The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-04-29

E
the people might do under the primary
system could equal the prc.ent condi-
ton sof misrepresentation. e, .eas<
The existence of republican govern
ment must depend upon the intelligence
Of the citizen, and1upon his. direct in
terest in the government which he sup
ports
If he is ignorant in, economic lines.
there is no better way!to enlighten him
than under the primary system where
candidates may explain to him in per
son the questions of the day.
If he now lacks interest, he will
shortly regain it under a primary sys-
tenn, where he can vete~as he pleases
and is not compelled to- vote for men
that the interests have placed upon the
ticket in order to betrays the cause of
popular government. -
Patriotic men of intelligence should
hesitate before they abandon politics
because they think: it gets too, demo-
cratic under the primary law. -.
Among an Anglo-saxen people, the
people will rule in the final analysis.
Is it not the manifest duty of the
real patriot to perform his political
duties, to educate the people, and if
| need be, to lead them to reform, rather
than to permit public discomfort to
crystalline into forms of discomfort OPP
posed to our own type of government?
The Threatening Political Atmosphere.
Today the air is filed with portents
of coming changes in the political and
economic life of the land.
The repeated delegation of their au-
thority has taken the government so
far from the people that they are to-
day powerless to secure any real legis-
lation that they really want.
They observe the wealth OF the land
rapidly accommodating in the hands OF
! the few.
They observe many Of those whom
they have elected to high office to pro
tect the commonwea1 sitting at the beck
and call of other interests.
They see their representatives turn
ing deaf ear to every appeal that the
law be enforced or that the people 4
mandates be made the law.
In the west today, the United States
Senate is regarded by great majority
Of people as the very enemy of the PEG
pie and not as the guardians of theil
4 welfare.
4 Under it's present rules, the house OF
representatives is regarded with con
tempt. Grown men do not care to b,
voted in blocks and often for legisla
ton to which their constituents ar,
really opposed.
The President stands in the publi
eye as the one source from which may
arise, relief from existing evils.
Unquestionably large majority @
the voters of the United States toda,
want fair reduction of the tariff.
They want more stringent laws tt
! control the rapacity of the trusts ant
corporations.
They want real power given to the
interstate commerce commission so a!
to secure fair rates for the people
They want reforms in the insurance
laws apd a general reform all alons
the line where the wild greed for quick
ly gotten wealth has overridden tn,
law in all portions of the land.
These demands of the people are law
full. fair and legitimate.
They have been repeatedly affirmed
in the platforms of both parties.
Nevertheless, there is apparently lit
tie chance of the people securing thes
things (which they really want, and i
they do it will only be after bite
struggle with the supposed servant
they have selected to make their laws
The people have largely lost faith il
: both parties because their representa-
tives refuse to obey the mandates O
the people or to enforce the provision
, of party platforms, upon which the,
have been elected to office. q
Self Seekers Thwart the Peoples VIII
4 Traced to its source, this paradox il
: popular government appears to be du
| to the constant delegation of the pee
ple's will, so that a compact body o
Office holders and self-seekers- nov
stands between the people and the Law
Under these conditions. the peopl
81 lose i1ssrsst in popular government an