Show DIRECT LEGISLATION LEal Compiled ComplIed by H W V Lawrence All ui power pow r Is Inherent in the people and all free governments are founded on their authority and instituted for their peace safety and happiness For the ad advancement advancement vanc ment of these ends enda they have at all aU times ti es an inalienable and indefensible right to alter reform or abolish their government in such manner as they may think proper Constitution of Pennsyl Art 1 See Sec 2 That present conditions in our state and especially in our municipal politics are such as to excite grave apprehensions 1110 no intelligent student of ar the times can deny Either we must find some effectual I remedy for the corruption now rampant or of corruption reap corruption ion and go gothe goI goth 11 I the th ray vay of or Rome and other great na nations nations nations i that have preceded us That the corruption exists and is 18 sapping and un us undermining I our institutions hardly needs t f proof Men lIen and newspapers of all parties i and all an factions add their voice to the general cry of Wherewith shall we cleanse our way The question must be answered for al already already already ready a large percent of our citizens be belong belong belong long to the s party which every election numbers number more than before I This almost criminal neglect of all political cal duties by so many of the better class I of citizens can be traced to a growing owing conviction of the hopelessness of effecting any real or permanent reform in govern government government ment meat What men cease to hope for they cease to work for If the political atmosphere is to be cleared and purified we must change the system s stem that produces these evils We Ve have I had bad Citizens Unions Business Mens I Leagues Committees of otOne One Hundred and andi other organizations too numerous to men mention mention mention i tion only to find ourselves tot today Ly with a greater task on our hands than ever er be before tore fore The mistake has bas not been in sin sincerity I and earnestness of those who have I labored in these movements but rather in hi working simply tor fo a change of men menor menor menor I or party while we leave the system the thereal thereal thereal real source of corruption unchanged and andI I unattached An eminent nihilist authority of Russia stated Killing of czars is a waste of or I time we could coulet kill kiU off oft two dozen of czars and be no better off o The system that makes czars za possible is what must Be aimed at Men and parties are but ad administrators I I of the system under which they hold power According Ac to that i j tern tem is their power for evil or good As AsI l I long as a system prevails whereby a few 1 I have the final decision in matters af affecting the weal or woe of the entire people just so long will the probabilities I be that the decision will be In the interest of the few who make the decision or orI I laws or of that few who in order to have bave the opportunities through special i legislation to lay Jay unjust burdens upon I the mass of the people are willing to give a portion of the spoils to the few who I havo the deciding pOwer newer Just so long Ion as our executives and ana leg Jeg legislators legIslators remain remaIn free tree from the direct con control control control of the people just so long will the lobby be maintained corporations con continue continue continue to be enthroned in power franchises grabbed public plundering be carried on i f td d the corruption born of that con condition of affairs continue the logical se sequence Sequence quence being the downfall of free gov government i i eminent The remedy for all this tilis corruption is di dl direct feet legislation le The TM plan blan lan is practicable it ft has been tried and found to be perfect after which we can copy CODY We went to toi i Australia Australla for a ballot law now let letus letT i ius i I T us follow the Swiss In their method of I legislation The Swiss republic some years ago t was iwas I as boss ridden and as corrupt ini In i i every way as is ours o rs at t the present time tim timI l Their system of legislation was WS indi indirect le I rest or representative e V e precisely like our ow own and few f w who made claim to respectability respectability could be Induced to hold office for there then as here now to be ba known as a politician wa was to be b in rather bad badI i 1 I odor There as here futile efforts were I made to purify politics At length some someI radical change of ot system s stem was seen eon S to be bei i necessary to permanently p r establish good j government dud nd Jw ence what ia is i known as direct lf through the initiative and referendum was w s devised I and after a bitter contest with the cor I was put in operation The adoption of direct legislation how however however however ever the effects of such a change might prove to be involves the adoption of no new principles in our form of government It would be merely the extension of a principle which lies lles at the I basis of ot our political system and which i is already recognized cognized rJ in practice The TheN Nw N w England town meeting is a notable example e of this thi fact There Ther are many Instance i iu hI t tats States of f the em cm i of the referendum um In municipal II county and state affairs where the people I have voted directly upon such matters as asI i I local option loan Joan bills laws location of county seats amendments to 1 state constitution etc This is the refer reter referendum We Ve merely wish to extend it it that the people may regain r the rights and anti privileges that ft fr e citizenship t The politician and political boss will not openly oppose direct legislation but they will tell you that it is not practical the I I people arc not informed sufficiently on onI public questions to vote correctly To I admit that it was feasible would soon I throw them out of a job Representative I I government in the past years ears eara I has lias done more to undermine the founds foundation tion principles of ot true democracy than In all ot the years since the formation of our i j government Through class legislation it has been possible for a plutocracy of less ies le than one per cent of the people to toi i own of the wealth of the coun country country i try manhood has been degraded and the i i spirit of patriotism and true Christianity crushed under the greedy despotism m of Df 1 the dollar Under these conditions where i I Is the tire voter than can truly say it is not net i high time for the people who are the Ute source of all power and pay the bills to I take a hand at making the laws that shall shell shellI shalli i govern them through h direct legislation |