The Washington herald., 1907-07-27
The Indenendenee League.

A political movement that may cut
some figure in the next Presidential cleo
ton Is that now being promoted by
William R. Hearst under the name Of the
Independence League. AS its title pur-
ports, the league is not TO be an adjunct
OF any other political party, but aims at
securing concert of action among inde-
pendent voters in order 70 bring about Ger
tain political changes. What those changes
are was succinctly stated by Clarence J.
Shearn IN an address at Springfield, Mass.
a few days ago. The league. he said, Is
pledged to the system of direct nomina-
tions. the Initiative and referendum, and
popular election Of Senators and all
judges 1t favOrs public ownership of pub-
lie utilities that are mOnOpOlies. and the
prohibition of franchise grants eXceptwhen
referred 10 and approved by popular vote.
The league aims at fairer conditions Tor
the farmer, and so fayors national sys-
TEN of good roads, relief from unreason-
able charges fortransportation Of products
Of the farm to profitable markets, and the
establishment Of a postal savings bank
and parcels post. The league also IA
vors fair wages and reasonable hours for
labor the prohibition of child labor. and
trial by jury In contempt cases.
Mr.. Bryan has spoken Of his own aims
and those Of the independence League as
tending IN the same general direction,
and it would seem that most of the aspi-
rations OF the leaguers might be satisfied
by following the Nebraska leader: but II
appears that one item Of the league plat
form is distrust of both the old political
parties. Mr.. SheaTn declares that neither
the Republican nor the Democratic party
as at present dominated and con-
trolled can be counted on to forward
these aims" and thus describes the polit-
ical situation. pot without a certain
amount Of accuracy:
With the Southern wing believing In protection
and the Northern wing ClamOring for revision Of
the tariff with the Western wing radical and the
Eastern wing reactionary, and with the leading
Democratic newspaper in New York deToting It's
editorial page to answering the query. What IS
Democrat" once great political party Is IN danger
Of becoming national Joke II a radical IS nomi-
mated a sufficient number vii knife him 70 elect a
Republican: If a conservative is nominated. the
radicals bolt and elect a Republican.
Nevertheless. il would seem TO be more
practical 10 throw the weight Of the inde-
pendent vote 10 one party or the other
according to the probability Of obtaining
from either the political action desired.
Third parties have never accomplished
anything of late years except in this way.
This is not TO say third-party movements
have been wholly without value, for they
have left lasting influence upon the course
OF political events; but they have never
been able to seize the reins Of power, SO
as to be able 10 work their will In the
field Of legislation and administration
There is undoubtedly a large body Of
public opinion favorable 10 the platform
Of the Independence League. and many
people think that the sO-called reforms
advocated by II are being enacted into
law fast enough as 1t is. under the in
fuenee of the growing radicalism Of the
day But 1t seems improbable that there
are enough radicals Of the Independence
League brand in this country to form a
winning political party. so that the prin-
cipal function of the league promises TO
be that of agitation and organization.