Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-31
Los ANGELES HERALD: SUNDAY MORNING. OCTOBER 81 1909
AMERICANISM

temporary, the Raclnc OUTLOOK,
hos analysed the new political align
ment that is coming into the country.
On one side will be ranged the believ-
ers in progressive" principles, with
the motto "A square deal for every
body" on the other, the reactionaries,
with the familiar query what is there
in It for us?" The progressive policy is
that with which readers of The Herald
are familiar under the name "Ameri-
canism," a name The Herald selected
because it means more than progress"
(Which 1t includes), and because it is
literally true the spirit which animates
the progressive thinkers and workers
is that which animated the American
fathers. 1t Is the spirit which seeks a
square deal for everybody, or, in other
words, which would illustrate the first
principles of Americanism by making
provision for SECURING the "great-
est good for the greatest number" If
the greatest number should be the
entire number, or everybody, so much
the better.
Americanism studies the general
good in which our friend specifically
includes low tariff on necessities. But
why should we not say NO TARIFF
ON NECESSITIES? Why tax neces-
stiles? 1t is not any more logical to
tax other necessities than 1t would be
to tax the indispensable necessity.
air. Under 1.-THE general good" are
also included justice to labor, anti
poverty laws, practical betterment,
conservation Of resources, regulation of
public utilities. income tax, control OF
railway rates, honest newspapers and
belief in the people.
For all of these objects or principles
The Herald stands, and for all of them
it has been fighting. and is fighting.
Child emancipation and education are
of vital Importance. Justice to labor,
of course, demands the abolition of
child-labor everywhere. 1t is a form
of cheap labor, and that is why it has
obtained a hold on the affections OF
many employers.
Three boys at S. a week apiece can
do the work of one man at $25. There's
a saving of $40 a week. And this illus
trates the reason why Americans who
believe in Americanism have had to
fight child-labor.
It is the very last condition a critic
who judged this country by its docu-
ments would expect to find here. If
Irox h 01y IF
republic he might guess many, but he
never would guess child-labor. To him
1t would be unthinkable in connection
with the principles and plan of the
United States.
A complete education for every child
in the country should be insisted upon
by the party which adopts American
ism. Ignorance is the mother of evils.
Well instructed children make we'll in
structed citizens. It is incredible citi-
zens well instructed in Americanism
could calmly accept the stone which
too often is handed to them when they
ask for bread. People actually do not
know their rights-some of them act
as if they had none-and, not knowing
their rights, they don't know how to
ask for them. That the square deal
for everybody" which was talked Of by
Colonel Roosevelt is Americanism
seems to be news to some people. But
the Declaration of Independence says
1--WE hold these truths to be SELF
EVIDENT, that all men are created
equal, that they are endowed by their
Creator with certain unalienable rights,
that among these are LIFE, LIBERTY
AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPI-
NESS. That TO SECURE THESE
RIGHTS governments are instituted
among men," Governmental guaran-
tee Of a square deal is therefore one
of the first principles of Americanism.
AS an important and indispensable
condition precedent to square dealing
we must have absolutely clean poll
tics" under which the Outlook groups
Democracy, principles before party,
men of character in office, merit sys-
tenn, direct legislation. direct primaries,
graft prosecution, anti-vice legislation,
future"-this latter, we presume, being
the outcome of clean politics.
In the "reactionary' program which
every newspaper devoted to American
ism must fight are special interests,
subdivided into tariff tax on necessi-
ties, free trade in labor, grabbing,
legal technicalities, corporation courts,
unlimited franchises, fake reforms,
alteration of wealth, anti-publicity
and subsidized newspapers.
An important adjunct of special in
terests is "the political machine"
which includes rigid partisanship, con-
tempt for the people, pliable men in
CAice, spoils system, graft excused, cor
rupt elections, railway legislatures,
protection Of vice, assistance to mo-
nopolies. political cynicism, business
before humanity"
Progressivists appeal to patriotism
intelligence and character, and would
see America become literally, in the
words of the grand old song, "the land
of the free and the home of the brave"
IN THE CAMPAIGN IN LOS AN
GELES THE ISSUE IS CLEARLY
DEFINED. is THIS CITY TO BE
PROGRESSIVE OR REACTIONARY?
Much has been accomplished for
good government. Can we afford at
this critical period of the history of
the city to risk losing anything that
has been gained by the strenuous pa
4,.;o+is,o of tho friends of good govern