The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1903-10-01
The Peoples Ru1e X
BY
Geo. H. Shibley.

name a majority rule committee whose
duty it shall be to question the nOmi-
nees for the legislature as to whether,
il elected, they will vote to submit a
constitutional amendment for major
ity rule;
That our master, or one whom he
may appoint, is requested to CORE
spond with adjoining oranges with a
view to the introduction and passage
of resolution similar to this one"
To adopt a resolution for majority
rule and questioning candidates is
strictly in line with long-established
grange policy, namely, non-partisan
activity in the interest of the farmers.
This policy has been effective, while
third party politics have been disas-
tyous. Through non-partisan action
the granger uprising of thirty years
ago restrained the railroad corpora
tons, free delivery of mails in rural
districts has been secured, laws pro-
hibiting the imitation of dairy prod
ucts have been enacted, an isthmian
canal bill has been passed, the inter-
state commerce law has been amended,
and the ship subsidy bill defeated. The
four last mentioned successes have
been achieved during the present year,
and are direct result of the deter
mined attitude of the grange.
In state affairs the results are equal
ly satisfactory In Michigan the last
report of the master of the state
grange declares that the organization
"is recognized as welding the strong
est influence upon public affairs of any
power that exists within the state
The source of this great political
strength in state and nation is that
the farmers are in both the great par
ties and constitute balance OF pow
er, therefore when they unite upon a
measure it wins. The farmers united
against the imitators of dairy products
and won; they, demanded rural free
delivery of mails on the same perma-
nent footing as the delivery of mail OF
the cities and won; they demanded
lew for the curtailment of the extor
tons of the railways and won: and
thew fought the shin subsidy and won.
Without organization the farmers
could not have secured their rights.
And it was the refusal to nominate
candidates. thereby centering upon
measures instead of men, that won out.
BY agreement upon measures and
serving notice upon the conventions
and candidates of both parties. it COM
PEELED them to accede to the farmers
demand or be defeated. Thus the
farmers won their fight before public
speaking began.
The grange, of course, is careful to
push only such measures as are clearly
just, and SO plainly equitable that. If
forced to an issue in the campaign, the
opposition will surely suffer defeat.
In the words Of the master of the
Pennsylvania state grange, w. F. Hill,
in his report for 1901:
''In the work of the legislative COM
mittee for protecting and advancing
the interests of agriculture, care was
exercised that only such decisions
were taken upon the oleo tax and othe-
questions as would by their fairness
appeal to all right-thinking people.
The demand for an opportunity to
vote upon a constitutional amendment
for majority rule appeals to all right
thinking men, The details of this de-
mand are shown in the following sug-
gestion for the letter to be mailed to
candidates by the committee on ques-
tioning:
ITO candidate for election to
the egislature.-Dear Sir: The bill OF
rights in our state constitution de-
clares that all political power is in
herent in the people. therefore they
have the right to amend the constitu-
ton whenever they so desire.
do you promise the electors in your
district who may vote for you that, i
elected, you will, in conformity with
this provision, vote to give the people
of the state an opportunity to ballot
upon an extension of the peoples veto,
through the optional referendum and
the adoption of direct initiative in
addition to the indirect system which
now exists, the details to accord with
the specifications prepared by the ma
tional federation for majority rule,
CODY of which is enclosed?
"Please answer on inclosed dupli-
cate sheet.
Bear in mind that the question is
not as to the merits of the proposed
system of representative government,
Int only the plain GleStion, Will you