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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 9, 1910)
VWr ' "jwrw BEPTEMBER 9, 1910 Bgwv 'twk municipality can repeal it for itself until ex pressly authorized to do so by the entire state, and this would not be done by the adoption of No. 10. The state might adopt a state-wide prohibition law, allowing no exemptions and no county or municipality could then exempt itself, though its voto were unanimous. The amendment plainly means that the peo ple of the state reserve the right to legislate directly on state matters and that tho counties and municipalities are to be allowed to regulate matters of local concern, subject always to tho constitution and laws of the state. If tho amendment is full of the monstrosities imagined by its opponents, they owe it to the people to ferret out its authors and reveal their motives. How about the principle of tho initiative and referendum? Some of tho opponents of tho amendment appear to bo hiding out on this. Judge Rose indicates his opposition. Let others show where they stand. If they really favor the principle, let them draw up such a form as they are willing to support. Then we shall bo better able to divine the motive back of all this opposition. DAVID Y. THOMAS. Fayettcvillc, Ark., August 27, 1910. , SAME OLD FIGHT George Judson King, field lecturer of tho International Referendum League, prints in the Arkansas newspapers tho following reference to "Tho Joker inHho Bill." "Aro you a friend of tho initiative and refer endum and taking seriously this talk that amendment No. 10 contains a 'dangerous joke? "Do you know that just this kind of talk is heard in every state where tho question is un der consideration? Is not tho samo sort of a yelp emitted every time the people are about to take a .forward step of any kind, in any age? Very truly, yes. "If you knew tho fight has been made by the corporations in other states you would under stand exactly just what this attack amounts to. Let me tell you just a little about it. "Says Dr. William P. Hill, president of tho Referendum League of Missouri, in a very re cent letter: 'Corrupt interests are opposed to the referendum and prevent its submission when they can, and when they see opposition is use less, they take the plan of submitting as bad an amendment as possible.' "It cost the Missouri League twelve years of hard work and thousands of dollars to get a good amendment submitted and they would have given up but for the final strong support of Ex-Governor Folk. "In Ohio the light has been carried on for eight years, and has cost some $15,000 from hundreds of contributors and there has been no amendment submitted yet. In Ohio the people are demanding action and the corporation lob byists are howling about the 'dangerous provi sions of the proposed amendment.' "In Massachusetts an amendment passed the lowor house and was amended by tho politicians so that it took twenty per cent of the voters to sign a petition for a referendum. Even that "was killed later. "In Montana they fixed it so that they have to distribute the petitioners over the state, which makes it more difficult for the people. "In all cases they demand a majority of all votes cast in the election necessary to pass a law. By this trick all the ignorant, uncast votes are counted against the people's measures every time they bring one to a vote. Enough. "Do you know that amendment No. 10 con tains none of these fatal restrictions, but is a good amendment. And that is why all the cor porations are fighting it. They want to scaro you into rejecting this good amendment, and then prevent the submission of another for years to come, or else fix up ono for you to vote on which wiU not be workable, and worse than none at all." i ItOOSEVEIE AND THE TARD7F It is to be regretted that Mr. Roosevelt did not come out stronger on the tariff. Possibly he Is waiting to discuss that more at length in another speech. In denouncing special privi lege, he ought not to overlook the fact that tho tariff is tho mother of privilege and the greatest corrupting agency In the United States. It is to bo hoped that ho does not tio himself to tho commission idea. Tho way to reform the tariff Is not through a commission but by the election of tariff reformers to the senate and house of representatives. The Commoner. Progress in Kansas Just read tho republican platform in Kansas and seo what headway democracy is making there. And if democracy is good enough to endorse why aro tho democratic candidates not good enough to voto for? Tho democratic and republican state conven tions for Kansas met at Topeka August 30. Democratic Platform Tho Kansas democratic platform follows: Wo, tho representatives of tho democratic party in tho state of Kansas, hereby commend the following platform to tho votors as embrac ing needed progressive legislation, imperative and essential at this time. When great men and newspapers deny tho self-evident truth "that governments derivo their just powers from tho consent of tho gov erned" and substitute tho despotic doctrine that "governments exist for tho benefit of tho gov erned," when thousands of dollars aTo used to corrupt the -electorate and our representatives and cabinet officials use their delegated powers to make laws and decisions to enrich themselves and their friends, it is time for those who would perpetuate freedom and establish justice to act. Statistics show that $1 out of over $5 expend ed for the necessities of liftf is paid in increased prices due to our tariff system, thus robbing every family of $100 a year, and wo demand that all articles manufactured hero and sold abroad for less than they are sold to tho people of this country shall bo placed upon tho free list. We reaffirm tho declaration of the national democratic platform that privato monopoly is indefensible and intolerable and must bo de stroyed through tho power of taxation. We condemn tho present republican tariff law, drawn by tho few against tho interest of tho people. We denounce the present national adminis tration for having broken the pledges made to the people two years ago and for having sur rendered tho rights of tho people into tho hands of predatory wealth. The corrupting system of patronage has be come a national and a' state scandal. That the evils of this system may bo destroyed wo favor the election of all officers, including United States senators, federal judges and postmasters, by a direct voto of tho people. Until the constitution can bo amended wo favor the Oregon plan of electing United States senators and denounce the present state admin istration for defeating such a law in 1909. We favor an income tax law by means of which the vastly rich shall bo required to bear their just share of the expenses of government. We denounce tho present so-called postal savings bank law, enacted at tho behest of President Taft, as a short cut for tho savings of the Kansas people into banks of Wall Street and demand its 'repeal and the enactment of a true postal savings law in tho interests of the whole people a law that will leave deposits in the community where savings aTe deposited. " Wo favor the enactment of laws prohibiting corporations from issuing fictitious stocks and bonds and for the physical valuation of railroads and other public service corporation properties to the end that these corporations shall bo lim ited to just and fair compensation for services rendered to the people, and bo required to pay their just proportion of the taxes necessary to support the government. We pledge our congressional candidates to the policy of conserving all natural resources. We reaffirm our past declarations in favor of tho enforcement of all laws. In 1897, under Governor Leedy's administra tion, with 1,366,787 population, tho state taxes 'were $1,333,954. In 1902, with a population of 1,464,629, the state taxes were $1,997,354. In 1909, with a population of 1,707,491, tho state taxes were $3,193,074. An increased pop ulation of 242,863 and an increased state tax: of $1,141,720 is out of all proportion to tho growth and development of the state and shows waste and extravagance on the part of the dominant party. We pledge ourselves to an economical state administration and to require all public servants to devoto their entire timo to the business of tho state. Believing that tho Intelligence of the voters of Kansas is such that they do not need pictures or emblems to guide them in the selectior their candidates for office, and believing that In a spirit of fairness it should bo as easy for an elector to voto an Independent ticket as a party ticket, we pledge our senators and repre sentatives In tho Kansas legislature to voto and work for a measure that eliminates what is known as tho straight ticket, and provide for a ballot stripped of all emblems over parly candidates, and to provide that the names of all tho candidates for each office on ull tickets shall bo printed under tho samo head. This form of ballot is known as tho Massachusetts ballot. In enacting this measure into law it shall bo ho written that no olector shall bo assisted by (ho judges or clerks of tho election board to cast his voto unless suid olector bo physically dis abled from so doing. Tho settlement of labor disputes concerns tho general public together with tho employer and tho employed. The state should intervene either through receiverships or compulsory arbitration to compel tho operation of tho industry affoctod until a settlement is obtained. Wo domand that tho present follow servant law bo extended to cover employes in coal mines. Wo demand tho recall and wo reitorato tho demands of our state platforms for many years for tho inltlativo and referendum. Wo believe that our judiciary and public school systems should bo removed from tho in fluence of partisan politics and favor tho olectlon of judges and school officers on non-partisan tickets. Wo favor tho abolition of all unnecessary offices. Wo aro In favor of extending tho power of tho stato railroad commission over all state wide public utilities. Wo commend and indorso tho state bank guaranty law, passed by non-partisan voto of the last legislature, and particularly call atten tion to the fact that this is the only law that has stood tho test of the superior federal courts; and wo re-affirm our faith In tho principles of our platform of two years ago as provided in this law. We aro in favor of amending tho present direct primary ballot law so that a voter may cast an independent voto. Wo pledge ourselves to an aggressive and progressive policy looking to tho development and improvement of tho common schools of the state, especially the rural schools, and charge tho republican party with neglect and indifference toward these schools of tho people. Wo pledge our support to tho educational in stitutions of tho stato wisely and economically administered, and favor a policy that will re move them from political influence. Money ap propriated for education should bo considered as an investment and not an expense, and boards of regents and school officials should bo held rigidly responsible for adequate returns on this investment. Wo bellevo that tho law known as the In heritance tax law Is an unnecessary burden on tho people of this state and should bo repealed. Wo favor increasing the powers of the inter state commerce commission so that It shall havo effective Jurisdiction over all interstate business, including express, telephone and telegraph com panies. Wo favor amending tho long and short haul clause of tho Hepburn bill so as to mako effective the provision that a common carrier may not charge a higher rate for tho short haul than for tho long haul In tho samo direc tion, thereby removing tho discrimination be tween jobbing centers. We demand the enactment of a maximum railroad passenger rate law of two cents a mile. We favor the publication of campaign contribu tions and expenses beforo tho election. Republican Platform ' The republican convention was presided over by Senator Bristow. Tho Kansas City Times report of the convention says: "Tho platform was chock full of progressive Insurgency. Every paragraph fairly bristled with square deal sentiments. Furthermore, every pledge was given boisterous applause, tho ono regarding Colonel Roosevelt almost bring ing tho council to its feet. 'Wo send our greet ing to Theodore Roosevelt,' read Victor Mur dock, chairman of tho resolution committeo in that megaphone voice o .s. There was a comma in tho manuscript from which ho was reading but the council was not paying attention to punctuation. It mattered not whether the stenographer had written a comma or period. The reading had to rftop while tho members of tho council cheered and cheered again." Tho republican platform follows: x We, tho republicans of Kansas, In party council, desiring to express our pride in the traditions of our party, feel that respect and veneration to those traditions and for tho his tory we have made may bo most adequately ft