The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-05-25

ganizations.
 When MT. LaFollette and MT. AL drich differed in the senate it was Aldrich who retired. And when ism was suffering the severest defeat it has received in many years. La Toilette was triumphantly returned.
 My friend, each of you, 1t is your opportunity to say what kind of a Republican and what kind of a Democrat and what kind of an Am erican citizen you will be.
 Are you of the AIdrich and the Bailey brand? You remember Bai- ley, the Democrat from Texas. who resigned from the senate because the Senate followed Senator Owen, the erendum in the constitution of Ari- zona, the former against it. Unfor- tunately resigned, only to withdraw his resignation.
 The man who is against this leg islation is not a progressive Republi- is another kind. This is the test. By opposition to this legislation he sets himself over among those who do not trust the people, who hold govern. who cast aside the doctrine that the people are sovereign.
 For Republican progressives like LaFollette and Bourne are much closer to Democrats like Owen, Gore and Chamberlain than they are to Republicans like Aldrich and Hale of unhappy memory.
 You remember what happened to Hale of Maine. Perhaps you do not know that it happened because he opposed the constitutional amend ment for the initiative and referen- dunn which the people of his state
 But since it may be. best that other states should experiment with legisla- tion. and that it should be tried somewhat, if it is novel, your honor able body might not feel like favor thority of great men, for experience and practice is ever a better guide than opinion, however eminent.
 My friends up to the beginning of 1911, the initiative and referen- dunn had been adopted into the sys- Oklahoma. Maine, Missouri, Arkan- sas and Nevada. and Colorado:
 In. Illinois a public opinion law has existed since 1901.
 For local use the system has been much more widely adopted and the of cities, the commission plan, in cludes both the initiative. referendum and recall.
 The farmers organizations have played an important, if not a decisive part, in installing the initiative and referendum into the ten sovereign states above enumerated.
 The movement to establish the power of the people directly over legislation may be said to have had its beginning in 1888 when Hon. Jas. D. Bryce, in his famous book, ''The the attention of the American people to the fact that their government was slipping from their possession
 His summary is as follows:
 Observing the form of con-
 sulting the voters it "the par
 ty machine substantially ig-
 nores them, and forces on them
 persons whom they do not
 know, and would dislike if they
 knew them." It substitutes for
 the party voters generally a small
 number of professionals and
 ranged nominations from pack
 ed meetings and calls this con-
 sulting the pleasure of the sov-
 ere1gn people. Thus the machine
 works on, and grinds out places,
 power, and opportunities for H.
 ilclt gain to those who manage
 This movement was also promoted by the decision of the supreme court in the income tax case, when the country first realized that it had es- tablished a power superior to S0,OOO,- But gentlemen, if but ten states had adopted, or indicated a purpose to adopt this fundamental change in government would not have felt Ja1;Id justified a,,s in saying to you that doubt, that in this legislation you are looking upon those final powers with which the people have decided to arm themselves against the decay of popular government.
 The people are arming against the illicit gain and the deadly corrup- tion which Bryce saw in 1888 and with which you and I are familiar to-day.
 In 1909 Governor John A. Johnson, of honored memory, sent in a mes the constitutional initiative and ref erendum. This state is one that the leagues expect to win before 1912. Lucius F. c. Garvin twice governor of Rhode Island twice, but ineffectu- ally, asked the legislature of Rhode Island to adopt such an amendment.
 Senator Aldrich paid a bitter price for his opposition to this program, therefore some good was accomplish ed.
 Here are copies of the messages of six governors. all delivered during
 
 Each of these messages contains a declaration and a demand for the adoption of a constitutional amend ment for the initiative and referen- dunn. Most of them include a de- mand for the recall, popular election of United States Senators and direct primaries.
 I think that without exception ail of these executives dwell upon the universal corruption that tinges gov ernment and upon the concentration of wealth in a few hands.
 Here is the message of Governor Francis E.. McGovern. He says: "The great task of the time is how to make and keep the government really rep resentative of the people, He says the government. He suggests the in itiative, referendum and recall as potent remedy for these evils. Wis consin is the state of LaFollette. The legislature is said to be certain to adopt the amendment.
 Governor Chase s. Osborn, of the neighboring state of Michigan, offers his recommendation to the same ef- feet
 Governor Woodrow Wilson advo- cates the initiative and referendum and the consideration of the entire Oregon system, sometimes called the Peoples code.
 He says: Public opinion is at last wide awake It is watchful, insist ent, suspicious. No man who wishes hold back, and if he is wise he will not resort to subterfuge. A duty is exacted of him which he must perform SinDlV directly in, m odio+a