The Penn's Grove record., 1906-10-26
THE TROUBLE

Machine rule is the curse OF the age
as everyone admits, for it is a system
OF government through which the
monopolist are in power, including thu
liquor interests. Rs-establish the
peoples rule and Industrial conditions,
will largely be alfred, also social con-
ditions.
The basis Of machl.e rule is the con.
vention system, for through the con.
vention system peope's power is com
pletely delegated The people have
not reserved to themelves the power to
instruct by direct voc; nor is there an
equivalent for this gstem, namely a
veto power in the voers and the pow:
er of direct legislation. The party
machine that is plaed in control of
this government is aruler.
Previous to the ris of the convention
system the voters instructed at will at
town meetings in tb rural districts in
New England, and esewhere at mass
meetings. F~urtherlor candidates for
the legislature and tr Congress We're
pledged in each dislIct instead of by
machine-rule state ld- national con-
ventions, as is now he case.
THE RMEDY
The re-establishmnt of a direct vote
system for public questions is the
remedy for machinrule. The change
has been accomplished in Oregon, South
Dakota, Nevada "a Illinois; a con-
stitutional amend mt for the system
has been granted tab; a constitute
ional amendments o be voted upon
this fall in Monta1 in Delaware the
people are to vote Jon the question,
"Shali the legislatre establish the adj
visory initiative an advisory referen-
Dump In Ohio GWO-thirds of the
members of both Fuses are pledged
to submit a constitaal amendment for
the initiative ard rerendum; in Maine
the state conventiG of both the lead
ing parties pledgeT the initiative and
referendum, in whe Oh in part; in
Michigan the Gran, Labor Unions,
Referendum J eagT and other progress
i've forces are rated 10 question
candidates for t. eople's sovereignty
and will probabli rcceed; in Minneso-
ia a state confere of the believers in
the peoples rule S held last month,
an organization " formed and the
legislati, candid IS for all the parties
are to be questiotd and the replies
given to the newspapers for publica-
ton.
In some of th er states the non
partizan forces centering their
efforts on the ~qestioning of candi-
dates for the peop's rule.
Nationally, too,an effective camp
aign is in progss. The American
Federation of Laor, directly repre-
senting one, eightlof the people of this
country, are inforlally federated with
the National FJeration for Peoples
Rule. Question to candidates have
been agreed upoI for the immediate
installation of a trect vote system in
national affairs, nd the questions are
being asked by tn National Federat-
on. The replies pr refusal to reply
Ire to be noted inreports that are to
noted in report that are to be mail
'd to the newspapers in each district.
Ihe questioning of candidates and
publications of relies will raise the
SSue and the voters will do the rest:
hey Will press tie questions at the
allies and elsewhere, and should any
Il The candidates efuse to pledge they
will be defeated. The voters self-in-
crest will cause hem to scratch their
ickets.
This was spleldidly illustrated in
'hlo last year. Nearly all the Re-
ublican candida es for the legislature
efused to pledgefor the initiative and
eterendum, while the Democrats
lodged for the system, and on election
ay enough Republican candidates were
;ratched to a landslide. The
democratic representation in the sem
Je was increased Ats per. cent, with
as great an increase in the
ouSe.
] his year in Maine the state conven-
ons OF both the 1old-line parties pledg-
for the establishment of a direcet
Tor the public questions. They did
because organ ed farmers and wage
rners stood ready to question all
indicates.