Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-07
Ohio Democrats Adopt Some New
Political Fads.
INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM
Occupies Place in State Platform,
Though Few Know It.
HANNA AND THE CAMPAIGN

way. A newspaper editor in the interior
of the state told me so recently in talking
about the democratic platform. He said
it had the initiative and referendum I got
a printed copy of the platform and found a
line saying, Eve favor the initiative and
referendum" Most of the delegates to
that convention were intelligent men, but
1t is doubtful whether many Of them could
tell what they mean by this declaration.
The newspaper editor who told me of it
knew because he is student and a thinker.
What he had in mind was that political
parties are really taking up some new
ideas.
In itself would not think that this decla-
ration had much meaning. 1 have known
the Ohio democrats for a great many
years, and in that time they have had a
good many queer things in their platforms
There never was a year when they would
not put any clause in that promised to draw
votes. There have also been years in
which their leaders have advocated going
before the people without a platform. If
this had been done regularly the history
of the party in the state would have been
free from the record of much that was I'M
wise.
But regarding the initiative and refer
endum the newspaper editor was probably
right in giving it some Importance Though
few of the delegates knew or cared any
thing about it, the clause would not have
agitating for it, and unless there had been
notion that a body of voters might be
drawn to the ticket on account Of this
plank In the platform. In several Of the
western states the populists have regularly
Endorsed the plan of the initiative and ref
erendum, and occasionally republican or
democrat theorist has turned up as It's
champion without going outside his own
party.
In Practice Among POpulfsts.
In Kansas the populists have in a way
adopted the principle of the initiative in
making their nominations-that is, the vot-
ers were supposed to take the initiative in
regard to the candidate. If their initiative
was unfavorable the candidacy seldom
reached the stage of the referendum. The
system, however, has proven clumsy, and
this year the Kansas populists in fusing
with the democrats on county offices have
been trying to get rid of it. Mr.. Bryan, it
is my understanding, has recommended to
several western conventions that they do
not press the proposition, because free sill
yer and some other things might thereby
be obscured. The general idea Of those who
are advocating the initiative and referen-
dunn does not follow In all details the Swiss
system. 1t seems to be based on a lack of
confidence in candidates and in legislative
bodies.
My newspaper friend, in explaining the
initiative and referendum. said that within
a few years political parties in a majority
of the states would be adopting platforms
favoring municipal ownership of public util-
tiles franchises. He said the democratic
state convention came very near indorsing
that plank, and that some of Mr.. McLean's
advisers wanted him to do 1t. so as to cut the
ground from under Mayor Jones of Toledo.
Perhaps If Mr.. Mclean were not convinced
from personal experience that individual
ownership of these franchises is better than
state ownership he would have consented
to put the plank in the platform: but this
and M3yOr Jones PROPOSES
to make the campaign interesting by run
ming as an Independent candidate cham
pioning municipal ownership.
The golden-rue mayor of Toledo Is a
shrewd advertiser. He built up his bust
ness in that way. Now that he is before
the public as a would-be political leader
he is advertising his purposes and his ideas
with the same shrewdness. He understands
the value of a press bureau. To 1t | am
indebted for lot Of literature which tells
all about Jones. his ideas of politics. his
shop in Toledo and his theories Of public
utilities. 1t may be interesting at a later
stage AT present it Is worth nothing only
because Mayor Jones proposes to lead the
way'by running for governor on munich
pal platform. 1t may be that he intends
to crowd Gov Pingree off the track and
also run for President on this municipal
platform
idea is Making Headway.
It would not do, however, to pass the
subject over lightly. So far as I can judge.
these ideas Of municipal ownership of
franchises or public utilities are making
Roadway, though not as an article of party
politics or party faith. Local conditions
in Cleveland serve to emphasize the ag1ta-
ton Coming down town day or two ago
on a street car well-dressed young fell
low sitting next to me handed me paper
in which was 0speech of Mayor Jones tell
ing why If the street railways were owned
by the city there would be no strikes of
arnp1OyaS than there
could be a strike of the letter carriers of
Uncle Sam The notion was that the city
should control these facilities OF transit
just like the federal government controls
the post office service. The young fellow,
who was musician employed in an orches-
ira and who is not likely to become street
car employee, said to me that this was the
sound doctrine And he argued the point
with ability.
The same afternoon, at lunch in one of the
clubs. Cleveland lawyer whose firm has
for clients a very large proportion of corpO-
rations startled several of 'is by declaring
substantially the same thing. He said he
was not a socialist, but that some degree
of state socialism or municipal socialism
coming, and we might we'll get ready
for 1t. People he said "see men get rich
very quickly who gain control of these
street railroads and other properties. 1t
sets them thinking. and they begin to say
that the state or municipality could make
money just easily, or that If so much
money is to be made the public could be
carried much cheaper. Then when we have a
strike like this one, the idea grows and 1t
stays after the strike is ended. That is why
I say that some of will live to see the
municipalities operating the street railways
and gas plants and similar things
Hanna's Value in the Campaign.
Senator Mark Hanna s friends have received
with mingled feelings the statement that he
is coming home to manage the state cam
paign. For the benefit of the ticket in
Cleveland and Cuyahoga county they would
much rather that he would stay away. But
they realize that he will be tremendous
force in the campaign management. Their
fear is that he will insist his county
central committee setting up ticket in
dependent of that named by the regular
party organization, known as the Hol-
combe- McKisson combine. Some of Mark
partisans, in the interest of good govern
ment, have already attacked the candi-
dates of the regular organization.
Governor Bushnell and his state admin
istration are receiving some quiet criticism
because Of the philosophic impartiality
which the governor shows. He was in
Cleveland the other day and he discussed
the prospects with a disinterestedness that
was surprising Governor Bushnell appoint
ed John Sherman as one Of the Ohio dele
gates to one of the numerous antitrust
conferences which are being held in vari-
ous mar Of the country This fakeu