The Greeley tribune., 1910-09-22
PARTY FEALTY AND PRoGRES-
SION


sounded in far away Maine the other
day when for the first time since the
civil war that state left the repupii-
can ranks, has made more than an
ordinary impression on students OF
politics the country over ana there
is generally recognized in the ACTON
of the people of Maine, an indicanoh
of the very obvious fact that there is
due in the country at some not dis
tant time, political revolution.
Maine has long been considered
the political barometer of the coun-
try. LAS goes Maine. so goes the
nation, and Maine has gone demo-
cratic.
And the forerunners of the politi-
cal upheavel are to be found not
alone outside the ranks of repuoil-
canism but in the very strongholds
of that party.
Insurgency is rife. There is de-
mand for new things. The old form
suited ancient conditions. new laws
must be framed to meet the demands
of a later era, to answer the prayers
which have long been made by the
people.
The demand for popular voice
in the government is making itself
felt. Adherents to the old form OF
things are still clinging to the i'm
possible conditions of past age in
both democratic and republican
ranks, those standing for progress
i,;, CT of
the times and who are not attempt
ing to stand in the way OF the ir-
ristible tide which must by its very
nature forever impel the nation for
ward. have greeted the new order
with open arms and are doing what
they may to urge onward the cause.
insurgency has broken out in the
democratic and republican ranks. In
this state we see the platform
democrats demanding continua-
tion of the peoples reforms and we
see them successful.
There is one all inclusive reason
why the power of legislation should
be given into the hands of the people
of the state and taken away from
lHe pTCtcSSiUndl pOilliCidu
1t lies in the fact that in the mind
of the ordinary citizen of the world
there is one question. what is the
best course for the state as a whole,
therefore for me: while the profess
sional politician asks only. what will
best preserve my power? The peo-
pie are the nation. and the individ-
~f no
work for the best interests Of the
nation.
The enactment OF the direct pri-
mary, the initiative and the referen-
dunn and the recall, all make for po-
litical progression, for the returning
of the power to the people. They
make in no less a degree for the
passing of the professional politi-
clan whether he be republican or
democrat; they are the signal for
the downfall of special privilege.
When. under the referendum. the
vote of Citizen John Smith counts
for as much as Senator - where
is the railroad corporation which
will try to get special favors by Civ
ing a majority of the citizens of
Weld county passes on the roads for
individual votes?
Where is the Guggenheim who
could buy his way to the United
States senate. forever shaming the
state he represents. were he elected
by the people?
The people may be trusted to the
end. Lincoln and Jefferson trusted
them, Disraeli found them unfaifing,
Modern Switzerland. the great ex-
ample of the working of the reforms
which the people of this state are
demanding, is governed by the peo-
pie.
No less an authoriy than James
Bryce, states in his American Com
monwealth, that one of the greatest
vices in American government is
"bossism"
And the reforms which the peo
pie are demanding and which are
being given by this session Of the
legislature are agents tending to de
away with this "bossism'.
In our own country, California IL
a living example Of the downfall o
the professional politician. In thu
old days, when the people had nj
voice in the government, when tn
initiative. the referendum and tn
recall were unknown. the Southern
Pacific agents were conspicuous a
every legislative meeting. Nov
where the final voice is with the pee
pie. the whips of the corporatio
are absent from the state house.
For there is nothing left for ther
to gain. Where every law must b
referred back to the people for fin,
action by popular vote. 1T wei