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.
