The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-07-21


high plane occupied by it in it's infancy,
and raise the battle cry, fCrward-on to
victory.-GlasScock Banner.
1t is but fair to state that Mr.. Donnelly
was not present WREN he was elected at
Nashville, a members of the national advis-
DRY committee. He left the hall before
that order of business was rec ched and
started to get his supper and take the
train to Minnesota. The state committee
was chosen by the delegates present
A LETTER FROM PRESIDENT LONG.
He Predicts That the Populist Party
Will Sweep the Country in 1900 on
the Initiative and Referendum.
Editor Representative:
No doubt most POpulists remember
that 1 have contended from the founda-
ton OF our party, both as member OF
committee on platform and in letters
in the REPRESENTATIVE, that the
initiative and referendum should be our
platform, with other issues as resolu-
tions to be voted upon when direct leg
islative became the law of the land.
If have ever made any converts to
POpulism it has been done by my ad-
vocacy of this measure, and I have
been abused by Republican papers, and
even some Peoples party papers have
intimated that l was off my base for
so doing. Now as vindication or in
dorsement of my course, I wish you
would print the opinions of some of the
nations greatest men and women, which
you will find on pages Il and % of the
July number of The New Time'
I want to go on record now as predict
ing that if the Peoples party calls their
convention first and makes direct legis-
lation the foremost issue, they will cap
ture the government; if they do not do
so some other party will and the Peo-
pies party will die
Un compliance with Mr.. Longs re-
quest, We quote the following from that
able publication, THE New Time."-
Ed. Rep)
SOME DIRECT LEGISLATION ADVO-
Gates AND THEIR OPINIONS
Worlds w. c.. T. T.:
Il believe in direct legislation, and think
1t is so greatly needed that language can
not express the dire necessity under which
we find ourselves. The reign Of the peo-
pie is the one thing that my soul desires
to see; the reign of the politician is rub
lie ignominy. L also believe that direct
legislation is certain to become the great
political issue in the immediate future.
The people are being educated by events.
They coming to that there is
hope for reform under the existing system
Of voting. 1t is the duty Of every citizen
to carefully study this great question"
Hon. Thomas McEwan Jr., congressman
from New Jersey Irregular Republican,:
whether for veal woe, l am now
inseparably connected with direct legsla-
ton. The more 1 deliberate on 1t, the more
I am convinced that in it and through it
will be found solution of almos: all the
disturbing questions OF state and nation;
that it's elasticity will be such that
through it's operation the important ques-
tions of the future will be solved with
measurable speed and unquestionable Ger
tanty.
corruption has overthrown every repub-
lie that ever existed before our own, eX-
cept Switzerland, where they have direct
legisla ton. 1t will abolish the DOM nation
of bosses and corporations. These threaten
the durability of our nation, they are
sources Of corruption. Direct legislation
will give greater freedom 20 the voter from
the political mastership Of these malign in
fluences. He will have to think and act
for himself. l firmly believe that the Unit
ed States government will When Its adap
liability shall have been shown in some
states-adopt direct legislation"
Hon. r. +. Pettigrew, United States SEN
ator from South Dakota Gree silver Re-
publican):
Il am earnestly in favor Of the referen-
dunn in legislation. The people are more
to be trusted than their representatives.
1t is absolutely essential to the. presel va
ton of free institutions In this country
that the power OF the lobby, which infests
our state and national caritals, should he
destroyed, and the most effective method
of destroying this lobby and driving it
from power is the initiative and rcferCn-
dunn, by which the people pass upon all
matters of legislation. l was very much
pleased by the action Of my own state
last winter in this direction passing Il d.
rect legislative constitutional ameudmenC,
and l feel certain that the people VIII rat
ify that action at the polls. am also
much pleased with the progress made.
Dr. George A. Gates, president Iowa
college, Grinnell, Iowa:
Il am glad to say that L nave more
confidence in what is known rs direct
legislation as q means of applying the
principles of true Democracy to on" plb-
lie affairs than in any other movement at
present before the public. Our American
Democracy is very democratic in form
but as matters now stand, very undemo-
cratic in fact. There is no country in the
world which is SO exploited by all sorts
of enterprises, political induNral, CONNER
cial as America. Certain governments ana
certain fornls Of government may he trust
ed largely to run themselves. Not SO
democracy. A democracy must tie attended
to or it will go to the dogs. The only ones
ultimately who can attend to H. are all the
people This fact has not yet been dis
covered by all the people, but the pllncl-
pies Of direct legislation seem admirably
adapted to hclr US to discover it.
Hon. j. r. Rogers, governor of Wash
ington (PODulisO:
Il am in favor Of direct legislation The
people suffer ul.der too many laws. Laws
should be fewer in number, more simple
and should be referred to the people, as Is
now done in the matter of constitutional
amendments. This is not only practical
but it has become Imperative. The people
are helpless against the bribery which IS
resorted to by the great corporations and
inter ests which fear the people and deal
with their corrupt officials
We are selling Grain Scythes at AZ c