The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1908-01-06

AS CURE O
CIVIC ILLS
Professor Lyburger Lectures
on Subject at Church
Of Redeemer.

IN the C1uTcn OF the HeQeemef last
night Professor Lee F. Lyburger, of
Philadelphia, gave a lecture on The
Referendum. the Remedy for Political
Wrongs" Before the lecture a solo.
"Wil There Be Any Stars in My
Crown" was sung by a member of the
church quartet.
The Rev. Henry r. Rose, pastor OF
the church. introducing Professor Ly-
burger, said that the people in the
Middle and Eastern States, except in
Maine. were different from those In
the great West, where they were, as
in Maine, so interested in economic and
political questions that might benefit
them, their State and the national
government that they crowded halls to
hear lectures on such subjects. He had
himself addressed audiences of 1000 to
5000 persons in Western cities and
towns, he said.
Professor Lyburger has made a study
of the initiative and referendum. To
give the people self-government and
purify morals and politics, the adj
m~inistration of the national, State and
municipal governments, he said, was
the aim of those who are working to
get the referendum and the initiative
for the people.
Professor Lyburger then stated that
when the Declaration of Independ-
enee was adopted and issued many who
voted for it did not believe that AL
men are created free and equal or
that the mass of the people were capa-
BILE of self government And when the
American republic was established 1t
was a compromise between the tyranny
of monarchy and that pure democracy
in which the people, not those they
elect to office. are the masters. Author
ity was given to a Senate at Washing
ton elected by State legislatures, menu
bers of which, it was true, were elected
by the people, but who voted for whom
they pleased to represent the State IN
the Senate of the United States. For
years the people voted only for presi-
Dental electors. not for the candidates,
and when the electors met they elected
the men they favored, no matter who
the majority of the people wanted.
When the great political parties got
full control of American politics, they
made concessions to the people by MAX
ing the candidates for president more
prominent and pledging the electors
from the State to vote as a majority
of the people directed in he election.
But the political leaders selected
the candidates for president, and the
electors named the candidates for the
Senate and House of Representatives,
members of legislatures and municipal
bodies, and for many recent years had
elected them with influence n money
of corporations, which also defeated
candidates who would not be their
tools.
Professor Lyburger said his city OF
Philadelphia was rotten with political
and official corruption, and New York
came next, while st. Louis was a great
graft city. Pennsylvania. which gave
Roosevelt a majority of 100000, could
have given him nearly double hat vote
If he had needed it, for the bosses made
up the figures of the returns. And of
Missouri, a great Democratic State, it
was said by Bob Ingersoll that If that
State ever became Republican he
would turn Christian.
The lecturer declared that while the ma
tional, State and municipal boards pass
laws without giving the people a vote on
them corruption and graft will increase.
But the referendum and the initiative,
Professor Lyburger said, would abolish all
the political evils. TIE referendum would
give the people the right Of a final vote
on every law passed by the Legislative
bodies, and it would also add to their In
lightenment. The initiative would give
The people, when a certain percentage Of
the voters signed n petition, the right to
select candidates for all public positions.
and these men would be voted for by the
people who would have the G~od-giyen
right of self-goyernment, and be their own
rulers.
Professor Iyburger said the great trouble
in this country is that people stick to their
political party as to their religion. He said
that in the preface of King James's version
of the Bible the king is placed second OILY
10 the Almighty, and the Parliament In
England passed laws, the mass Of the
people used to believe, by divine authority.
Ardent friends of the late Senator QUAY,
of Pennsylvania, argued that he was the
greatest man living and second only 10
God. William Jennings Bryan was tohi
of this and related an aneedete of a negro
in the South who said a certain able nan
was the greatest man in the world. Asked
IL he was greater than Lincoln or Grant
or even Washington. the negro said he
was. Asked If he was as great as tho
Almighty, the negro replied:
well, sab, he am Young yet"
Professor Lyburger said nat spirit pre-
walls among the people of this country
low in relation to taose they have put N
authority. He said this feeling must be
eradicated before the people will be entire
ly free.