The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-06-17

rant, has given expression to views upon a variety of topics. He express ses hostility to the initiative and ref- erendum and recall, and approval of the attitude of the fathers, whom he said. feared the people more than they did the king.
 The interview credited to Senator Mclean follows:
 Our forefathers," said the senator, ''did a great deal of straight think ing and changing when they shifted the title and control of the colonies from the Crown to themselves. but do not think it safe to assume that the necessity for straight thought and change ended with the eighteenth cen- tury. The fathers stood in greater fear of the people than they did of the King, and they frankly confessed thiswwhen they created the Senate of the United States. I do not believe that the American people, after more than century of study and experi- ence should be afraid to profit by that study and experience.
 What about the present feeling of dissatisfaction toward the Senate ?" Senator Mclean was asked.
 'There is, I think, feeling that the Senate is not as responsive to the best
 
 be- he frankly replied. "I am willing to admit that, if we'll founded, this feeling can be as surely and quickly removed under the present system as under any other, provided the people can be persuaded to think so, and act accordingly; but the people do not and will not think so, and it is be- cause they are, and know they are, on quite as safe and sane ground theo- retically as those who oppose the change, provided we admit that this is a representative republic Then you do not fear that danger is threatened to the principle of rep- resentative government in the propo- sition before the Senate?'
 'I am not afraid of any amend ment to the Constitution" was the optimistic reply, that is consistent democracy, and that will tend to re- store to and revive in the people their old-time faith and loyalty to the gov- ernment. The government can endure the election of senators by the peo- pie, but it can not endure the loss of the confidence of the people. Confi- dence and natural advantages have brought prosperity to this country to very large extent, in spite of Con- gress. Confidence has coined more dollars for the American Republic than all her mints.'
 | ln1S commence SCFOHS cuOuSH lO solve the great economic problems now pending?'
 'T believe that the great and grave industrial questions that hang over the country to-day can and will be solved this side of the dead line of conf1scation, but that solution can nev- CT be demonstrated in the United States Senate chamber; it must be demonstrated at the polls by an in- telligent and fair-minded electorate. Congress and the courts can propose, but the ultimate victory of self-gov- ernment lies with the man who works to-day for the bread he eats to-mor- row. This victory will come with ed- ucation, but this education must come largely by experimentation as 1t has been in the past, or may be in the future.
 ''Any change in the fundamental law, therefore, that is in entire har- mony with the representative princi- pie of government which will tend to impress upon the individual elector his personal responsibility for the kind and character of the official chosen. ought to be a benefit. To argue against the wisdom and success of the representative principle If the people are trusted to elect governors and Presidents I can see no reason why they should not be trusted to elect senators. At any rate we should give the people an opportunity to pass upon the question of direct sena- torial elections as embodied in the pending constitutional amendment"
 Evidently you think the popular will, as expressed at the polls. should have an opportunity to register itself in legislation as soon as possible" was suggested to the senator from Con- necticut. His answer was unhesitat- ingly in the affirmative.
 "I am firm believer in checks and balances he continued, ."but an en- zine needs motive power as well as brakes. A law in this country must pass both houses of Congress. it must then be approved by the President, and finally run the gauntlet of the Constitution, as interpreted by the Supreme Court. In other words, we are not sure that law is a law until it has been approved by all three branches of the government, the leg islative, the executive and the judi cial. Such precautions are. I believe. wise. but they are unknown in any other country.
 "The election of senators by the people should not in the least dinin- ish the conservatism or ability of that body. It may tend to identify party responsibility and prevent tilting for party and political advantage, because both houses will be more likely to be of the same political complexion Coming to another question now critically before the Senate, Canadian reciprocity, Senator Mclean indicated that he and Representative Hill agree that it is an economic and industrial, not a political, question.
 Returning to the present movement toward more popular government. Senator Mclean made it clear that while he strongly disapproves of some of it's manifestations, he is not afraid to trust the people in connection with them. Asked about the initiative, referendum and recall, he replied: 'The initiative, referendum and re- call will probably be tried to great CT or less extent, as I know of no in stance in history where a new polit- ical experiment, demanded by the peo- pie, has not been had where the peo- pie had the power to bring it about "The referendum, of course, is not a new thing. To a limited extent it is now applied in most of the states whenever a constitution is amended | or local option laws exist
 As to the recall, it is impeachment | without trial and it should never be applied to judges. They should be appointed by the executive and hold office for a long term.
 "The initiative, in an intelligent | community, can it seems to me- be l of no more use than feet and legs to l a fish, . Commenting upon these propositions Senator Mclean continued:
 "The three together assume that the l average man is wiser than the wisest