AUGUST 23, 1904.
"THE NEBRASKA INDEPENDENT
What Honest Lobbying . Can Do
Editor Independent: 1
To many people theword lobbying
Is as a red rag to a bull. To a few
people in Missouri it seemed the only
way to get any real .legislation. So a
few of the faithful organized a direct
legislation league some three or four
years ago and got a direct legislation
amendment introduced . into the leg
islature and 'they were able to bring
enough influence to bear' to get it to a
vote. Of course it was defeated.
Then they paid a small salary to one
of their number. Mr. S.; L." Moses, and
his expenses. Mr. Moses is. a lawyer,
tactfcul, able, thoroughly devoted "man.
He traveled back and forth over the
state saying they would do all . they
could to kill off every man who was
renominated who. had voted against
direct legislation, no matter what his
party and that they would throw all
their strength to th9.se candidates who
would pledge themselves to, direct leg
islation. His position was invulner
able. , Hei wanted no office, job or con
tract for himself and they, could not
hurt him that way." He did not openly
espouse any party though I personally
know he has strong political convic
tions. Some of the men he opposed
Called him some rather hard names'
but he smiled back and 'said: "Come
out for direct legislation and we wont
hurt you." He did not -oppose or
advocate candidates on other grounds
than direct legislation and he mainly
-tried to prevent the nomination of
candidates opposed to direct legisla
tion. He traveled up and down and back
and across " old Missouri for a year
with this singleness o, purpose and
back of him was shrewd, patient,
semi-invalid, Dr. Wm. P. Hill of St.
Louis ' and others, financing, writing
letters, pulling wiresf Toward the end,
the trade unions, under Mr. Sarman's
lead, commenced questioning candi
dates on direct legislation. ,
When the' legislature was elected,
only one man who had voted against
the direct legislationjamendment in
the previous legislature, was re-elected
and a majority of the legislature were
pledged to vote for a direct legislation
amendment that should have a 5 per
cent condition 'for a referendum peti
tion and an 8 per cent for the initiative.
But the 1903 Missouri legislature was
the culmination of the corruption in
Missouri and rottenness in legislation.
Of course the venal politicians did not
want direct legislation and they only
pledged themselves to it because they
did not well see. how they could help
it. Of course they did not intend to
.keep these pledges, and their mas
ters, tne Drioing corporations, om not
mean to have it either.
But Moses and Sarman, aided by
some others, camped on their trail
for three or four months and by hon
est lobbying they forced the legislature
to pass a direct legislature amendment.
It was a hard fight and less deter
mined and tactful men would have
been beaten but Moses and b'arman
hung on; even when an adverse vote
was given and it looked as if the
amendment was finally killed, . they
got it reconsidered. Of course the poli
cians did all they could to emasculate
the amendment and have hugely suc
ceeded. Instead of living up to their
pledge of making the percentage five
for the referendum and eight,for the
initiative petition, they made them ten
for the referendum, fifteen for the in
itiative and twenty per cent for con-r
stitutional amendment initiative peti
tions. Not content with this, they
made it that these percentages must
be gotten in every congressional dis
trict in the state and there are six
teen. .But it was the best the direct leg
islation men could get and they took
it. Seven of the honorable members
who voted against it are either in state
prison er under indictment or in for
eign countries for their-health. Now
it goes to the people for a vote and
quiet but determined Dr. Hill has per
suaded the democrats to put the fol
lowing in their state platform:
"We congratulate the people of the
state -on the fulfillment of the party's
pledge, made, in its platform two years
ago, to submit for the' voters' approv
al a constitutional amendment which,
if adopted at the November election,
will always secure to the people a veto
power oyer bad legislation, as weir as
a means of initiating' new measures
when desired, thus rendering ineffec
tive the results of corrupt methods, in
legislation and lessening the induce
ments to the same."
And then he visited the republican
convention, having previously pulled
some wires and here is the result in
the following plank from the republi
can, state platform: " ;
"We condemn the insincerity of the
democratic party in proposing; a plan
of initiative and referendum so cum
brous as to make its operation imprac-
ticable ,and we are in favor of a just
and honest measure that shall give to
tho perple -of this state the largest
coiitio! of and participation In legis
lation and government." '
He has also gotten letters from the
state chairman urging their voters to
vote for it. Thus much has persistent
honest lobbying, but back of it Is
the growing sentiment of the people
which this lobbying focussed on the
legislature. - . .
A large-majority is wanted for this
amendment. If you can aid in in
crea3lag its vote, you will aid the di
rect legislation movement. If you are
in another state, can not you follaw
this, example. , s
ELTWTEED POMEROY.
. f'sw Yoik Correspondence,
New York, xug. 19. All New, York
is in a state of Excitement thio morn
ing oVer the great populist meeting
held in Cooper Union, last night. Wall
street had supposed that such an at
fair a3 that was one of those things
that could never happen. The great
hall was packed, and long before the
hour of opening the doors arrived,
people crowded around the entrances.
When the doors were finally oyerted
the masses of the people erowcll in
nd within live minutes every seat
was taken. A string, of policemen
stood around the walls and prevented
the aisles and corridors- from filling
up as that Is against the law in this
city. There was an overflow meeting
which was addressed by local speak
ers. It was a most ybriiliant and intelli
gent audience anU was in full-sympathy
with the spiftUers fnm the be
ginning to the end. When Mr. Wat
wm and Mr. Tibbies appeared upon
the pl.Ut'jrni, the audience ro.se to Its
feet and cheered., for many nnr.utos.
E;uh person had provided himself or
herself" with an American flaj, and
while thVy shouted they waved the
iwx. No speakers, even during the
exciting campaigns of IWtt and
ever had a more enthusiastic recep
tion in this great city.
Mr. Bolton, the grca labor leader
or Brooklyn, was chairman. Judge
William of Indiana made the formal
niotU of notification tu .Mr. Vutson
and Mr. Jay W. Forrest of Albany,
N. Y. notlneit Mr. Tibbies, Uvea
thee Introductory peeehes were
cheered. at almost every senieiue.
There were many distinguished men
present from n Ijotntn state, some ot
whtn ha t seat on th pUtf.irm and
sum in th tody of the audience. AIT
tit great da I lie. were represented In
the pre eat. There are twelve pa
pen liXe York city alone that will
openly support the Watson and Tib
bles ticket.
The promoters- of the meeting were
all former Bryan democrats. The over
whelming success of the meeting was
chiefly due to the enthusiasm, hard
work and good judgment of Judge
Seabury and Mr. Pallisser of New
York city and Messrs. Forest and
Mahony of Albany. ".
Mr. Watson made a great . speech
and was often overwhelmed for some
minutes with prolonged cheers. Mr.
Tibbies was the last and the fourth
one of the evening, and the hour was
11 p. m. He did not attempt a set
address and spoke for only a short
time, but it was received -also 'with
round after round of applause.
After the speeches there was a re
ception at the Union Square hotel.
For an hour or more Mr. Wataon and
Mr. Tibbies stood at the lack end of
the parlor and shook hands with the
throng as they passed rapidly by.
The New York city dailies treated
the meeting with great respect and
gave fairly full report.-.. The Hearst
papers printed Mr. Watson's ypecch in
full and most of them printed cuts of
both of the populist candidates.
The managers of loth the old par
ties are dazed at this populist uprls
ins; In the eaot. I'very New England
s;aie, as well as New York, New Jer
sey, Delaware and Maryland will have
full electoral and state tickets In the
field. One of the meat distliiRul.thed
men in New Jersey ha. consented to
auept the populist nomination for
governor. Prominent ru n are comlm;
into the movement hi Connecticut and
Ma-s.i hiueiu. Strange as It may
seem, the poplo' party Is on Its feet
a! I uvtr the eastern part of the ratted
XUteH J. T. FliAMI ON.
OF COURSE
..!.' '. - : -
. . , You are coming to the .
STATE FAIR.
When you arrive in Lincoln you are cor
dially invited to make our ware rooms
; YOUR HEADQUARTERS. ' Away
from thenoise and dirt where rt is quiet,
cool and restful.
Ask to see the large bran now upright piano we are offering during Fair
Week for $148. A second hand Weber Piano' inline condition for $50
and many other equally tempting bargains up to the highest grade in ex
istence. -
. . ' ". ' " . -. : .. .
A magnificent array of new organs for $35, $40, $50 .na $05.
Don't Forget the Name and Place, " .
MATTHEWS PIANO CO.
1120 OSt. - - Lincoln, Neb.
POl'Pl.l.HT li.ATPOnMJ - And
thoe of -all othef partes, complete,
Including those if IWI. Pi Ice. font
pil I. :,V, Address The In J-peadent,
Uaeoiu. Neb, , "
Maryland Jeffarsonian
The people's party is looking up in
Maryland. Hon: P. A. Naille has been
made chairman of the state committee
and Messrs. Naille. H. F. Magness and
R A. Chapman, members of the. na
tional committee. Under direction of
Chairman Naille the work of secur
ing the necessary 500 signatures, to a
petition for placing the electoral ticket
on the ballot, is being carried forward
vigorously. As an .indication of the
trend of thought among the reform
democrats of-Maryland, the following
communication tcv. the Baltimore
American is reprinted. Its authpr,
Thos.-O. Clark of Baltimore, is well
known to readers, of The Independent.
Mr. Clark said: f , .
"To theEditor of The American:
The failure of the Parker candidacy
is now apparent to everyone. The two
campaigns of Mr. Bryan were distinc
tively educational, and ever since his
first notable tour of the .country, there
have been thousands of thinking men
in every community who have definite
ideas in politics, and who will refuse
to ' vote for any man who does not
embody , their views. :
"The ' nomination of Judge Parker
has left thousands of these men with
out a political, home. Most of the
progressive thinkers favor an enlarge
ment of governmental powers in the
control of those great necessities of
civilized society, the railroads . and
the telegraphs, and" in the establish
ment of postal savings banks and a
parcels post. Those .who advocate
these basic reforms have a strong ar
gument to support' their view3, for
they can point to England, Germany
and Switzerland, where vthey are in
daily operation.
"One of the strongest planks in the
Chicago and Kansas City platforms
was that favoring direct legislation, or
the placing of the law-making power
in the hands of the people. This is
considered the basic reform by many
profound students of political economy.
The almost universal corruption In
legislatures, which prevents the enact
ment of many laws necessary for the
general welfare, simply because pow
erful corporations oppose them, and
at the same time the passage of many
laws favoring these predatory combi
nations, at the expense of the people,
calls for some method by which the
government can be brought nearer the
people. Direct legislation i.s that rem
edy, for by it the people can literally
rule themselves and thus eliminate the
political Ijoks and the lobbyist. In the
last platform of the democratic prty
no reference is made to direct legisla
tion. "The limitation of the powers of the
federal judiciary within thelr'proper
bounds is another of the vital reforms
demanded by the Kansas City plat
form and now passed over In contemp
tuous fcUence.
"Those who denounce ai anarchists
any uho would nbridRe th wopo of
the federal courts nro. as a rulo of
that cki.s.s which profits by the usurpa
tion of royal power by federal Judges
who Imprison raen without dut proc
ess of la ' and trial lv Jv.ry, anl
I tutu It aAin?t Iho deoUel vh tlms
'of corporate grfed tho 'injunction' to
obey thedr masters and ularve.
"if an Knllh Judijo dared to deny
a Ilrltlsh subject the right of trial
by jury .there would I e an uproar In
that country which would tinon Im
pros that functionary with the Idea
that I'nfclUhtnen are not disposed to
surrender any ct those UlK-rtles fur
1 which cas of blood lave been hed
in the past. Yet In free America it
has been frequently done. .
"The real anarchists are those who
uphold tyranny and counsel men to
submit to it. . It is entirely possible to
have respect for law and a. desire for
an unbiased judiciary at one and the
same time. ' x : - .
"The 'beef strike at Chicago and
the reign of terror in Colorado are
not dealt with inthe St. Louis plat
form as seriously' as they deserve.
When it is realized that these men in
the stockyards had been earning about
$7 per week and had been notified of
a reduction in that meager wage, con
sumers of beef at high prices will have
hard work to bring themselves to sym
pathize with the 'beef kings.'' In Colo-.
rado, whatever the faults of the min
ers, the crimes against them far ex
ceeded their own. Military . satraps
imprisoned men in spite of-orders of
court to release them, and 'Injunctions',
failed to work when launched against
bayonets. ' " 'i. -
"The money Question has been ig
nored by the democratic managers,
thereby implying that it is-no longer
an Issue, in spite of the fact that the
last republican congress seriously, con
templated a further surrender of the
governmental function to issue money
and to control its volume by allowing
banks to issue notes based on their
assets, the destruction of -the legal
tender qualities of the silver dollar
and ! the establishment of 'branch'
banks of issue, thus contracting the
suddIv of real monev while increasing
the government's obligations, the inevitable-effect
of which must be the
issuing of bond3 by the government
and to still further enrich the credi
tor class at the expense of those who
produce the nation's wealth.
"The control of the money volume is
a dangerous power to be placed in pri-
i. A .vs. ImmI V.lr. l.fnJ rt
'sound money' real democrats will al
ways oppose themselves, The money
question is the most important of all
economic problems, and its rightful
solution will never come from those
who deal in money as a commodity.
"In view of these facts and of the
infidelity of the democratic party to
true democracy, many thousands of
true followers of Jefferson will support
the people's party ticket this fall. The
peoples party has promulgated a plat
form which deals with all the press
ing problems of the hour in a Jeffer
sonian manner, and it appeals to all
true democrats. If the effotts now go
ing on are successful the party will
have an electoral ticket on the Mary
land ballot this year. It is to be hoped
such will be the case, and that thoso
who desire to vote for Jeffersonian
democracy may have an opportunity oC
s doing. JEFFKUSGNIAN'
Watson's Napoleon.
Among Mr. Watson's writings one
of the roost interesting Is hia history
of Napolcou It is a splendid study of
a great genius.
There does not live a man who will
not be enlarged In his thinking proc
esses, there does not live a boy who
will not be made more ambitious by
honest study of Watson's Napoleon.
If you want the best obtainable,
most readable, most Intelligent, most
genuinely American study of thU
great character, read Watson's hl
lory of Napoleon.
The book retail at $2.25. At that
figure The Independent la prepared
to supply its reader. Address all or
ders t The Uneadcnt, Lincoln,
Nb,
1
