The Paducah evening sun., 1910-09-29

ana means or putting INTO practice
the principles; 1t would seem that
the country is ready for rather less
than more party.
Nor does socialism offer any ra-
tional solution to difficulties which
confront and sometimes confound
the voter. Democracy is not
failure; but our party methods are
preventing us from realizing the
fullest measure of democracy, and
so. IL is more democracy we need,
not less of it--which is socialism.
Something is wrong. of course.
but when we all agree that certain
things are needed and should be had.
and when we find that, notwith-
standing We all agree. il makes no
difference whether Democrats or
Republicans are in power, the legis-
lative department of state and ma
tion are not responsive to concerted
popular demand, We should compre-
hend that the remedy is not more
parties but better control over those
We have.
In New York state the Republican
Legislative caucus agreed upon a
popular primary. the Republican
governor approved and the party
backed II up. Yet a little handful
| of ringsters. controlling less than a
dozen legislative votes, combined
with the Tammany Democratic rep
lresentatives and defeated the bill.
II required the combined prestige of
Theodore Roosevelt at the head OF
a majority of the party members
and the influence of the president of
the United States to force the state
convention to do what a majority of
the party, the convention was sup
posed to represent. wanted done,
and then 1t was actually necessary to
wrest the organization away from
the gang.
In Tennessee a majority Of the
Democratic party-think of the
righteousness of it-had to desert
their party in order to rid 1t of an
organization that they twice repudi-
ated at the polls. OF what advan-
tage would it be to form a third
party? Eventually the same element
would control.
The whole problem before this
country is to give the people con-
troll of the parties, a direct voice in
legislation and the authority to sum-
marily dismiss incompetent and un-
faithful officials. When these re-
forms are secured. all the others
worth while will follow. The way
these things are obtained is by
adopting the initiative and refer
endum and the recall. To talk of a
third party, of socialism, Of other
reforms until these are secured. is
waste of time and energy.
These ideas, let us understand.
are Democratic: these mean not
more control by the state over the
individual. which is socialistic. but
more control over the state by the
individuals. which is Democrats.
All this excitement. all this uncer-
tainty, all this lack of confidence in
officials and parties. is due to the
fact that the people have no voice
apparently in the government. their
wishes are not respected: neither
parties nor legislative assemblies are
responsive to their demands and
needs. and under the present system,
they have no recourse.
Given the popular primary at
which they select, not only candi- |
dates for public Office but COM
the initiative, so that
they may by popular vote instruct |
their legislators TO record their
will; the referendum, so that they
may by popular vote veto or approve
Or amend legislation; and the recall.
they may at any time COM
pell an unfaithful or incompetent
official to put the popularity Of his
TO the test of an cleo
ton: and you will hear no more Of
no more of a third party.
Then, no matter what party is in
power, il will be compelled to re-
spond to the will OF the people: for
hey can direct its policy or veto it,
md hold over the heads of officials
1T all time the authority that any
good business man holds over his
employees, the right to discharge
them at any time.