The Washington herald., 1910-08-31


the COuntry-Big ana Growing Issue
that OGerE Solution of Problems.
Hon. Robert owen. United States Sen
ator from Oklahoma. who was In Wash
ington yesterday, Is one of tho fore
most champions Of popular government
He declares that this is the real issue
before the country to-day and in it will
be found the solution OF other problems.
He lauded Roosevelt for what he had
done to promote the issue.
L was greatly delighted" said Senator
owen. with the editorial to-day in The
washington Herald on 'Bossism Doomed.
especially the unequivocal declaration in
favor of popular government Every evil
OF government from which the people
have suffered. especially the high prices
in the cost OF living. is directly due TO
machine politics. the chief agency by
which monopoly has established itself
under the shelter Of law and immunity
from law
Roosevelt regardless OF whether he has
been the beneficiary OF machine politics
heretofore or not. is doing a substantial
service now in standing for the direct pri-
mary in New York and against the
bossism that rules both parties in that
state. His great popularity and high po-
sition enable him to call the attention
OF the country 10 this grave fundamental
evil in the government OF the American
Republic
QuOtes Bryce's commonwealth"
Nobody has put this evil more tersely
than Ambassador Bryce in the "Ameri-
can Commonwealth" volume 2, page 1860.
describing the party machine system with
its hierOCracy OF organizations He pic
lures the machine, points out what
the machine has to do. and how the
machine works His summary IS as fol-
lows:
Observing the form Of consulting the
voters, It substantially ignores them. and
forces on them persons whom they do
not know. and would dislike II they
knew them. II substitutes for the party
voters generally a small number Of pro-
fessionals and their creatures. extracts
prearranged nominations from packed
meetings, and calls this consulting the
pleasure OF the sovereign people >
Thus the machine works on. and grlnds
out places. power, and opportunities for
Illicit gain to those who manage it
Tariff and Monopoly.
The Republican national machine Is
ruled by the special interests at the
head Of which is the greatest political
trade combination in the world, known
as the Protective Tariff League. II has
written the tariff law under the pre-
tense Of protecting the American manu-
facturer and working man, but has. in
reality. successfully -contrived TO exclude
ali foreign competition. and then. by
combinations and trusts at home. killed
home competition and established a tri-
umphant monopoly in every one OF the
great necessaries of life. except local
fresh vegetables, which are too perish
able for organization
These monopolies have increased the
cost Of living in the United States 30 per
cent higher than in England, France,
and Germany, Notwithstanding the fact
that monopolies. even in those countries,
nave created an artificial profit higher
than would prevail IN a market where
the ancient common law competition
alone prevailed
EnrlchinE the Few.
THE result Of this monopoly is obvious.
These unfair profits are making the few
enormously rich. 'Moody'S Manual shows
over $4,000 100000 Of stocks and bonds ac-
tually listed in these corporations. while
the total national wealth does not greatly
exceed 500 Oo,e0O,Oco, counting as wealth
the land and real estate values. which
are created by human hands except in
limited degree. Muionaires and mulu-miIl
ionaires greatly multiply
THE frightful antlthesis Of this wealth
in the hands Of the few are white women
bought and sold in the market as a re-
suit of helpless poverty and despair
Ten millions Of human beings are sub
merged in AFFECT poverty, helpless ant
well-nigh hopeless. while gigantic cor
porations preach the devilish doctrine OF
overproduction OF things men need to eat
/ and wear. on this policy Of Satan they
l NANrt AoNADlg hUDlE anu AAlu human De
/ ings, who are willing 10 work out OF
! doors 10 compete with others equally help
| less. The trusts control the government
through the machine politicians. who's,
/ campaigns they finance and to whose per
sonaI fortunes they contribute. The PEG
| pie cannot control the trusts by govern
ment so long as the trusts control IN,
government.
Peoples Rule the Remedy.
"Bossism and machine politics must end
and the rule Of the people be established
How shall you do It? The answer is easy
/ The Code Of the Peoples Rule gives tn,
very language Of the states which ar,
needed and the precise method by which
these statutes can be conveniently an,
quickly established-to-wit: Question tn
candidates on the peoples rule. VIII yor
support It II elected or will you not?
THE right of direct legislation through
the initiative and referendum is the frs
statute 10 pass-the right Of the people
regardless of the bosses. and of poiitica
machines. or of the special interests. o
Of the crooks in the governing business
to initiate by petition a law which the
do want and to veto by referendum il
I like manner, a law they don't want TIL
I people pay the bills They suffer the con
sequences. Their right Of sovereignty I
admitted. but their exercises Of that RICH
IS thwarted by machine politics and b.
its corrupt allies.
! Jonathan Bourne. in his wonderful
speech on the oregon system. explain