Omaha daily bee., 1910-07-20
Is This Treasonl


A letter written by former United
States Senator William V. Allen has
been given publicity which would indi-
cate that the great leader of the pop
ulist party Of it's palmy days is in
sharp disagreement with william ].
Bryan, who is trying to make new
populist party out OF the democracy.
The pith Of the Allen statement Is to
DO found in the concluding para
graphs, which are herewith repro
duced:
While I have always yielded assent to
the doctrine of the initiative and refer
endum 1 have never regarded It as a
pahaoea for political evils. readily
recognize the benefit to be derived from its
adoption and enforcement in municipalities,
but in state and national affairs, it seems
to me, it will be so cumbersome and expen-
sive as to be practically worthless In
fact the expense OF Its enforcement will be
so enormous, that by comparison the bur-
dens OF the tariff will be as light as a
feather Besides IL win rob our legislator
OF that independence Of judgment and
character which must always characterize
competent and efficient officers.
The so-called recall is entirely visionary
and wholly impracticable, and know OF no
man whose judgment Is worth following,
OF any political party that appeals to pub
lie. approval. that is in favor Of It.
In my judgment serious mistake was
made by all political parties in adopting
what is called the primary nominating
Ia Of
individual interest that must always be
taken in the affairs OF the state and ma
ton to make the enactment Of laws and
their administration effective. While II
may be true that nominating convention
is' attended by some evils, 1t is likewise
true that those evils are due to the in.
attention OF the people. The people can
IL they will, control any convention, anc
experience shows that they are more neg
lectful OF the so-called primary electior
| than Of the convention. II the people viii
not interest themselves in the affairs o.
tho government to the extent OF leaving
their fields, offices and shops a sufficient
length OF time tc discharge their politlca
duties. evil consequences must follow as Z
result. So that vice is not In the con
vention system, which has many commend
able features. such as profitable inter
change Of IDEAS among its members, but II
the failure Of individuals to devote prope
attention to public affairs.
The so-ealled Oregon plan of electlnl
United States senators is a fiat violation
of the letter and spirit OF the constitution
of the United States. and is bound to re
suit In evil consequences, the result o
which cannot be foreseen.
1t was the judgment OF the constitutions
| convention over which Washington pre-
sided that the federal features OF our gov
! eminent constituted the foundation of tn
governmental structure. These feature
comprise the present constitutional metho
OF oleoting United States senator's, tn
method Of selecting the federal judiciary
These are three indispensable elements o
stability, no one OF which can be remove
j with safety to the political edifice
feel deeply that we are entering upo
a period of dangerous fads of dangerou
experimentation. That true security an
safety are to be found in a speedy retur
and rigid adherence to those primar
principles OF government that have guide
us for more than a century and a quartz
Of national existence, do not permit my
self to doubt.
Without commenting fayorably @
unfavorably upon ex-senator Allen
views, We submit that they will bea
careful reading and rereading.