The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1905-03-16
REGULARITY RAPED
The New York Journal Seems to
Have turned Populist- Thinks
Regularity not Essential
PEOPLE 90 NOT MAkEmE LAWS
What is Needed is the Iniatiative, the
Referendum and the lmpera-
tive Mandate.

tive Mandate.
The New York Journal seems to
have at last come to the conclusion
that there is no question Of honor"
involved In the demand that man
who attends convention must be
regular and submit to whatever that
convention does. The Independent
took>that position from the first and Is
glad to see that the Journal has got
around to it at last as will be seen
upon reading the following editorial
from that paper, besides endorsing
the rest of the populist platform:
'sUnder our present system OF gov
ernment the power Of originating laws
and controlling public Offices is in the
people-that is, in theory; in practice
it is not in the people,
"The executive committee, the Sc
cret conference, the political ring con-
trolls legislation and governmental pol
icies.
sIn deciding what shall be done In
municipal affairs, state affairs and ma
tional affairs there is really no public
deliberation, no public discussion, no
public sentiment The policy which
controls is decided upon in some pri-
vate conference, in private room,
behind closed doors.
"And after these bosses have agreed
upon a program they go about creating
public sentiment in favor of it and pur-
chasing the votes necessary to support
it. Newspapers and subsidized, lead
ing politicians are approached, and the
star chamber policy agreed on In Sc
cret by the bosses is fOisted upon the
people by the use Of what Bismarck
called the reptile fund.
"Thus it is that the great body Of
the American people, in whom the
constitution of the country recognizes
sovereign power, are reduced to help
lessnesS.
"Roughly, they are divided into two
great parties republican and demo-
cratic. The individual democrat must
indorse the star chamber methods and
policies of his party or be villified by
it's newspapers and its leaders as a
deserter and traitor The individual
republican must swallow whatever
dose his star chamber bosses prepare
for him or be denounced by the edi-
tors and the leaders as a renegade or
an apostate.
"Thus the party lash makes towards
of us all, and has subdued us to polit-
ical servitude that is shameful to our
selves and destructive of the best In
terests Of our country.
"The great body of the people know
nothing of the laws that are being
passed until they are called on to obey
them. They have no hand in building
political platforms They have no con-
troll over political nominations.
And when they put men in Office by
their submissive votes they have no
control over the officer during his term
of service.
"In the case of the federal Judge we
have an officer not appointed by the
people, not in touch with the people
not controllable by the people, and yet
exercising vast powers which he alone
defines; which his selfish interests ani
ambition cause him constantly to en-
large; and neither the executive moi
the legislative branch of the govern
ment seems disposed to assert itself
and, by checking the usurpations of thu
judicial department, preserve that bal
ance between the three great branche
Of the government which was contem
plated by our fathers and is necessar.
for the welIbeing of the republic.
Neither of the two old politica
parties proposes any remedy for thil
alarming state of affairs. A new party
should propose a remedy, one which
has been tried in civilized state
among Christian people, and found eff
fective. 1t should give to the pee