The Commoner.
MAY 21, 190S
3
AJ
i-
voters are intelligent and law-abiding citizens
and quickly learn the English language and
adapt themselves to the customs-of the country.
"While we have had the initiative and refer
endum for a number of yeaTs, it has been in
voked on a veryfew occasions. 'Notwithstand
ing, it is a tremendous check upon legislative
wrongs."
Governor William T. Cobb, of Maine, a re
publican, in his annual message of 1907:
"The belief in the soundness and efllcacy of
the principle of the initiative and referendum
as a means to enable the citizens to express
more directly and promptly their opinions of
proposed legislation has become very general
in Maine, and has been recognized in the plat
forms of both political parties. We may safely
assume, therefore, that these declarations were
made in good faith, and I heartily approve the
adoption of a measure that shall give them a
practical and binding effect."
From message of Lucius F. C. Garvin, gov
ernor of Rhode Island, January, 1903:
"Not only should the people of the state be
proffered an opportunity to make a new consti
tution, but a reasonable minority of the people
should also be given the right to propose amend
ments to the organic law. In this way only
can a constitution keep pace with the needs of
a progressive civilization. Against the confer
ring of this power, which is in complete accord
with the American doctrine of republican gov
ernment, no possible argument can be made ex
cept that the qualified electors are incapable of
governing themselves.
"I therefore recommend the passage, by this
general assembly, of a joint resolution propos
ing a constitutional amendment, which shall
provide that a number of electors, not in ex
cess of 5,000, shall be empowered to propose
future specific amendments to the constitution
and' to have them submitted directly to the peo
ple for their adoption or rejection by majority
vote."
In his message the following year, 1904,
Governor Garvin said:
"For several years an amondment'to the con
stitution, so drawn as to confer upon 5,000
voters the power to. propose future constitutional
amendments, has been before the general as
sembly. Two years" ago the passage of that
amendment was petitioned for by twenty-eight
organizations in the state, including labor, re
form, and religious bodies, representing many
thousands of citizens. Upon these petitions no
action whatever was taken.
"Experience elsewhere proves that the power
conferred upon the electorate in the .popular
initiative is eminently safe. It has resulted in
a gradual and careful progress, and could not
possibly lead to such revolutionary follies as
irrepealable laws, or the transfer of the ap
pointing power from the executive to one branch
of the legislature.
"In view of the wide demand, and in view
of its intrinsic merits, I ask you, gentlemen, to
give to this wholly non-partisan measure due
consideration, and I feel that ingo doing no
good reason will be found for its reaction. Cer
tainly no one -who has faith in a government by
the people can logically object to the constitu
tional initiative."
Message of Governor George W. Donaghey,
of Arkansas, January, 1909:
"I recommend that you submit to the people
a constitutional amendment providing for the
initiative and referendum. I regard such a step
a most just protection for a democratic constit
uency. The sovereign people should have the
right to demand any law they want through
the initiative, and annul any act by use of the
referendum; and the servants of the people
should never be backward in granting them the
privilege to exercise this prerogative."
BUT AliDRICH IS LEADER
The Decorah (Iowa) Republican says: "Sen
ator Nelson of Minnesota, too, has also been read
out of our party by Aldrich, of little Rhody.
Nelson can afford it if the spokesman of tho
millionaires does assail the loyalty of the re
publicans of the broad prairie states of the west.
Behind the representatives and senators of Iowa,
Minnesota and other prairie states are the
masses. Against these the pocket borough Mr.
Aldrich owns, or thinks he owns, count as noth
ing compared with thirteen votes In the electoral
college from Iowa, the twenty-seven from Illi
nois, or the eleven from Minnesota."
But it will be remembered that Senator Aid
rich and his associates frame republican plat
forms and name republican candidates. Then
the representatives and senators of Iowa, Minne
sota and other republican states, and republi-
cans gonerally, march to tho polls and vote tho
Aldrich ticket.
Mr. Aldrich may come from a "pocket bor
ough," and Rhode Island may bo inconsequen
tial when compared with Iowa, Illinois or Min
nesota. But when Aldrich speaks tho senate
acts in accordance with tho Aldrich decree;
when Aldrich speaks republican conventions
carry out the Aldrich program; when Aldrich
speaks republican presidents and congressmen
repudiate their pledges; and whatever tho Aid
rich program may bo tho republicans of Iowa,
Illinois and Minnesota tamely fall in Hue and
follow the Aldrich bannor. So what does
Rhode Island care?
This republican paper need not worry about
Senator Aldrich "assailing tho loyalty of repub
licans." Mr. Aldrich counts confidently upon
the loyalty of republicans, whatever a republican
congress may do. Who will say that ho is not
justified in this position by tho history of his
party?
THE PRESIDENT WITH ALDRICH
From Walter Wellman's Washington dispatch,
April 25, to tho Chicago Record-Herald, re
publican: "Tho attitude of many republican senators who
give Aldrich reluctant support through a sense
of party loyalty is 'We'll have to stand it this
time, but we shall bo condemned if we over
stand it again.' Their complaints are not only
as to the contents of tho ponding bill but as
to the manner in which it was made. Concern
ing the former, no one now pretends that is such
a revision as the country wanted and as Mr.
Taft promised. President Toft is represented as
being on both sides of tho fence with Aldrich
and against Aldrich leading the most acuto
observers to the belief that his influence is more
or less negligible on account of its lack of posi
tiveness and continuity. Tariff reformors who
go to the White House come away loud in their
declarations that the president is dissatisfied
with the Aldrich bill. But it is noteworthy that
whenever Mr. Aldrich himself goes to the White
House his visit is followed by semi-ofllcial assur
ances that the president and the tariff-maker are
getting on very well and that Mr. Taft is
charmed to find, in White House language, that
'he can do business with the senator from Rhode
Island.' Veteran watchers of the game as
played for generations by tho gray wolves of
protection smile to themselves at this assurance,
and remark that when Mr. Aldrich does business
with Mr. Taft on the tariff it is much like tho
way the Hon does business with the lamb.
"Since Senator Aldrich's frank avowal that his
measure does not pretend to meet the promises
made by the republican party, as those promises
were understood -by the people, and his declara
tion that the Chicago platform never made such
a promise, anyway, curiosity has redoubled as
to what the president intends doing when it
comes to signing the bill, some weeks hence.
All efforts to draw from the president a plain
statement of his intentions have come to
naught."
DR. A. H. GIVEN
Dr. A. H. Given, who died recently at his
home in Wymore, Neb., was well known in dem
ocratic circles throughout the state. Dr. Given
was one of those stalwart men who devote their
lives to the battle for principles. Tho town of
Wymore will miss the good efforts of Dr. Given.
Nebraska will miss him too and among the many
who feel a keen personal loss in Dr. Glven's
death, Mr. Bryan is to be counted. Beginning
with Mr. Bryan's first race for congress, Dr.
Given was not only a stalwart political supporter
but a warm personal friend.
DENVER'S GREAT NEWSPAPER
The Rocky Mountain News, Former United
States Senator Patterson's paper, celebrated its
fiftieth anniversary April 23 by Issuing a special
110 page golden jubilee edition. The history
of the News, from its founding before the city
of Denver was born until the present day, is a
story of the trials, Joys and triumphs of tho
American pioneer. It blazed tho way for a great
empire in the west and has lived to see the
fruition of its hopes, the results of its potent
influence in that work. The News is a living
refutation of the too prevalent idea that the
modern daily must be subservient to the busi
ness office to be a financial success. Presided
over by that fearless fighter, Thomas Patterson,
it is true to its traditions as a pioneer in thought
and progress. It has not hesitated to take a
stand on all matters where it could advocate the
cause of the common people. It belongs to .that
rapidly disappearing class of journals that dom
inato and influence public opinion for tho com
mon good. Such a paper is ono of tho greatest
assots any city can havo, and tho model munici
pality of Denver is a monumont to Its good
work. Tho Rocky Mountain News Is ono of tho
great newspapers of tho continent, ono of which
tho largest metropolis of the nation might bo
proud. Tho Commoner wishes to congratulate
tho Nows on the success It so richly deserves.
HERE IS A CHANCE
McAlester, Oklahoma, has a population of
40,000 within twelve miles of Its postofllco,
composed of intelligent business men, farmers
and luborors, the majority of whom aro demo
crats, and who havo been for tho past year with
out a democratic dally nowspnpci, the nearest
at the present time being sixty-rtvo miles away.
The people In that vicinity havo tho reputation
of being wide-awake enterprising business men,
and from the outlook there Is a fine opening at
that place for a good democratic dally.
WELCOME TO RECK HAM
Tho press dispatches announce that former
Governor J. C. W. Beckham has became tho
editor of the Kentucky State Journal, pub
lished at Frankfort. Tho Commoner welcomes
Governor Beckham to tho journalistic field. His
ability, his experience, his democracy and his
wide acquaintance combine to mako him an In
fluential factor in the newspaper world from tho
beginning.
COMPLIMENTARY?
Tho Now York Evening Post, in a well con
sidered tribute to Senator Boveridge of Indiana
says that ho is "invetoratoly fortune's champion
,and, .over stronS "Pon tho stronger side."
I hat Is tho New York Evening Post's polite way
of saying that the senator from Indiana has th
"band-wagon habit."
THE LAST ONE CONSIDERED
A tariff on wool and a tariff on brass, '
A tariff oh fur, hides and tallow;
A tariff on steel and:. a tariff on glass;
A tariff on crocks, deep and shallow.
A tariff on rails nnd a tariff on nafJs i"
A tariff on coffee's a rumor
Protect everything In tho tariff trust rJngr;
Put th' cinch on the helpless consumer.
A tariff on flour and a tariff on salt,
A tariff on linen and cotton;
A tariff on sugar, and don't call a halt
Until not a thing Is forgotten.
A tariff on clocks, on gloves and on socks
Just pile up the tariff tax higher
Protect everything In the tariff trust ring;
Put th' cinch on tho poor helpless buyer!
A tAriff on clothes and a tariff on boots,
A tariff on rubber and copper;
A tariff on lace and a tariff on fruits,
On medicine, bottle and stopper.
A tariff on thread and a tariff on bread-
Hoist the tariff as high as the steeple
Protect everything in tho tariff trust ring;
Put th' cinch on the poor common people!
A tariff on coal and a tariff on tin,
A tariff on lumber and paper;
A tariff on needle, a tariff on pin;
A tariff on shirts that's the caper.
A tariff on rope and a tariff on soap
Hoist the tax to the stars and surprise 'em
Protect everything in the tariff trust ring;
No thought for the fellow who buys 'cm!
A tariff on cradle, a tariff on bed,
A tariff on shroud and on coffin;
A tariff on .tombstone to place at his head
Get after him early and often.
From cradle to grave gouge the poor, helpless
slave
1- Here's your chance, Tariff Baron; Just
note 'er
Protect everything' in the tariff trust ring;
Put th' cinch on the short-sighted voter!
A tariff on lead and a tariff on zinc,
A tariff on carpdt and curtain;
A tariff on food and a tariff on drink
You've got them all cornered that'L
certain.
Tax his birth and his death, tax his first and
y last breath
Everything that he needs put the ban on.
Play the limit of lust, ev'ry tariff-fed trust,
With the help of Payne, Aldrich and
Cannon. . W. M. M.
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