People's Pilot, Volume 4, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 April 1895 — THE INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM EXPLAINED. [ARTICLE]

THE INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM EXPLAINED.

Uutll the I’popln Kul*? — Ad Important Question Illustrated —Representatives^ Instead of Making Laws for the F«<k pie, Make Laws for Themselves. I have wondered many a time why the rank and file of reformers do not pay more attention to the Important sublet of direct legislation— In other words, the initiative and referendum. My dear friend, do you want free ailrar? Do you want government banks? Do you want fifty dollars per capita? Do you want a decrease la your taiaMon, or government ownership of railroads? Well, how are you going to get these reforms? You have been hinting to your rulers for some time that jfo* wanted these things and have not made mudh headway. The trouble is that Instead of going in quest of the treasure yourself, you sent some one else. Miles Standish sent John Alden to court Priscilla for him. John forgot that he was a representative and oourted the girl for himself. Milos Standlsh should have done his own courting and the American people should make their own laws. The initiative is the right of petition. Under the system of direct legislation a given per oent of the people can petition for atty desired law, and when their petition Is received the legislativo power, congress or the state legislature as the case may be, must prepare a bill containing all the provisions asked for in the petition and submit the same to the people at the next regular election. This submission to the people is the referendum. The people vote the bill in or vote it down, the majority of the actual people thus saying what laws they will have. Under this system all laws originate with tha people and are approved by the people. Suppose that at the coming national election the populists should eleot a majority of both national houses of congress and also get their man safely seated in the presidential chair. They would no doubt institute * -'umber o£ grand reforms. But if they leave the people lit their present powerless condition, succeeding administrations could in a very few years kill every good law they have made and wipe out all traces of their reforms. The American people are to-day practically powerless. They have handed over their power to their socalled representatives. These representatives can make just as many bad laws as they please, and the only redress that the people have is to vote them down when they again present themselves as candidates for office. This ia rather poor redress when we consider that if we vote a guilty officeholder dowu, the man we put in his place haa the same power and opportunity to do mischief that he had. The referendum i 3 the remedy.

The agitation and education upon this section of the Omaha platform, or more properly its appended resolutions, can not be too thorough or reach too far. If the people are fortunate enough to elect the officeholders of the next administration this is one of the very first reforms they should establish. For direct legislation means the tri*urnph of ail other reforms, just as rapidly as the people can comprehend them. It Is not only the instrument for procuring every desired‘reform but ia also the most direct means of repealing •very undesirable law. It will forever put a stop to the legal steals and bunco games that now make up about ninetenths of the work of the average legislative body. It will not only decrease the number of salaried officers but It will also reduce all the expenses of the government. When she enjoys this system America will cease to be a representative oligarchy and will become n real republic in which the people actually rule. If then a bond issue is proptsed the people will have a chance to vote as to whether they desire to be robbed in this fashion. And the best part of it all is that it will bring the actual facts of government before the people and compel them to consider, think, and reason. They will thus learn to vote for measures instead of screeching themselves hoarse for individuals who would not, in many instances, pick them up out of the ditch.