The Calumet news., 1910-10-28
Ex-Chief Forester Addresses De-
troit Board Of Commerce on
His Estimate of Public
Sentiment
CREDIT TO TIE PROCRtSSlvfS
Sums Up What He Has Found to Be
the Voice Of the People in Impor-
tant Matters Affecting the
Common Wcal.

! Detroit, Mich, oct. 2S.-Gifford
Pinchot delivered an address this af-
ternoon at u luncheon of the board of
commerce. Pinchot said i'm part:
Since early in June | have been trav-
cling almost continuously and have
had fair chance TO come in contact
with and estimate public sentiment i'm
all the great divisions Of our country.
Using the information thus secured
| from contact with men of many oc-
cupations and varieties of political be-
lief in many localities. | have tried to
write down an estimate of the com
positc opinion of the voters of all
parties i'm the East. the South, and
Mississippi Valley, and the Pacific
Coast on certain public questions.
What J have written makes no pre-
tense to be complete. And the task
is not without difficulty. Opinions
fiercely held i'm some parts of the
country in others have not yet risen
10 the surface as public issues. The
underlying fact, as | found it every
where. was deep seated powerful in
dignation over tho inequality Of op-
portunity everywhere known to exist
and the firm determination to put an
end to II somehow. and that soon.
The Voice Of the People.
IL we could hear the voice of all the
people upon some current issues. 1t
would l think, declare itself in sub
stance as follows:
/ believe the people should directly
nominate, elect, control, and recall
their own legislative representatives.
bcliece i'm publicity of campaign
contributions ana expenses both before
and after election. and i'm strictly linn
iting by law the amount that may be
spent and the manner of spending 1t.
| | believe that it should be unlawful
for any lawma<er or other public SER
want to pe employed by or To receive
compensation from any interstate or
public service corporation, or for any
public servant appointed and not
elected to Office to be an officer I'm any
political party or organization, or 20
attend any political convention.
| believe it should be unlawful for
any lobbyist or other representative
of any interest to advocate or oppose
any measure To any legislator or legis-
lative committee without first public
w registering his name. the nature of
his compensation. and the name of
his employer
| believe that the most pressing pa
\ A. ,,r to To,
ular government by driving the special
interests out of politics. and that com
plete publicity of all the affairs OF
every interstate and public service
corporation is necessary to that end.
believe that corporations have GER
tain rights that should he respected,
but they have no political rights, pow
ers. or duties, and they should have
no representatives in Congress- in the
Cabinet, or on the Bench.
believe that the special interests,
through their control of politics and
business, and principally by means of
the tariff. are mainly responsible for
the exorbitant cost of living.
| believe that the Payne-Aldrich
tariff was made by the servants of
special privilege for the benefit and
, according to the orders of their mas
ters. and that when Congress and the
president enacted and approved It,
over the just protest of the Progress
ives. they broke faith with the people.
Proeressives Given Credit
| believe that the credit for good
laws recently passed I'm Congress be-
longs to the Progressivcs of both par
ties, Who amended bad bills in the
public interest, rather than to the ad-
ministration which drafted and ad-
vocated the bad bills. -
believe that the old party ties are
Slipping off; that the Progressives in
both parties are the true representa-
tives OF their parties and of the peo-
ple: and that the public welfare has
become n stronger motive with the
people than partizan success.
| believe that the people have lost
confidence in Congress, because Con
gress as a whole no longer represent.
the people who elect it, but the specia
interests who control it,
believe that Cannon and Aldrich
and all they represent, are passins
rapidly away. and that a better tim,
is coming. when the people will con.
troll.
believe the people must protec
themselves against the special inter
ests i'm state and Nation alike; tina
they can best protect themselves b,
n
the power of the Nation against cor
porations operating across state lines
2 and that the great special INTEREST,"