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About The independent. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 1903)
OCTOBER 1, 1903. THE NEBRASKA INDEPENDENT 13 The People's Rule & BY Geo. H. Shiblev. (Continued From Last Week.) REINFORCEMENTS FROM ORGAN IZED FARMERS. 1. The grange is working for ma jority rule. ' The people of Oregon nave adopted a constitutional amendment for a peo ple's veto and direct initiative. The state grange helped to install the sys tem, which was approved, also, by the political parties in the state, and the vote was eleven to one practically unanimous. In neighboring Washington the state grange at its annual meeting last June (1902) adopted the follow ing resolution: "Be it Resolved, That our worthy master of the Washington state grange be requested to appoint a grange com mittee in each county where there is an organized grange. The duties or said committee shall be to interview the various legislative candidates and to persuade them to use their best ef forts, if elected to the legislature, to secure the passage of a-fcill to amend the state constitution ..providing, for direct legislation (the referendum and initiative), which shall be submitted to the people, as required by the state constitution." Since last December six more state granges have demanded majority rule the referendum and initiative Illi nois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, West Vir ginia, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island, and in the other grange states hosts .of county and local organizations are de claring for the system. It is suggested that, each Pomona and subordinate grange adopt a resolution somewhat as follows: "Whereas, The ineffectual control of trusts by congress and the domination of special interests iir-the legislatures of. the country demonstrate the need for an improvement in our representa tive system; of. legislation (in the words of Governor Roosevelt in a message to the New York legislature, January 4, 1899: 'I invite the atten tion of the legislature particularly to the evils of overlegislation. The ten dency to pass laws which are utterly unnecessary, even when not pernicious, cr which are enacted purely to favor certain .special private interests, seems to grow instead of diminish. ... I ad vise that an investigation be made of the methods employed in other repre sentative bodies for getting rid of the evil.') And, ' , "Wheeras, The needed improvement Las long been developing, namely, a people's veto through the optional ref erendum and a direct initiative (in the T;ords of the governor .of South Da kota, where the system has been in operation for several years: 'Since the referendum law has been a part of our constitution we have had no char ter mongers or railway speeulators, no wildcat schemes submitted to our leg islature. Formerly our time was occu pied by speculative schemes of one kind or anotherbut since the refer endum,, has been made a part of the constitution these people do not press their schemes on the legislature, and hence there is na necessity for hav ing recourse to the referendum.') And, "Whereas, This improved system of Representative government has been adopted by the people of Oergon, with the active co-operation of the grange; has been adopted by the people of Utah: has been approved by a flve-to- pne vote of the people of Illinois, where the cranee is fully committed to it; is demanded by the grange of the state of Washington, which last year questioned the candidates for the leg islature as to whether, if elected, they would vote to submit a constitutional amendment for the improved system; and since last November has been in dorsed by six state granges Illinois, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island as well as by many Pomona and subordi nate granges in other states; and, "Whereas, Candidates for the next legislature in our state are soon to be nominated and voted upon; therefore, "Resolved, That ..... grange No. .. of (name of state) heartily indorses the movement for improving the rep resentative system of legislation by adding to our legislatures and congress $1.00 m stovk offeb. If you enn use the best big 500-pound steel Tiuifr'e lparte in the world or the best coal or wood heating stoves ever made and are willing to have either stove placed in your own home on throe months' free trial, just rut this notice out ani send to Sea its, Roebitk & Co., Chicago, nnd you will receive free by return mail, big pictures of both stoves, also man v other cook ing and heating stoves: you will also receive the most wonderful M.OO steel range and heat- ing stove offer, an offer that places thebest steel Tange or heating stove in the home of any fam ily, such an offer that no family in the land, no matter what their circumstances may be, or how Small their income, need be without the best cooking or heating stove wade. a people's veto and a direct Initia tive; "That we instruct the master to name a majority rule committee whose duty it shall be to question the nomi nees for the legislature as to whether, if elected, they will vote to submit a constitutional amendment for major ity rule;' "That our master, or one whom he may appoint, is requested to corre spond with adjoining granges with a view to the introduction and passage of a resolution similar to this one." To adopt a resolution for majority rule and questioning candidates is strictly in line with long-established grange policy, namely, non-partisan activity in the interest of the farmers. This policy has been effective, while third party politics have been disas trous. Through non-partisan action the granger uprising of thirty years ago restrained the railroad corpora tions, free delivery of mails in rural districts has been secured, laws pro hibiting the imitation of . dairy prod ucts have been enacted, an isthmian canal bill has been passed, the inter state commerce law has been amended, and the ship subsidy bill defeated. The four last mentioned successes have been achieved during the present year, and are a direct result of the deter mined attitude of the grange. In state affairs the results are equal ly, satisfactory. In Michigan the last report of the master of the state grange declares that the organization "is recognized as wielding the strong est influence upon public affairs of any power that exists within the state," The source of this great political strength in state and nation is that the farmers are in both the great par ties and constitute a balance of pow er, therefore when they unite upon a measure it wins. The farmers united against the imitators of dairy products and won; they demanded a rural free delivery of mails on the same perma nent footing as the delivery of mail of the cities and won; they demanded a law for the curtailment of the extor tions of the railways and won: and tbev fought the shin subsidy and won. Without organization the farmers could not have secured their rights. And it was the refusal to nominate candidates, thereby centering upon measures instead of men, that won out By agreement upon measures and serving notice upon the conventions and candidates of both parties, it com pelled them to accede to the farmers' demand or be defeated. Thus the farmers won their fight before public speaking began. The grange, of course, is careful to push only such measures as are clearly just, and so plainly equitable that, if forced to an issue in the campaign, the opposition will surely suffer a defeat. In the words of the master of the Pennsylvania state grange, W. F. Hill, in his report for 1901: "In the work of the legislative com mittee for protecting and advancing the interests of agriculture, care was exercised that only such decisions were taken upon the oleo tax-and other questions as would by their fairness appeal to all right-thinking people." The demand for an opportunity to vote upon a constitutional amendment for majority rule appeals to all right thinking men. The details of this de mand are shown in the following sug gestion for the letter to be mailed to candidates by the committee on ques tioning: "To candidate for election to the legislature. Dear Sir: The bill of rights in our state constitution de clares that 'all political power is in herent in the people, therefore they have the right to amend the constitu tion whenever they so desire.' "Do you promise the electors in your district who may vote for you that, it elected, you will, in conformity with this provision, vote to give the people of the state an opportunity to ballot upon an extension of the people's veto, through the optional referendum and the adoption of a direct initiative in addition to the indirect system which now exists, the details to accord with the specifications prepared by the na tional federation for majority rule, copy of which is enclosed? "Please answer on inclosed dupli- "Bear in mind that the question is not as to the merits of the proposed system of representative government, but only the plain question, Will you recognize the long-established right of the people to decide for themselves the question of adopting or rejecting It? "Should you refuse to recognize the people's right to decide this question for themselves, our organization will inform every non-partisan organiza tion in the district, will assist in call- y " r , a 222ewr' 10 nT oae wnow11' vrore we io not Jo aa we aJvertlM. We want you aa our agent in your neighborhood to introduce our household re medium anil a.r Air.. tlcr.il adverting. Tlii plsuu wwwn turn U a Piccolo HTEIHWA Y remember it is not a second-hand broken down siaaa but a "fcTKl.WV A Y,w witfi name stamped on it and sraaraotced. We want jrou to particularly note onr guarantee j this piano is sent to every one who sells ONLY eight boxes of our remedies at 25c per box t you positWely do not have to seU a single box more than eight boxes, and positively not a single other condition. On receipt ot 2.00 we send this piano packed, shipped and addressed to you free of charge. There is no advertisement of any kind on it. This piano has a full rich tone, and will add a great deal of pleaxure to your home. Be the first in your neighborhood to get this piano and tell your friend how yon pot it : that Is all we sk of you. IIOAIK REMEDY COMPANY, Dept. A Pt 1358 BROADWAY, N. Y. Interesting- If You are Going Anywhere. Thew rates will interest every man an1 woman Mho is figuri ng on an autumn outing Details as to trains, stop-overs ami return limits will be furnished on request. f '.'5.00 One way to California and Oregon rr.ints. Kent. lr. to Xor. an. - $S?3--Cuiuradp and return, daily until September SO. . JS0.00 (;a ifornia and return, October 8 to 17. $.T!.G5 lUiltimore and return, September 16 to 19. $-22.40 Detroit and return, October 14 to 17. $16.75 Denver and return, October 4 to 8. F. H. Barnes, C. P. A. Lincoln, Nebraska. $25.00 -TO. THE- PACIFIC COAST. DAILY Sept. Ilth to Nov. 30th. Helena, Butte, Salt Lake and Ogden, 20.00. 7 Spokane and Ellensburg, $22.50. Nearly all California, Wash ington and Oregon points $25. mm City Ticket Otfics Cor. 10th and O Streets Telephone No. 235. Burlington Depot 7th St., bet. P andQ Tel. Burlington 1290 Several hundred finished monu ments and tablets on hand. De signs and prices sent free. Please state whether a medium, email, or a large monument is wanted. Get our prices no matter wbere you want the wort sent Address, KIMBALL BROS., Cor, 15th & O Sts. lincoln, Neb. ing mass meetings to protest, and will help to circulate for signatures an agreement that only such candidates will he voted for as are pledged to rec ognize the people's right to self-government. More than a majority in your district, regardless, of party lines, are desirous that the proposed amendment shall be submitted in Illinois the vote for the improved system was five to one, in Oregon eleven to one while ninety-nine hundredths of the people will resent a declaration that, if elect ed, you will refuse to recognize their right to decide for themselves the pro posed change in the system of govern ment. Such a declaration would bo revolutionary, and we don't believe you will make it. Since the disinte gration of the federalist party no suc cessful candidate has made such a declaration. "Your reply when received will be given the widest possible publicity throughout the district..- Please let us hear from you at your earliest oppor tunity. A refusal to reply will be a negative to our question, and will be so stated to the public. Respectfully yours, 1 Majority Rule Committee of . . Grange. This letter presents the issue. Com ment cannot make it more clear. The membership in every grange will stand for this non-partisan demand. To present the case to a grange meeting you have only to ask the members if they favor sending out a letter of this character. It is hoped that each Pomona and subordinate grange will take this non nartlsan action. It will he in Une with the long-established grange policy, and it is high time that the organized farmers should join with organized labor in dethroning the trusts and other monopolies. The granger upris ing of thirty years ago ia being du plicated in Oregon, Washington, Illi nois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, West Vir ginia, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and other states. Every one of the county and local organizations should join in the work. You who receive these pages are urged to introduce the res olution above quoted. In the words of the last annual report of the master of the national grange: , , "Farmers should .press tbc!r claims from year to year until the legislation sought is secured, and hold their rep resentatives in state legislatures and in congress officially and personally re sponsible for thei. action on all meas ures affecting ' agricultural Interests. The road to success in legislative mat ters, as ia all other matters, is found tnintr murteous. perslst- ent, and firm and unyielding tode- mands, and empnasiziug uicm the power we possess as citizens. The worthy master also said: "The laws of our country .must ex r tho will and maintain the rights of the majority of the people." (Continued ncn Nance County Farm 160 acres, new 8-room house, two granaries; one nev, one that will hold 4,000 bushels of grain, 2cow sheds, corrals, barn, chicken house hog house, hog lot, well r.nd wind mill, milk house, running water, wagon scales, corn crib, orchard nice grove, 75 acres in pasture would all make splendid meadow if not pastured;-8 niAr Ktaflr .. Inam SOU acres uuuei ii,n with day subsoil; all fenced, in good shape. Quarter of mile to school, same distance to church, 8 miles from Silver. Creek and seven and a half miles from Clarks. Rural mail delivery. Price, $40 per acre. There is a mortgage on the place that runs for five years of $1,800. Will take second mortgage for 11,000 and balance cash. This Is an excellent opportunity for a man with - it f nf Trmnev. Writs Weber & Farris, Lincoln, Neb., for fur ther information. A nrmulists of the Ninth judicial district have nominated Judge Douglas Cones for district judge. The campaign committee j fellows: Fred H. Free. Pierce, chair man: Geo. II. Bay ha, Knox; M. IV Foster, Madison; P. H. Kohl, Wymore. rruA ,in,rofa nf the Second judicial X UTS umivvii v. - - district have indorsed Judge Paul Jes sen, the republican nominee. No pop-, ulist convention has been held.