The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1910-04-08

mas caused no little comment IN con
seryatiYe Washington. Old timers re
: gard the action as revolutionary and
such men as Senators Hale. Lodge
remain dumfounded at the wonderful
political changes that have swept in
upon the conservative east, OF late.
Massachusetts is the second state
in New England to acknowledge the
Ipractieability of the initiative and ref.
, erendum. Maine was the first, de.
, spite the protestations of Senator Hale
; History repeated itself when Senator
! Lodge threw himself into the breach
In Massachusetts He. like Hale, was
ignored and there is now talk Of dem.
onstrating the efficacy of the law by
initiating the Goldfish senator.
The common sense of the initiative
and referendum is aptly expressed by
Senator Owen who has prepared the
following article upon the necessity
OF this particular piece OF legislation:
"a nation is in condition OF good
political health when it's representa-
ltiyes are the free choice of the peo-
pie and represent the best ideals OF
the people in the legislative, executive
and judicial departments of the gov
ernment.
The people appear TO rule through
party machinery, but do not rule In
fact because the party machinery is
In the hands of corrupt machine men,
controlled in the interest of the few
and against the interest of the many.
The remedy is to restore popular
government and to overthrow machine
government, and the initiative and
referendum is the open door by which
this can be done, by which it has been
gloriously done in Oregon.
The United States loses 100000 peo-
pie annually from preventable causes.
These lives could be saved by good
laws; they are lost because Of bad
laws.
Petitions and prayers and demands
have gone up to congress and have |
remained unheeded, unobseryed, I'M
cared for, because the members OF l
the house and senate are three de-
grees removed from the people under a
the convention machinery Of party
government !
So long as machine politicians make g
the nominations for both parties, pa a
triotlc citizens register their votes for [
such nominees in vain. They have
only choice OF evils. The doctrine
Of Boss Tweed in New York might be c
expressed in these words. let me Sc /,
Iect the candidates. care not who /,
elects Selection is more vital than e
election. IN
In vain the people demand election q
If senators by direct vote in vain do r,
he people elamor for an abatement of
'ne.man power in the house of repre- n
in vain do they seek pub Il
icity Of campaign contributions; in a.
'ain do they demand laws forbiddlng D,
orrupt practices and other reforms a
i government. lin vain do they de. Il
nand control Of monopoly. reduction n
4 tariff. and lower prices. The peo. Il
lie are appealing TO the nominees OF Al
machine politics committed against W
hem. o
The initiative means a small per. nj
entase OF the voters, usually per re
ent, can initiate any law they please 81
nd require It to be submitted al the Al
ext regular election for vote of qu
he people OF the whole state for their pr
eeeptance or rejection. At,
By the initiative the people Of New
'ork state might initiate a mandatory -
irect primary law. a corrupt prac. =
ces act and compel q vote IN spite i
the failure OF a legislature to pass -
leb law as the people wanted -.
A mandatory direct primary puts IN -
ie hands Of the members Of eacb par. :. =
7 the direct power to nominate their -
wn candidates. -
The nomination Of machine men Is
1surdly easy. It is done BY the con.
sntion system Toe
4 state convention Is called TO nom ca
ate a democratic or republican can. COZ
date for governor. The state chair. iiti
an issues the call announcing that
lch county Is entitled to so many hig
alegates the county delegates 10 be eyi
ected by county convention. the the
lunty convention to be composed of swl
'legates selected at the precinct. itai
The precinct has a machine man or IN
q who controls the local patronage OF
ID has some local advantages d Yol
e precinct boss He calls a precinct 7
Getting on short notice, obscure ad. tina
rtisement at an ineonvenient place an
rhaps a small room over a saloon pur
eks the meeting with his own to
nchmen; has a cut and dried pro. fec
ammo The fnaaffua g..sar.. Al.