The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-03-21

lesle dati tonight SSlldtOt ANoSSit -
owen. Of Oklahoma, pointing out the
citation between the initiative and refer
ndum and the political and physical
ealth OF the nation. declared the gov
rnment could never control the trusts
long as the trusts controlled the gov
eminent.
'eThe political health Of the nation is
distinctly bad in many Of the States
where corrupt machine politics. operat-
ng as an agent OF selfish interests, both
political and commercial. has obtained
control OF party government. nominating
machine men committed 20 selfish in
crest at the precinct. in county conven-
lions. and in State conventions. nomi-
hating officials. from constable TO gov
srnor. by machine methods he said.
THE people appear to rule through
,arty machinery, but do not rule in fact,
because the party machinery is in the
bands Of corrupt machine men, controlled
n the interest of the few and against
he interest of the many. The remedy
S to restore popular government and to
overthrow machine government, and the
initiative and referendum is the open
Aeor by which this can be done. by which
has been gloriously done in Oregon.
Needed Laws Prevented.
81 Machine control OF party government,
<Inong other evil results. makes impossi-
The passage OF laws needed for the
4 OBJECTION Of the physical health OF the
alton, Notwithstanding the urgent de-
and Of the people. expressed through
iedical and sanitary associations from
le Atlantic to the Pacific for twenty
ears
The physical health Of the nation de-
ends upon the prevention of epidemics,
,pon purity of water supply. upon clean
Dir. pure foods, sanitary conditions. rea-
.onable hours of labor. protection Of
|hildren and infancy from exposure. The
people of the United States lose 100000
ersons annually from preventable |
auses- These lives could be saved by
ocd laws; they are lost because Of bad
avs.
I wish to point out TO you the relation
between the Initiative and referendum
md the political and physical health of
he nation.
The political health OF the nation and
he physical health of the nation cannot
'e raised to its highest efficiency until
he people Of the nation and Of each State
n reality and In sober truth actually
control their own government. So long
IS machine politicians make the nomlna-
ions for both parties. patriotic citizens |
'egister their votes for such nominees in |
rain. They have only a choice of evils. |
The doctrine OF Boss Tweed. in New /
FORK, might be expressed in these words:
Let me select the candidates. care not |
Who elects. Selection is more vital than
lection.
Results 90 Be Expected,
when the insurance companies and the /
igantc corporations raise millions Of /
money to corruptly influence the cleo
ions; when they use the huge strength |
f financial authority, with its far-reach-
ng power, to affect votes in an intensely |
nation. you may expect while
machine methods prevail that the nomi- |
lations In both parties will be favorable /
o the selfish commercial interests, and /
hat such interests will exercise corrupt /
nd sinister influence over those chosen |
D administer government in the legisla-
i've, executive, and judicial branches OF |
he government.
The initiative means that a small per.
entage OF the voters, usually 8 per cent,
an initiate any law they please. and re-
Iuire it to be submitted at the next regu-
ar election for vote OF the people Of
he whole State for their acceptance or
by the initiative. the people Of New
FORK State might initiate a mandatory.
lireet primary law, a corrupt practices
let, and compel a vote in spite of the
allure Of a legislature to pass such a law
Is the people wanted.
I'VE do not need the present exposures
It Albany as evidence Of what II means
Everybody knows who is not imbecile
we do not need Tom PlatFs alleged
contribution Of $4,000 TO the Harrison
ampaign as evidence. nor did we need
he exposure OF the insurance. comnan{es
y Gov. Hughes to tell US what this
-rossly corrupt system means. We all
now.
There is no intelligent man in the
ountry who does not know enough Of
he evils OF machine politics to agree
hat the time has come In the United
-ates for the correction of these evils
both parties and to restore to the
,ople of this country the right to d.
i,ctly nominate their own political serv-
ats by direct primary the right 10
itiate their own laws by the initiative
etition. and the right of veto of any
ct OF their servants in the legislature
( the referendum.
Curb for Undesirable Laws.
THE referendum provides that when
be legislature passes an act not accent
bic to the people OF the State q peti-
on within ninety days after the pas-
age Of the act, signed by 5 per cent of
be voters. will operate to suspend the
wv until the next regular election. at
hitch the people VIII vote upon the law,
neither it shall become a statute or
neither it shall not. Is it possible that
ny man or sound mind and good char
cter will say that 100 men In the legis-
lture shall pass an act and make 1t eff
,ctivs over the people Of the state
5ainst the direct vote OF 100000 menP
he right OF the people 10 veto an act
legislature by the referendum is as
f-evident as my right to veto the act
my servant. who proposes to commit
TO an offensive proposition. The
j sricans are stlll a free people-in
DRY. at least.
In Oregon. II they pass a law the
pie don't want, the people veto 1t ,
ough the use Of the referendum. This
TEN Of government is called the Peo-
5 Rule; and what citizen, when he
ierstands 1t. viii vote against the =,