The independent., 1905-03-23

"Of course, you understand, popu-
lism demands the public ownership of
public utilities, and that populism
would get rid of dishonest aldermen
by what we style the recall That
would settle the Tammany system at
once and forever. The moment an
alderman sold out the people to corpo-
rations, or used his Office for private
gain, we would simply recall him and
put another man in his place, as was
done with Davenport in the city Of Los
Angeles last year This plan would
be absolutely effective and would puri-
fly the city government, because 1t is
incredible that majority of the peo-
pie would vote for a man shown to be
a thief or blaclkmailer.
"The system of recall advocated in
our platform applies Immediately. 1t
is simple and practical idea, which
has worked we'll in Los Angeles. If
an official has betrayed his trust, a GER
tain percentage of citizens have only
to sign a petition to have a new elec-
tion to fill his place at once.
New York should apply that system
to men like Alderman Gaffney and Al
derman Tim Sullivan, and those who
act as their confederates. Under such
law it would be impossible to have
graft perpetuated, unless it is conceiv-
able that a majority of the people
would indorse man caught with the
goods on him. Official rascals could be
indicted and tried at the bar of public
opinion in thirty days.
"This plan is an automatic cOrrec-
| tive of municipal corruption. Once
put it in force, and graft, blackmailing
or any other form of official wrongdo-
ing could not live in New York two
months.
I'VE believe that is the only remedy.
With that idea we will enter the fight
in New York full of confidence. We
have no man in sight for mayor. No
remedy is proposed by either of the
old parties. To go from Tammany TO
the local republican machine is simply
to swap the devil for witch, to jump
| from, the frying pan into the fire. You
change the men, but you don't change
the methods The only hope on earth
for New York this year is an inde-
pendent ticket that will draw to itself
all the people who want an honest city
government With our principle Of
public ownership of public utilities, the
initiative and referendum and the
right of recall, | am confident that We
can poll $4,000 votes in this city.
Perhaps the principle of public
ownership is stronger in itself than
any political party in New York, and
could, of itself, poll more votes than
the democratic party. If it had a
square test on it's merits, | believe 1t
would sweep the city.
"The country is beginning to realize
what populism means. AT one end Of
the line stand the socialists, proposing
that the house be demolished and a
new one built. At the other end of
the line stand the republicans, repre-
senting special privilege and those
class wars which suggest the predic-
tions made by De Tocqueville more
than sixty years ago. The democrats
have joined the republicans. In the
last session Of congress it was plain
to be seen that party lines had faded
away.
Between these two extremes stand
the populists, who want to protect prl-
vate property and the rights of the in
dividual, but, at the same time, have
the lawmaking power used for the BEN
eft of all, instead of for the enrich
ment of the few"