CONTENTS

PART I: INTRODUCTORY

I. Conditions that Invite a Partial Revival of Pure

Democracy in the Present Age

PAGE

I

3

III. First Objection to the Initiative-That it would

Destroy Constitutional Stability .

36

IV. Second Objection to the Initiative-That it would

Foster the Tyranny of the Majority

51

V. Third Objection to the Initiative-That it would

Tend to the Subversion of Judicial Authority

VI. Fourth Objection to the Initiative-That it would

Result in Unscientific Legislation

68

77

VII. Fifth Objection to the Initiative-That it would

Lead to Radical Legislation

89

VIII. Sixth Objection to the Initiative-That it would be

Used by Special Interests to get the Better of the

People

IX. First Argument in Favor of the Initiative-That it

would Utilize the Individual in Politics

X. Second Argument in Favor of the Initiative-That

it would result in the Drafting of New Laws by

those who Wish them to Succeed

XI. Third Argument in Favor of the Initiative-That it

would enable the Sovereign to Enforce its Will

without the Consent of the Legislature.

98

104

.

112

XII. Fourth Argument in Favor of the Initiative-That

it would provide an Orderly Means of Extending

or Restricting the Suffrage

PART III: THE REFERENDUM

XIII. The Referendum Explained

XIV. First Objection to the Referendum-That it would

afford the Legislative Branch an Excuse for

Shirking Responsibility

XV. Second Objection to the Referendum-That it would

Interfere with the Orderly Performance of Govern-

mental Functions

XVI. First Argument in Favor of the Referendum-That

it would Remove Temptation from the Legislative

Branch by Withdrawing its Ultimate Power to

Bestow Special Privileges

PAGE

146

149

XVII. Second Argument in Favor of the Referendum-

That it would Conduce to the Conservation of

Public Resources

XVIII. Third Argument in Favor of the Referendum-That

it would serve to Keep Legislation in Line with

Public Sentiment

XIX. The Referendum on Judicial Decisions

PART IV: THE RECALL

XX. The Recall Explained

XXI. First Objection to the Recall-That it would tend to

Weaken Official Courage and Independence

XXII. Second Objection to the Recall-That it would

make Public Office less Attractive to High-Class

Men

XXIII. Third Objection to the Recall-That it Violates the

Moral Right of the Official to hold Office during

the Full Term for which he was Chosen

154

160

177

185

XXIV. First Argument in Favor of the Recall-That the

People should have a Continuing Right to Correct

Mistakes in the Selection of their Public Servants.

XXV, Second Argument in Favor of the Recall-That it

would Clear the Way for the Concentration of

Responsibility and Longer Official Tenures

XXVI. The Recall of Appointive Officers

XXVII. The Recall of Judges

PART V: MAJORITY RULE-THE INITIATIVE, THE REFERENDUM,

AND THE RECALL COMBINED

XXVIII. First General Objection to Majority Rule—That it

is Destructive of the Republican Form of Govern-

ment Guaranteed by the Federal Constitution

XXIX. Second General Objection to Majority Rule-That

in reality it is Rule by the Minority

192

XXX. Third General Objection to Majority Rule That it

Involves the Furore and Expense of Frequent

Elections

XXXI. Fourth General Objection to Majority Rule-That

it Lays too Heavy a Burden upon the Time and

Intelligence of the Electorate

XXXII. Fifth General Objection to Majority Rule That it

is Based on the Idea of Equality, which is a Will

o' the Wisp

XXXIII. Sixth General Objection to Majority Rule-That it

would mean Government by Newspaper

XXXIV. First General Argument in Favor of Majority Rule-

That it would Simplify Political Issues

PAGE

242

247

256

260

266

XXXV. Second General Argument in Favor of Majority

Rule That it Educates Citizenship and Leads to

General Participation in Public Affairs

XXXVI. Third General Argument in Favor of Majority

Rule That it would make Parties and Political

Organizations more Adaptable to the Needs of the

Time

XXXVII. Fourth General Argument in Favor of Majority

Rule That it would be a Means of Perfecting

Representative Government

272

280

285

XXXVIII. Fifth General Argument in Favor of Majority Rule—

That it would be a Bulwark of True Conservatism 290

XXXIX. Majority Rule in Great Cities

XL. The Initiative, the Referendum, and the Recall in

Relation to the Federal Government

299

PART I

INTRODUCTORY