Excerpt from The Direct Legislation Record and the Proportional Representation Review, Vol. 9: A Non-Partisan Advocate of Pure Democracy
Mr. Geo. H. Shibley, Chairman of the National Non-Partisan Federation for Majority in Cities, writes from Washington, D. C.: "The outlook is magnificent. The ease with which the Trade Union and Farmers can be federated is shown by what is already accomplished, see page 78 and 79 of our pamphlet - the Executive Council of the A. F. of L. agreed last September, you will see, to urge the application of the Winnetka System. There is no question but that we can easily get all the labor organizations and all the farmers" organizations, and by that time can get the businessmen"s associations; and the reform element in the Democratic party, which now has control of the national organization, must adopt this plan, for it is the only means whereby they can instruct at the primaries and thereby hold the organization. With such a declaration at the Democratic primaries, the Republican organization will be obliged to acquiesce. That means the fight will be won. In the meantime, we must make the fight in Cities and States. The Kansas Populists have agreed to make the Referendum and Initiative the State issue, and of course they will adopt the most easy campaign methods. In Colorado, we are told by Senator Pattison that Denver is sure to adopt the Referendum and Initiative in all matters, and this will insure the carrying of the State on the issue."
We advise friends to write him about the organization of local bodies.
A Constitutional Convention is being held at Hartford to revise a document which has hardly been changed for nearly a century. Hon. George M. Ward of Riverton, Conn. has agreed to bring a D. L. Article before the Convention and there is some chance of its going in.
One of the methods used by the D. L. League is a dinner under the Maryland, auspices of the Twentieth Century Club. It was a very successful affair. One of the Baltimore papers of January third said of it:
"The Twentieth Century Club gave a dinner last night at Heptasoph"s hall, Cathedral and Preston streets, which was attended by about 40 persons. In the course of the evening a proposed amendment to Section 29, Article 3, of the Constitution of the State, title "Legislative Department" and which the club will urge the Legislature to pass, was read. The amendment provides that all laws of the State shall be passed upon by the people of the State by popular vote. The proposed amendment, if passed by the Legislature, must be submitted to the people at a general election.
Dr. Joel B. Sutherland presided. Mr. Jackson H. Ralston, of Hyattsville, delivered an address on "Direct Legislation;" Rev. Anthony Bilkovsky explained the purposes of the club, arguing that public opinion is the driving force of the government of today. Mr. William J. Ogden reviewed the history of the movement in Baltimore for "Home Rule in Taxation." Other addresses were made by Messrs. Alfred S. Niles and Clarence M. Kemp. Dr. William N. Hill was chairman of the committee."
Two D. L. measures have been introduced into the Old Bay State"s Legislature, one by the Socialist member, Mr. Carey, and another known as Senate Bill No. 19 on petition of Henry Sterling. Mr. Sterling characterizes the Carey Bill as "the more desirable of the two" but thinks its passage "an utter impossibility." Here is the Sterling, or Labor Committee"s Constitutional Amendment:
"If fifty thousand legal voters shall petition the general court for any particular or specific amendment to the constitution, then it shall be the duty of the general court to submit such proposed amendment to the people at state elections; and if it shall be approved and ratified by majorities of the qualified voters voting thereon at such elections, it shall become a part of the constitution of this Commonwealth."
Mr. Sterling writing about this, says:. Это и многое другое вы найдете в книге The Direct Legislation Record and the Proportional Representation Review, Vol. 9 (National Direct Legislation League)