The independent., 1903-03-19

bate, and for questioning candidates
and pledging candidates, to the end
that our politicians, officials and leg
islatures be turned from mastery to
service of the people,"
AS rapidly as one per cent of the
voters Of community have joined,
organization takes place. Each or
ganization is known as a council, and
is identified by the name of the po-
litieal subdivision wherein 1t exists.
BY questioning the candidates for
delegates to conventions, it is expect
ed that the tools of the trusts and
other monopolies will be kept out.
This appeals to liberal republicans as
well as to liberal democrats.
Three articles of faith are named:
First, the establishment of majority
rule; second, the ownership by the
people of all public utilities; third,
restriction upon the power of judges
citizen without trial by jury.
Mr.. Williams states that the move
ment is making splendid headway..
The incentive and opportunity for ac-
tive workers are set forth by Mr..
Williams in a statement which he
gave to the public at the time of an
nouncing the new organization, and
published in The Independent of jan
uary % and 49,
Membership in a non-partisan or
ganization, along with membership in
ones party, is not new idea. For
example, the members of referendum
leagues are also members of political
parties. In the new organization in
Massachusetts the aim is to make ma
jority rule an issue. This is accom-
plished by questioning the candidates
of all the parties and publishing their
replies or refusal to reply. Expert
ence shows that the plan is effective.
In Missouri the republican party re-
fused to pledge in its platform that,
if placed in power, it would submit to
the people constitutional amendment
for majority rule; but later when the
republican leaders found that their
candidates were to be questioned by
organized labor they promised to write
letters and advise their candidates
to answer favorably the questions as
to majority rule. In California also
the republican leaders refused to place
in the platform a pledge to submit
constitutional amendment, but of the
80 successful candidates in the house.
SO promised in writing that they
would vote to submit the amendment.
Equally good results have been at
tanned wherever the questioning has
been backed by few men who real
ly meant business. Publicity does the
work. In no case has candidate
dared to openly oppose majority rule
The questioning of candidates is
great success. Each nonth the work
becomes easier for the people are
working up to the fact that they can
free themselves by establishing ma
jority rule.
PARTISAN CLUBS
DIVISION OF LABOR.
Since January 1 the movement for
questioning candidates as to majority
rule has been reinforced by not only
"the peoples rule" in Massachusetts,,
but by "a Call to Arms by Mr. Bry-
an in The Commoner. the request be-
ing that democratic club be organ
lied in every precinct to instruct dele
gates to the democratic convention !
These instructions will include, of |
course, one for the referendum and the !
initiative Mr.. Bryan and his CO.
workers are thorough believers in ma
jority rule. -.-..
Republican clubs will also be Or
ganized, without doubt, for the pur-
pose of overcoming the trusts oppo-
sition to the denomination of Presi-
dent Roosevelt.
These partisan clubs will attend to |
the questioning of candidates at tho |
primaries and conventions Next year |
the democratic clubs will do the ques-
tioning at the democratic primaries
and conventions, and the republican |
clubs will question the candidates at |
the republican primaries and conven-
tions. After both parties have made |
their nomination, organized labor and |
the grange should question the candi- |
dates of all the parties, and other |
bipartisan organizations can do the |
same; for example, non-partisan fed
erations for majority rule, w. C. #.
U. organizations, equal suffrage as
sociations, etc.
ABSOLUTE NEED FOR QUESTION
ING BY NON-PARTISAN