The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1910-12-15
ALWAYS TRUST THE
PEOPLE,.

The last election was perfect
demonstration of the fact that the
people trust the Jeffersonian theory
of government to that of Hamilton.
jefferson would trust the people and
put the government in their hands.
Hamilton disturbed the people and
tried to place the powers of govern
ment as far away from them as pos
sible. In great measure Hamilton
had his way Under the system that
was adopted the people had direct
vote in choosing only one-half OF one
of the three departm entS OF govern
ment-that of legislative. They could
vote directly for members of the
house of representatives. The cleo
ton of senators was taken entirely
out of the hands of the people and
placed in legislatures. AS planned by
Hamilton in the election Of president
the people had no part, or so small
part that it was of no practical value.
The president was to be chosen by an
electoral college without any inter-
ference of the people. AS for the
judicial department, that was put en-
tirely beyond the reach of the peO-
pie in any way. The judges were to
be appointed for life by president
chosen by an electoral college. The
only change in that form of Hamil-
tonian government that has been
made was when the people found
the way to elect president by a
direct vote without waiting for a
constitutional amendment.
Now see what the people did on
every question where they had
s'direct vote" They looked upon
Cannon and Aldich as the leaders of
a scheme to impose tariff for the
benefit of trusts and to increase the
swollen fortunes of manufacturers.
They drove almost every leader in
that scheme out of political life
while Cannon and some others were
only saved by greatly reduced ma
jorities With unerring accuracy
. the people picked out the Cannon
followers-the men whom he had
placed at the head of committees
and discharged them.
They drove from the public SER
vice D. S. Alexander, chairman of
the committee on rivers and har-
bors; Richard Wayne Parker of New
Jersey. chairman Of the judiciary
committee; Charles F. Scott, chair
man of the agricultural committee;
James A. Tawney, of Minnesota,
chairman of the committee on APP
preparations; James M. Miller, of
Kansas, chairman of the committee
on elections; Henry S. Boutell, chair
man of the committee on expendi-
lures of the navy department; John
A. T. Hull, chairman of the COM
mittee on military affairs; Charles
B. Law, chairman Of the committee
on war claims; Joseph H. Gains, OF
West Virginia, chairman of the COM
mittee on the election of represent
tatives; William A. Reeder, OF Kan
sas, chairman of the committee on
irrigation; Benjamin F. Howell, of
New Jersey, chairman of the commit
tee on immigration; Don C. Edwards,
of Kentucky, chairman of the COM
mittee on expenditures in the state
department; Irving P. Wagner, of
Pennsylvania, chairman OF the COM
mittee on expenditures in the post
Office department, and William H.
Graham, of Pennsylvania, chairman
of the committee on expenditures in
the agricultural department.
Others, who had for years been
elected by overwhelming majOrities,
escaped, as it were, by the skin of
their teeth, among them Payne, Dali
yell, Mann and Smith of Iowa. The
Jeffersonian theory of government is
right. The people can be trusted
st. Joe Observer.