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JUNE 9, 1902
Nebraska Independent!
ihould take to heart. It discloses the fact that the great corporations are
vulnerable on the side of their self-Interest. As long as they can deceive
a majority of the people all is well with them, but once they find a united
public sentiment arrayed in opposition to their designs they begin to under
stand that the power which created them can destroy them.
" l PLANS TO DESTROY THE LOBBY
The extensive power wielded by railways and corporations through
paid lobbyists to influence , legislation has aroused much interest in the
remedies which have been suggested for. the evil. In Wisconsin '..Governor
La Follette is anxious to secure a law that will prohibit lobbyists .from
working in secret and requiring them to state their views at ' open hearings
.before legislative committees; " In Missouri Governor " Folk ; treated the
lobbyists much as a police judge sometimes treats a tramp whom he orders
Governor Herrick, when accepting re-nomination at the hands of the repub
lican convention, said: ' ; '
"In Ohio today, and, in, all the states, there is a growing evil which
gravely threatens to destroy the freedom of action which is the most im
portant concern of the representatives of the people in the legislative
. department of the government I refer to the professional lobby. The neoDle
of Ohio, in the making of their laws are entitled to the best judgment of
all their representatives in the general assefoly, as well as that of their
chief executive, and they are entitled to this judgment free and untrammled
by any opportunities from special interests. . ! care not what the purpose of ,
the lobbyists may be, nor whether their object be good or bad, it is subversive
of" the basic principles upon which American institutions are founded, to
permit a few men to direct or control legislation, and to put. their judgment
as to what is best for the people against that of the representatives of the '
people, elected for the sole purpose of registering their will." , - ,
If the present form of representative government is to remain unchanged
it will benecessary either to keep the lobbyists away from the legislators
or the legislators away from the lobbyists. Governor La Follette's law is
designed tp hold the . lobbyists at a respectful distance. . But it might be
isolate grand juries.
. The necessity for such disciplinary laws, however, indicates the weak-,
nesses that exist in our present form of representative government The pow
er of making laws is transferred from the people to a selected few. The atten
tion of the corporation lobby is constantly devoted .to influencing these
men. The lobby is alert, watchful and untiring. It organization is most
effective and the lobbyists ax naid not. to he inrHfferpnf On tha rhi-
the public' is divided. Many are indifferent because their information; ob
tained through the'daily press, is inadequate." ' And even when the people
understand clearlv what is Joiner at --their sfatA- -ranftal'a ih
their only weapon of defense is the right of petition. -
The most certain method of overcoming these defects would be the
application of the initiative and referendum. ' The state of Oregon has ap
plied the system with excellent results. A petition of five per cent of the
voters is sufficient to force a popular referendum upon any act of the legis
lature. A petition of, eight per cent is sufficient to propose a new measure
and if a majority of the people vote for it, the measure becomes a law.
The people of Oregon exercise the right to veto the acts of their repre
sentatives and, also, to pass laws independently of their representatives. If "
euch a check were applied in all the states the corporations would ..find
lobbies of little or no use. The most serious defects of popular government
would disappear, and if a democratic form of government is to be preserved
these defects must be removed.'
JAPAN'S ASIATIC POLICY
! In view of Admiral Togo's jatest. victory Americans have , good reasons
to congratulate themselves that their imperialism has taken them no nearer
than the Philippines to the Asiatic continent. The ultimate result of Japan's
increased naval and military prestige will be the announcement, sooner or
jaier, 01 an. Asiatic Monroe doctrine... as the American Monroe doctrine
led rapidly, to the elimination of SDain-from the western hemisnhere so a
Japanese, doctrine of similar import will lead at least to a radical readjust
ment of European influence in Asia. ' ' ;
The progress of this readjustment will, of course, be unfavorable to the
.weaker nations. If the warlike spirit continues in Japan several gigantic
nese may be inspired by motives of revenge to soon try conclusions with
France, motives of policy will probably prompt them to first loosen the
irau noia wmcn uermany nas acquired in Asia, rnis prospect frightened
the German emperor early in the present war and made it possible for the
czar to obtain positive assurances that he need fear no attack from his
western neighbor.
l it is true that Japan has declared for the open door, but this declara
tion was made before Japan had become the dominant influence in Asia.
Japan's policy will shift asjts influence grows. It will be recalled that the
Japanese opened the present war with comparatively moderate demands.
They said that-they would be satisfied to free Korea from the grasp of
Russia, and to recover Port Arthur, but after each victory their demands
grew and now their ambitions have been revealed in a clearer light.
As soon as Togo's victory became known to the world a high Japanese
official took occasion to announce the new terms on which Russia could
obtain peace. He said that not only would an indemnity of $1,000,000,000
be required, but that Korea would be placed under a Japanese protecto
rate. All of which makes it clear that Korea will soon be declared a perma
nent Japanese possession.
- As long as there was any chance that Russia" might regain lost ground
in Manchuria the Japanese were moderate iri their demands, but now that
Japan's actual hold on Manchuria and moral - hold on China are. assured,
Japan will insist on her right to dominate Asiatic affairs.
It is unlikely that anyone alive today will live to see troops of the
European nations again employed ih suppressing a Boxer or' any Other up-,
rising in China. It is no more to be" expected than its to be-expected
that European troops would be permitted hy us to interfere in the settle
ment of any internal troubles in Mexico. Hereafter Japan 'will be the police
man Of Asia and for a time she may share her prerogatives with her ally,
England, but in the end England is bound to occupy a Secondary position
in Asia just as she occupies a secondary position on this continent."'
All well-wishers of Japan will hope that it may use its powers wisely.
Americans will continue to hope that the doctrines of the Prince of Peace will
spread rapidly among these wonderful islanders. If Japan continues Pagan
she will continue warlike. "The pride, pomp and circumstance of glorious
war" will appeal to her people more than the Christian doctrines of charity
and peace. Perhaps, in view of Europe's sanguinary history of 2,000 years,
it ill becomes Christians to lay so much stress on Christianity's influence
in preserving peace. And yet this influence cannot be ignored. It undoubt
edly had much to do with the settlement of the controversy which arose
between England and Russia over the North Sea affair. The Hague Tribunal
is a noble monument of its power. The arbitration, treaties recently con
cluded between France and England and France and the United States give
testimony that among the Christian nations there is deep and sincere desire
for peace. ' " : " .
In Japan the war spirit is rife. As long as the state of her treasury per
mits Japan will be for war to settle old scores and to make more certain
heri mastery of the Orient. If a 'Tellow Peril" exists 'it lies in the war
spirit of Japan. If that spirit can be softened by Christianity .'it will be a
wonderful boon to civilization. - . ; ;
PATHETIC PLIGHT OF PROTECTION
; . President Roosevelt and Secretary Taft are now said to desire "directive
legislation" from congress with reference to the purchase of Panama canal
supplies. , ;.'
- ., This shifting of the terrible tariff dilemma tp the shoulders of congress
will not be a source of pure delight to republican members. . They would
have greatly enjoyed the spectacle of the , strenuous president and )iis
heavyweight secretary wrestling with "the tariff barons and tramping' into
splinters a long succession of republican platforms. But to be asked to take
part in the struggle is dismaying.
The democrats, on the other hand, look forward to. the contest with
grewsome joy. They forsee a feast of carnage. They expect to scatter
their opponents, jab the elephant in the. ribs, ad libitum tear the tariff
deity from the joss-house and demean themselves generally in a riotous
and irreverent fashion. When Rojestvensky was ordered jto the Far East
he must have experienced a small portion of that terror which now tugs at
the throats of tariff defenders. : ''-',','.: v: '
The Independent renews for the benefit, of congress the suggestion
it made to Secretary Taft two weeks ago. If congress must adopt "direc
tive legislation" and must, for party reasons order the secretary, to buy
only American goods, it should direct hinC however, to make the purchases
abroad, where American "goods are sold more cheaply than at home. Republi
can members of congress may regard this suggestion as rude, but they should
not forget that the government must practice economy if it is to meet
the treasury deficit without lowering the tariff. The situation, is, of course,
full of pathos. Everyone will understand that the high protectionists have
fallen on. evil-days.. -While the voters will.no doubt deeply sympathize with
the tearful tariff ites, nevertheless they will Insist respectfully but firmly that
high protection has been found guilty and must "hang by the neck until
dead.". . ,
. WHAT THE RAILWAYS ARE PLOTTING ;
The senate committee on interstate commerce, in its several .weeks
. of pretended investigation, brought forth and flourished before the country
much Idle talk from railroad officials and favored shippers in. reference
to rate regulation.. This talk of rate regulation is brought, out partly for
the purpose of preventing any sort of real rate regulation by congress, and
partly to attract and hold, the attention of the people to the one question
of regulation, so that they will lose sight of the other part, and the vastly
more important part of the rate question rate reduction.
- The people want regulation of interstate rates, to be sure; they want
secret rebates and all forms of discrimination abolished, but more than
anything else the freight-paying public wants rate reduction. Nebraska
people, for example, according to the net profit reports of the Nebraska
and Iowa railroads, are paying over $7,000,000 more annually for their rail
road service than the same number of people with the same railroad mile
age would pay in Iowa,. This $7,000,000 annual extortion is the burden that
is pressing most heavily upon Nebraska people. To remove discrimination
merely adjusts the difference between shippers and shipping points. It
removes the injustice as between shippers, but does not remove the greater