The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1908-09-02


Purest Popular Government.
New York, Sept. There was not
room enough in the new clubhouse of
the independence league to hold the
large crowd that gathered last night
for the dual purpose of being present
at the notification of Thomas l.. His
gen, Independence party candidate for
president, and the housewarming of
.he club. 1t had been the intention to
show the party leaders the new club
quarters, but as every inch of room in
the modest little building in Waverly
place was occupied this was almost
impossible, but the attempt was made
and this delayed the notification cere-
monies to late hour.
William R. Hearst and Mr.. Hisgen
entered the clubhouse shortly after 9
o'clock and were greeted by an out
burst of cheering. Hisgen was en-
Enthusiastically referred to as "the trust
buster" and "our next president"
These titles brought forth more cheer
ing
John T. Graves Unable to Attend.
Many inquiries were made for John
Temple Graves, the party's candidate
for vice president. 1t had been origin
ally planned to have Mr.. Hisgen and
Mr.. Graves notified at the same time,
but owing to the poor health of Graves
this plan was abandoned. He is at
Warm Sulphur Springs, in Virginia.
Henry A. Powell. chairman of the
notification committee, presided. He
said, In view of the signs of the times,
the new party was destined to be his
torical in the future of the city, state
and nation.
Mr.. Powell told Mr.. Hisgen that he
had been seleced as the standard
bearer of the new party and then there
was prolonged cheering when Mr.. His
gen rose to reply, and it was several
minutes before the candidat could be-
gin. He read his address.
After stating that he regarded his
nomination as a call to public service,
Thomas L. Hisgen, in his speech of
acceptance, went right into the main
Issues of the campaign and gave a
vigorous outline of the principles and
policies he stands for.
He declared it was necessary to or
ganize new party to bring about
needed reforms, and so the Independ-
ence party came into existence. The
candidate asserted that the present
division of the reform elements had
permitted the control Of the govern
ment to slip from the hands OF the
people into the hands of machine pol
iticians and party bosses, and he said
that to take control out of their hands
he advocated direct nominations. the
initiative, the referendum and the re-
call"
The Direct Primary Necessary.
Mr.. Hisgen said in part:
"The direct primary is spreading
rapidly through the states of the South
and the West. Wherever the direct
primary goes the party boss disap-
pears. The party convention and its
dummy delegates are the bosses tools.
Destroy them and the boss is power
less.
"The right to initiate legislation and
when occasion arises, to pass upon
and reject legislation, Is the purest
popular government, and condemned
on1v hv thoca uvhn bova lOct foitb L.,
the right and in the ability of the peo-
pie to govern.
Hand and hand with these meas
ures of popular government goes the
right Of recall When an official elect
ed for term of years demonstrates
his unfltness or betrays the public
trust early in his term, there should
be speedy and simple way of re-
calling or getting rid Of him.
"Ie believe, furthermore that to
obtain genuine popular government
the corruption of money must be elm
mated, and | endorse our platform
declaration which not only calls for
full publicity of campaign contribu-
tions, as do the platforms (but not
-the legislation of the Republican and
Democratic parties, but which prohib-
its, as they do not, the use of any
money in elections except for meet
ings, literature and the necessary trav.
cling expenses of candidates
"As business man, it seems to me
to be a first essential to national pros
perity that there should be economical
and business-like conduct of public
affairs.
'No business man has more reason
than to insist upon a strict enforce
ment of the law against oppressive
trusts and criminal monopolies, but
! would substitute conviction of Grim
inals for reckless and disturbing
threats and denunciation Further
more, ] believe, as our platform de-
clares, in jail for the responsible Of
tenders, instead of fines that are in
reality imposed upon stockholders or
collected from the consuming public.
"Our platform condemns the evil OF
over-capitalization and demands as a
primary necessity for sounder business
conditions the enactment Of laws, both
state and national, to prevent water
ing OF stock, dishonest issues of bonds
and other forms Of corporation frauds,
believe that stock watering and dis
honest financiering have been potent
factors in bringing on the country's
business troubles; believe further.
more that stock.watering has been