Little Falls herald., 1900-09-28

too, practically without opposition.
Whatever may have been the reasons
which secured the adoption Of the pres
ent plan, a century ago, new conditions
have made it imperative that the peo-
pie be permitted to speak directly in
the selection of their representatives in
the Senate. A Senator is no less the
representative of the State because he
receives his commission from the peo-
pie themselves, rather than from the
members of the State legislature. It
a voter is competent to vote for men,
Der of Congress, for State officers and
for President, he IS competent to
choose his representative in the Sen
ate. A system which makes the Sen
ator responsible for his election to the
people, as a whole, and amenable to
them If he misrepresents them, must
commend itself to those who have con-
hdence In the intelligence, and patriot
ism of~the masses.
Direct legislation.
The platform 1ndorses the princi-
pie OF direct legislation. This is al
ready applied to tho more important
questions in nation, state and city. It
rests upon the sound theory that the
people can be trusted, and that the
more responsive the government is to
the will OF the people. the more free
1t will be from misuse and abuse.
Labor Question.
Several planks Of the labor plat
form are devoted to questions in which
the laboring classes have an immediate
interest, but which more remotely ef-
feet our entire population. While what
is generally known as government by
injunction IS at present directed chief
ly against the employees of corpora
tions, when there is disagreement be-
tween them and their employer, it in
wolves principle which concerns
every one. The purpose Of the in
junction in such cases is to substitute
trial by judge for trial by jury, and is
4 covert blow at the jury system. The
abolition Of government by Injunction
Is as necessary for the protection of
the reputation of the court, as It is for
the security OF the citizen. Blackstone
in defending trial by jury, says:
'The impartial administration Of
justice, which secures both our persons,
and our properties is the great end of
civil society. but If that be entrusted
entirely to the magistracy, a select
body Of men. and those selected by
the prince such as enjoy the highest
Offices Of the state their decisions in
spite of their natural integrity, will
have frequently an Involuntary bias
toward those of their own rank. and
dignity. It is not to be expected from
human nature that the few should be
always attentive to the interests and
good Of the many"
II the criminal laws are not sufficient
for the protection of property, they
can be made more severe, but a citi-
zen charged with crime must have his
case tried before jury Of his peers.
Tho Blacklist.
The blacklist as now employed in
some places enables the employer to
place the employe under practical
duress, for the skilled laborer loses his
independence when the employers can
not only discharge him, but prevent his
securing any similar employment.
The blacklist enables employers to Sc
cure, by mutual agreement, that con-
troll over the wage earners which
contract.
Arbitration.
The platform renews the demand
for arbitration between corporations
and their employees. No one who has
observed the friction which arises be-
tween great corporations and their
numerous employees ca1 doubt the
wisdom Of establishing an impartial
court for the Just and equitable set
tlement of disputes. The demand for
arbitration ought to be supported as
heartily by the public, which suffers
inconvenience because of strikes and
lockouts, and by the employers them
selves, as by the employees. The estab-
1ishment Of arbitration will insure
friendly relations between labor and
capital, and render obsolete the grow
ing practice of calling in the army to
settle labor troubles.
Department Of Labor.
cannot too strongly emphasize the
Importance of the platform recon-
mendation of the establishment of a
department of labor, with a member
Of the cabinet at its head. When we
remember how important a position
the .laborer fills in our economic, So
cial and political fabric. it is hard to
conceive of valid objection being
made to this recognition of his serv-
ices. Agriculture is already represent
ed in the presidents official household;
the army and navy have their repre-
sentatives there; the state department,
with its consular service, and the
treasury department, with its close
connection with fiscal affairs, keep the