble with our present system,
it never gives us anything better than
the few in power wish to impose. We
always ought to have as good gov
eminent as we really want and any
has no right to exist.
In the next letter I shall deal with
the quality of men commission gov
eminent will give us to manage our
affairs and if space permits | shall
probably consider the question of
taxes. G. A. MALLOY.
Lambertville, June 20, 1916.