The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-04-06
THE MAJORITY RULE LEAGUE.
Another Method of Inaugurating That
New Deal.

THE MATURITY
Another Method of Inaugurating Tha,
New Deal.
The Majority Rule League of the
United States has been formed and the
New Time pledges it's best energies to
the rapid xtension Of this organization
and predicts it's certain success. When
you understand the plans and objects of
the Majority Rule League you will agree
with us that it merits the earnest CO.
operation of all who believe the people
fitted for self-government
1t is time for action. It is time for
constructive policies. 1t is time for a
genuine fusion of the reform forces of
the country Twenty factions are urg-
ing the people to unite, each declaring
that nothing can be accomplished unless
the fusion is made in it's name and under
its banner. Small wonder that the peo-
pie are confused! They are anxious
to unite, but they do not know how.
They look with suspicion on certain
leaders who spend more time and energy
in denouncing rival reformers than they
do in advancing the cause they are sup
posed to represent.
The way to unite is to unite. We as
sumo that the people of the United States
propose to attain their social and indus
trial independence and advancement by
peaceful means through the agency of
the ballot box. 1t therefore inevitably
follows that the people should unite in
cinct
The voting precinct is, has been and
always will be the unit of our national
and political life. 1t is the fountain
source from which springs all political
action. And it Is right and proper that
this should be so.
The failure to recognize the voting
precinct as the key to the situation has
resulted in the failure or only partial
success Of every movement designed to
help the people. Reform leaders have
elaborated intricate schemes of Organiza-
ton specially designed to ignore pre-
cinct lines. And they have failed And
they will always fail.
How are the reform societies of this
country constituted? They are composed
! of men or women holding in common
certain ideas. They are drawn from a
community and fused into club. They
are but small minority Of that COM
munity. They meet and listen to that
| which they have already heard a hun
dred times. Then they discuss it and
quarrel over Insignificant details. Per-
haps few outsiders happen in and de-
part mystified, amused or disgusted?
How does a farmer SOW wheat? Does
he mass the seed into one corner of the
field and neglect the broad acres yearn-
ing for the harvest? No. He drops a
few grains in each precinct and in the
fullness Of time, through the agency of
storm and sunshine, wind and calm, ma
ture yields a glorious fruition. The
"seed club" plan is foredoomed to fail
ure. If half Of the energy spent in
getting reformers together had been de-
voted to keeping them in their respec-
tive precincts and giving them chance
to organize their neighbors and friends,
we would be many weary mile ahead
on the road of social progress.
The party machines are organized on
practical and scientific lines. They rec
ognize the precinct as the unit There
is where elections are held The citi-
zens of precinct are one regiment in
the political army. No movement which
refuses to recognize the precinct lines
can expect ever to carry a state Of ma
tional election. The so-called machine
is an absolute necessity. The modern
political machine is an organization
based on common-sense principles and
operated for the purpose of carrying
elections. That is one of the objects of
political parties-to carry elections. The
machine is the driving power OF the
party. Never in history did any party
win without an efficient machine based
on voting precinct lines, and there are no
signs that the rule will be broken.
The Majority Rule League proposes
that the people form machine by which
there can be obtained an expression of
the will of the people and the means by
which it can be executed. Without
further preface an outline Of the M. R.
L. is submitted.
In the first place let me explain what
it is not. It is not scheme to provide
salaried positions for officials. 1t is not
a plan to secure political jobs for hun
cry politicians. 1t is not plan to pro-
| mote or boom anything except the well
fare of the people Of the United States.
| 1t is not a secret organization. There
are no dues, assessments or initiation
| fees, except those levied by the precinct
| club for use in the precinct. There
are no general officers except secretary
| who serves without pay.
The Majority Rule League is a nation
al organization for educational, political
and legislative purposes. AS stated in
| it's prospectus it's objects are:
/. To provide an organization Of rap
%41 NJ f10 ctny ~ ~ h