The Emancipation of the American City Volume 3 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1917 Excerpt: ... to the choice of other than municipal officers. In like manner all provisions of the state law applying to elections, the corrupt practices act, qualifications for voting, and provisions safeguarding the honesty and purity of elections should remain in force. But there is no reason why, with these exceptions and within these limitations, a city should not be free to adopt and put into operation any form of nonpartisan primaries and elections, preferential ballots or a system of proportional representation. And this freedom of choice should be accorded to every city in the land, not by special grant, but by the constitution and general laws of the state as a fair and just measure of home rule. CHAPTER VIII INITIATIVE, BEFEBENDUM AND RECALL Few proposed changes in our system of government put forth during the past few years have been defended on the one hand and opposed on the other with more violence and acrimony than the three devices known as the initiative, referendum and the recall. It is because they contemplate frankly not a mere change in the form of government but a striking modification in one of the underlying principles on which our government is based, that they have become the storm centre of the progressive movement in government. The advocates of these reforms believe that in them lies the necessary corrective or cure for the ills which have developed in our representative system. In their behalf it is urged that through them a greater measure of responsiveness to the demands of the people is likely to be obtained and the popular will is more directly and correctly ascertained. Against them it is urged that their acceptance means an ultimate recourse to direct legislation and with it the eventual undermining of the established system of repre...