The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1910-10-29
SAYS He FELT
PULSE OF NATION
Clifford PirChot Gives His
Views of Situation.
OPINIONS OF THE VOTERS

Former Chief Forester Outlines What
He Regards as Composite Platform
Of the People of All Sections of the
Country-Says Progressive Ideas
Are Growing; Also Lack of Conf.
dence in Congress.
Detroit, Oct. 29.-Speaking at a
luncheon rendered him by the board
of commerce of this city Clifford Pin.
chot, former chief forester of the Unit.
ed States, summarized his opinion OF
the general political sentiment Of the
country as he has found it in the
course of his almost continuous trav.
cling since early in the summer.
Progressive views have obtained {
strong grip on the voters of all parties
according to Mr.. Pinchot. Sentiment
against legislation designed to benefit
special interests is growing and he
had, he said, noticed strong hostility
against the Payne-Aldrich tariff law
and a growing loss of confidence in
congress, which seems to be regarded
as not representing those who elected
it but rather the interests. In sum
ming up, he said:
IF we could hear the voice of all
the people upon some current issues.
it would, think, declare itself in sub.
stance as follows:
Il believe the people should directly
nominate, elect, control, and recall
their own legislative representatives.
Il believe in publicity of campaign
contributions and expenses both be-
fore and after election and in strictly
limiting by law the amount that may
be spent and the manner of spending
it.
Il believe that it should be unlaw.
full for any lawmaker or other public
servant to be employed by or to re.
receive compensation from any inter
state or public service corporation, or
for any public servant appointed and
not elected to office to be an officer in
any political party or organization, or
to attend any political convention.
Would Register Lobbyists.
Il believe it should be unlawful for
any lobbyist or other representative
of any interest to advocate or oppose
any measure to any legislator or leg
iSlative committee without first pub
licly registering his name, the nature
of his compensation and the name of
his employer.
II believe that the most pressing
patriotic duty of today is to revive
popular government by driving the
special interests out of politics and
that complete publicity of all the af-
fairs of every interstate and public
service corporation is necessary to
that end.
Il believe that corporations have
certain rights that should be respect
ed, but they have no political rights,
powers or duties, and they should
have no representatives in congress,
in the cabinet or on the bench.
81 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.
81 believe that our laws and insti-
tutions shorld be planned, made and
changed solely as the necessities, ad-
vantages and diff culties of the people
require and not Tor the benefit of the
special interests.
Il believe that presidents, cabinets,
lawmakers, officials and judges are all
servants of the people; that they hold
office for the benefit of no special
class or political party, but solely for
the benefit of the people; and that
they may justly be held responsible
by the people for what they do