The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-07-17

S per cent of the voters OF his state deem
the same worthy of submission 10 pop
ular vote. The referendum prevents mis-
use Of the power temporarily centralized
In the legislature.
Suppress Machine Politics.
THE corrupt practices act. which is
necessary as a complement 10 the militia
tive and referendum and the direct pri-
mary. for, without the corrupt practices
act. these other features Of popular gov
eminent could be abused. The publicity
pamphlet, provided for by the corrupt
practices act. affords ali candidates for
nomination or election equal means OF
presenting before the voter their views
upon public questions, and protects the
honest candidate against the misuse of
money in political campaigns. Under the
operation of this law popular verdicts
viii be based upon ideas. not money; ar
gument. not abuse; principles, not boss or
machine dictation.
THE recall which is rather an adj
monitory or precautionary measure, the
existence OF which win prevent the neces-
slty for its use. At rare intervals there
may be occasion for exercise of the re-
call against municipal or county officers,
but I believe the tact of It's existence
will prevent need for its use against the
higher officials, It is, however, an es-
sential feature OF complete system OF
popular government.
Under the machine and political boss
system the confidence Of sincere partisans
Is often betrayed by recreant leaders IN
political contests, and by public servants
who recognize the irresponsible machine
instead Of the electorate as the source
Of power To which they are responsible.
If the enforcement of the Oregon laws
viii right these wrongs, then they were
conceived in wisdom and born IN justice
to the people, in justice TO the public
servant, and in justice to the partisan.
Sovereign Citizenship.
PLAINLY stated. the aim and purpose OF
the laws is TO destroy the irresponsible
machine and to put ali elective Offices
| in the State in direct touch with the
people as the real source of authority
in short, TO give direct and full force to
the ballot OF every individual elector In
Oregon and to eliminate dominance Of
corporate and corrupt influences in the
administration of public affairs. The
Oregon laws mark the course that must
he pursued before wrongful use of cor
pOrate power can be dethroned, the peo-
pie restored to power, and lasting reform
secured. They insure absolute govern
ment BY the people.
Electors who believe in the validity
and Importance of their sovereign citi-
zenship in their own intelligence, and in
their own capacity to think and act for
themselves politically, should study these
Oregon laws, and In their respective
States and communities should work for
the adoption Of similar laws. should ques-
ton all candidates for elective offices as
to their attitude upon these measures;
support only such candidates as pledge
themselves to work diligently for rhe
adoption Of similar laws. and defeat can
didates declining TO make such public
declarations
PIutOcratic DespOtism or Socialism.
Senator Bourne SAYS there is impend-
ing to-day a great conflict In America.
as elsewhere. involving a pIutocratic des-
potism on the one side and the triumph Of
socialism on the other, due 10 the usur-
patton of police power by capital on this
point he says:
But search through our great charter
OF national government for any adequate
restraint upon the usurpation of police
power by the Industrial force OF society,
and the search is vain. Since the de-
thronement OF the industrialism OF chat
tel slavery by the war. it is again in
the saddle In another form. and in con-
sequence there is to-day impending
great conflict in America, as elsewhere.
between the two factions. or difTerentia-
tons. of this force. capital and labor. in
which popular sovereignty is again 10 be
tried out. Like the ivy covering a great
tree, plutocracy is choking the very life
out of our boosted constitutional gov
eminent. It could not be otherwise. II
is perfectly logical sequence of every
system OF government, the construction
Of which permits OF the usurpation by
direct means of the functions of police
power by the organized forces of either
religion or industry. The organized
40 N~S " ACAiSAo4i are tHECIlNcIY ana I0r
ever excluded by the first amendment 10
our Constitution from acquiring police
power.
Usurpation of Police Power.
But the impending struggle in America
sufficiently attests the usurpation of
police power by capital. and If permitted
TO proceed on its present lines can emu
in but one Of two results-in the estab-
hshment of a piutocratic despotism or
in the triumph of socialism. with the
chances decidedly in favor of the former.
In our HamiltOnian constitution IN
amended. undisturbed. there Is no es-
cape, because its admirable system of
checks and balances has intrenched the
usurper. as it was intended to intrench
the government, almost beyond the reach
of the electorate. as attested by the i'm
potency OF the Interstate Commerce Com
mission, the impotency OF the courts. and
of an impotent but willing executive to
reach in any lawful manner the male
factors OF great wealth, or to secure
from Congress adequate legislation to
dethrone the interests The people know