The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1903-03-07


manded this right it is said that con-
gress will be compelled to place the
constitutional amendments before the
people. There is no question in Ameri-
can politics that meets with the favor
Of all the people so much as does. the
question of the election of U. S. sena-
tors by popular vote. Even favorable
public opinion will not hurry this much
wanted reform. 1t will require a
chrystalized movement, and almost
every state in the union must first give
an expression of it's attitude on the
question. This. only teaches the en-
thusiost to be patient in all reform
work. Changes in popular government
necessarily follow a slow course.
There is a good deal of common
sense in the bill of Representative Mork
to compel railroads to provide state Of
f1cials with annual passes for all lines
in the state. The bill seems to be
broad enough to prevent the transfer
of passes and to prohibit officials from
charging mileage when riding on a
pass. It is just such a, measure as this
that will correct the pass evil. 1t is
true that he is a cheap man who can
be purchased with a pass on a railroad,
still it is surprising how much influ-
ence it will have on the ordinary man.
It often stands in the way OF doing a
public duty, and yet men ever SO hon.
est, will accept passes and think Moth
ing Of it at the time.
Much needful opposition to railroads
that mix in legislative matters is les
sened simply because the legislators
are under some trif1ing obligation to a
railroad company.
We have heard of many ideas for the
correction of the pass evil, but none
seems to strike the spot-like the Mork
bill.
The Oregon legislature has voted to
submit constitutional amendment to
the people of the state providing for
the initiative and referendum. This
| will undoubtedly pass. The people
! know a good thing and will push it
along. Under the proposed amend
| ment, upon a petition of a reasonable
| number Of voters all laws passed at a
session of the legislature, except those
for public safety, may he submitted to
vote of the people. In like manner
may bills be initiated. This reform is
the direct result of the splendid work
of the Direct Legislation League. It
means for the state of Oregon great
er democracy. The measure will be OBJ
; served with interest by thousands OF
students, OF, economics all over, the
country, sasss,s,1ee-
cessful As Its advocates expect It to be
l.
| Talk for a deep waterway from Du-
luth to the Atlantic ocean is again be-
ing revived. Over half million OF
dollars has already beer. spent by con-
gress In preliminary engineering work
to ascertain whether the plan was fea-
sible or not A commission appointed
! through the efforts of Charles A
Towne in 1896, has made some sur.
veys and estimates, and declares in
| favor of the project Since Mr.. Towne
left congress nothing has been done
| towards furthering the deep waterway
idea. This is to be regretted. because
the development Of our own locality
is largely dependent upon waterway
improvements. Could boats be loaded
| at Duluth to sail direct to Liverpool il
! would mean more than the shipping O.
food stuffs Our iron in finished pro.
ducts would naturally follow the same
course. Boom the deep-water-way
idea. 1t is a big proposition but i
must come sooner or later.
Chas. M! Schwab in am interview il
Paris, declares that 1t is the bounded
duty Of the rich to assist those il
~tl,
all,' he continued, IF it were properl,
distributed" This sounds good from
"cheerful' Charlie, but why should h,
talk in this manner? He does not mea,
it. His great corporation is founde,
on the opposite principle. Drive ever.
competitor out of business, and do i
all ourselves" Is the business idea O
Schwab and his colleagues. The worl,
certainly does produce enough for all
but by the system of commercialisn
under which we live the full scmfwy,
under which we live there is little hop
for all to get the full share of wha
they produce.
1t is the great corporations tha
are increasing pauperism in our owl
country, and none knows it better thai
Mr.. SchWab. 1t is all very we'll TO
the extreme rich to talk of charity an
philanthropy. 1t has a temporar
!: quieting effect, but there is an under
) meath current flowing through tn
. minds of the sound, reliable and homes
thinking citizens crying for justice a
the rightfully occupant of the thron
: now usurped by charity.
! President Roosevelt, true to hi
. threats, has called the senate to con
vene in extraordinary session for tn
: purpose of considering a number 9
? treaties. The senate has PERSISTENT
neglected to act on important foreig
matters during the regular session.
} now appears that the whole plan wa
; pre-arranged to thwart any importan
antitrust legislation. Senator Qua
who has stock in several trusts, wit
his omnibus statehood bill succeede
: in accomplishing his purpose. H
: wanted no serious anti trust legisla
} tion, and by working the Democrats i
: a tactful manner all legislation of i'm
: portance along this line was blocked