Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1906-11-02
A. r. Of L. Endorsement.

ing questions have been endorsed by
the American Federation Of Labor
and approved by the undersigned
The A. c. G F. campaign has for its
purpose immediate relief from wrong
and injustice, and the establishment
of initiative and referendum principle
(the rule of the majority in the poll
tical aaffirs of our country.
SAMUEL GOMPERS,
JAMES O'CONNELL,
FRANK MORRISON.
Labor Representation Committee, A.
F. of L."
Organized farmers are likewise
working for the restoration Of major
ity rule. For four years the Penn
sylvania Oranges have been demand
ing the Initiative and Referendum.
In the letter to candidates it was
said: "A refusal to reply within
ten days from the receipt of this let
ter will be a negative to our ques-
tions and will be so considered in our
report to the newspapers and nopar-
tisan organizations"
The demand for direct-vote sys-
tenn is merely a demand for the re.
storation of system that existed pre-
vious to the convention system, some
seventy-five years ago. At that time
! the people instructed at will by direct
vote at town meetings in rural New
England and elsewhere at mass meet
ings, while members of Congress and
of the Legislatures were pledged by
| election districts instead of by ma
chine-rule state and national conven-
| tions, as is now the case. The peo-
pie ruled.
The first state convention was in
PENNSYLVANIA in 1921, and the sys-
| tenn soon spread to the other close
states. The first national convention
was in 1880,
The state convention took the place
of the legislative caucus for the nomi-
nation of state candidates, and the
|
| the congressional caucus for the nom
ination of President and Vice Pres
| ident Both Of these convention sys-
TENS were a vast improvement until
they were debased to machine rule.
Machine rule-the rule CT the few
| through the convention system, has
resulted in private monopoly and on
every hand the Trusts are in power.
The restoration of a direct-vote
system, in the improved form known
as the initiative referendum and the
advisory initiative and advisory ref
erendum, will re-establish the peo-
pies rule and the people will quick
ly curb the giant Trusts. No one
can successfully dispute this.
1t follows that the Congressional
candidate who is against the restora.
ton of the direct-vote system is
against the People. He has labeled
himself tool of the Trusts. The
People, however having learned the
truth can protect themselves, for on
election day they can vote for those
| who have pledged to work and vote
| for the immediate restoration OF a
! direct-vote system for national issues.
Voters OF Pennsylvania, insist on a
/ discussion Of these issues. The can
/ didates who are against you will try
| to. evade the issue but you can ques-
tion them At avary meeting you
can insist that the dtrecGyote system
/ shall receive consideration.
( Candidates cannot Justify their re.
usal to stand for the PEOPLES Rule
/ 10 is not aud-Repubucan or anti-Demo-
cratic. No convention in this coun-
/ tire has declared against the mitia-
/ tive and referendum maiority ule).
. To do so would kill the party. The
/ Republican party in Maine, Montana,
/ South Dakota and Oregon has affirm
| atively declared for tho restoration
/ Of majority rule The Oregon Re-
publicans pride themselves on having
/ re-established the system President
Roosevelt Senator LaFolette and va.
rious other Republican senators and
congressman are ably championing
restoration Of the Peoples Rule.
Voters in the 10th District should
stand with them. Vote AGAINST Ma
chine Rule Vote for the re-estab-
lishment of SelfGovernment.
Why should Mr. Samuel refuse?
Manifestly he is Obligated to the
Trusts.
You see it is not a question Of Re-
publcansm, but whether the Trusts
or the People are to be represented.
Which candidate in your district is
receiving the Trusts support. Which
will receive your support?
For the first time since the war of