The independent-reporter., 1909-12-09
Don't Be Fooled

When the people of Maine were
about to vote on the Initiative and
Referendum, Hon. Fred Allen of San
ford and others from the vicinity OF
Cumberland undertook the task of des
feating the proposition at the eleventh
hour. The mass of literature which
Mr.. Allen and his lieutenants sent out
over Maine, in which those who ad-
vocated direct legislation were char
acterized as sore-heads, cranks, etc,
was not of a very elevating character
and won no friends for the self
appointed guardians of the people OF
Maine.
We state the above facts simply by
way of illustration. Whenever any
popular matter Is In the process OF
adoption by the people of any section,
and particularly when the measure
puts in jeopardy the old machine
there are ever to be found those who,
from one motive and another, seek to
discredit it and to battle the political
ly unskilled.
Reports are now being circulated
that Kansas has been fooled In the
adoption of the direct primary cleo
ton law, something that Maine, soon
er or later, will be called to pass
upon. Edwin Taylor of Kansas has
contributed the following to the Rural
New Yorker and this should tend to set
the people on their guard against the
false reports:
My entire concern in politics Is
that of most farmers, viz, desire
to have good laws on the statute book
and good men In office. In both
these particulars the primary cleo
ton law Is great help. New York.
at this distance, judging from what Its
great dailies say of it.. appears to be
under the joint control of its profess
sional politicians and its political
corporations, the same as Kansas
used to be. For many years they
hunted together here, dividing the
spoils of the political chase; one got
the offices, the other got a free hand.
At last came a revolt that carried into
power reform legislature, which
gave us an anti-pass law, law re-
ducing railroad fares to two cents per
mile, and most important of all, pri-
mary election law We have had OPP
portunity to use that recent enact
ment In but one campaign. 1t result
ed In the nomination of w. r. Stubbs
for governor. He was subsequently
elected. | think no one would claim
that Stubbs could have secured that
nomination in a convention of his
party (Republican.) 1t also resulted
in the nomination of J. l.. Bristow for
United States Senator subsequently
elected) Both these nominations
were opposed by the machine" and
the corporations, In a campaign that
stirred the State, and 1t was the farm
ers who brought them safely through.
The following named are against the
primary election law: The under
world; the liquor interests; machine
politicians; the political railroads,
street car companies, water works
companies and the like; the political
banks and insurance companies; and
all the crowd who want to buy or
sell votes.
The primary election law puts big
and little on an equality politically
each voter has an equal voice In the
selection Of candidates. Farmers.
mechanics, business and professional
men, clerks and day laborers, are not
"in politics." as the phrase goes, and
when 1t comes to making nominations
under the old system, they are no
match for the professionals OF the
State House and the various court
house and city hall rings" but they
make their nominations in the secre-
cy of the voting booth. Under the
new system there Ia no caucus with
its tricks and trades to battle the poll
tically unskilled. no delegate to sell
them out, no buffer of any sort to
stand between them and the express
sion Of their desires at the polls.
Look out for report that Kansas
has been "stung." Don't believe it.
The interests" and the machine"
have been stung, but the cause of
good government in Kansas has been
helped.
This will give different meaning
to the reports that are now being
circulated in the partisan press of the
country.