The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1905-07-13
Plan to Gust Passholders

Washington, July 3-To the Editor of The
Independent: Only in the last few months, since
reading your articles have | been able to see
the real evil of free passes. The trifing addi
tional amount the rest of us have to pay by rea-
son of some travelling free is utterly not worth
caring about, but the good turn from Officially
and convention delegates which the railroads
expect in recognition of their courtesy" is evil
IDENTIFY a shackle to the public ankles.
1t can hardly be expected that conven-
ton composed largely of passhoders will take
any stand against what they are receiving. The
public should not wait for that. How would it
do TO submit to the primaries of all the parties
a resolution something like the following?
Resolved, that the republicans democrats
or popusts) of this state assembled in prima-
res do hereby order that person who rides
railroad pass, or who has ridden a pass
within one year previous Except trip pass when
the journey has been on some special railroad
business) shall be a delegate to any nominating
convention OF the party. If any such persons
are elected delegates they shall not be allowed
to sit in convention but their alternates shall
fill their places If the alternates also are pass
holders, then members to fill the vacancies on
any delegation shall be elected by the other dele
gates who are not passholders. If the whole dele
cations from the adjoining political units of the
same rank may elect persons to compose the miss
ing delegation, such persons to be selected from
the territory to be represented; or else that ter
of tho convention.
These resolutions shall be sent to -
persons and if a majority of the primaries of the
party in the state of Nebraska vote for them then
the above rules shall apply to the whole state and
TO the delegations of the state in national con-
Ventlons. If the majority of the primaries in the
whole state do not vote for them, but majority
OF the primaries in this congressional district do
SO, then the rule shall apply to this congressional
district If majority of the primaries in this
country vote for them, then the rules shall apply
to this county.
"If a majority of any convention disobey
these instructions and give seats to passholders,
then it shall be the duty of the minority who are
not passholders to leave the hall and reorganize
convention by themselves, and such recognized
convention shall be regarded the true regular
convention of the 49, party for that time and
place.
The validity of these rules shall not depend
upon the sanction of any representative conven-
ton, but we, the people, have spoken, and our
representatives have not the authority to over
rule our orders"
By such action as this takel in the prma-
ries of any party, that party can get out from
under the passholdng delegates, and it will not
De necessary to wait till the conventions are re-
formed before beginning to reform them.
lhese resolutions should be sent in friendly
hahdS TO the primaries of each party, in print,
under the auspices and signature of several men
vi reputation and unquestioned standing in that
party, and the votes should be rerurnable to them
what do you think of this?
Permit me to commend the recognition given
.ne referendum in your recent article on protect
ing legislators. I trust you will keep this up
me referendum is the most important reform
vi an MARK FOSTER.