The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-11-03
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8. 1906
Who Owns the Party, the
People Or the Boss?

The Journal is not ashamed to use
an old proverb when it is being veri-
ned day by day. It rs so old that it
extends back to the republican days
of Rome and inspired the voters Of
that ancient government then Just as
It should now inspire those OF every
country this twentieth century.
''Vox populi, vox ded," the Latins
put it and modern America translates
it, whether by heart or brain. The
voice Of the people is the voice OF
God" The days OF the political boss
are numbered and the will OF the peo-
pie in the control OF parties, in plat
form utterances and in the selection
OF Official Representatives grows
stronger every day and receives ap-
prevail from sources as powerful as
they were unexpected.
That the recent session OF congress
its default on the tacit promise of
downward tariff revision and faith
lessness to the people Of the country
has alienated thousands upon thou
sands Of republicans and sent them in
search of more honest Representatives
in the democratic ranks should not be
a surprise to those who have noted
the internal dissensions within the
forces OF the Grand Old Party" which
have been fermenting during the past
two or three years. That one Of the
Insurgents, republican in name, but
in rank rebellion against the tenets
best cherished by that party, should
receive democratic support in some of
the states-nay in any OF them-is
quite as logical.
So the announcement Of Represent
ative Norris, of Nebraska, seems as
reasonable to The Journal as it does
TO the Lincoln newspaper bearing our
name. Mr.. Norris declared:
II I, for accepting help from the II
best OF the democrats, am not a re-
publican, then what is Cannon, who
sought the help of the worst of the i
democrats?
And, commenting upon this, The |
Lincoln Journal takes this firm stand: |
There may be states where some
onnipotent soul can issue and with
draw party credentials-but Nebraska |
has adopted the public ownership OF |
parties. Under the system OF direct
nominations the people in the party, |
not those on II, determine what the |
parry shall be and who is At to lead. |
To them a dictum from Speaker Can
chance at things they generally do |
much futile wind.
And we are glad to quote the Mo
bile Register which agrees with the
Lincoln paper and amplifles on It's |
reasoning in the following apt express
sion;
Public ownership OF the parties" is |
= statement OF the case which puts
the exact meaning in the briefest
space The direct primary, taking the
place Of the old convention plan, has
placed the party in the hands Of the
people as closely as conditions may
allow at present. The plan has not
yet been perfected. but time will show
the mistakes: they will be corrected,
and the people will draw closer ana
closer TO a strict ownership Of the
parties When the entire people get a
chance at things they generally do
right.
There is profound philosophy in the
closing sentence. The chance" is
what is needed. It has been the de
p1ivation OF this chance" which in
byeone times has irritated the people
and led 60 the great political TRACE
dies cf history when the voice of
God" suppressed but not conquered.
silent, yet omnipotent, has demanded
a living sacrifice from those who have
betrayed it and for a while imprisoned
It. In free America there will be no
need for physical force or carnage.
The voice OF the people" is peaceful
bIt it vibrates with gathering forcel
and it decrees that the public shall
own the parties-not Cannon. or al
Murphy, or any boss in Christendom.