Evening journal., 1911-07-28
SENATOR OWEN
FOR new RULE
Advocates Initiative, Re-
ferendum and Recall as
Cure for Political Ills
ALSO TAKES A FLING
AT THE MONOPOLIES

Declaring that on Monday next In
the Senate be would speak in favor Of
a measure, giving the United States
Senate the power TO recall the SUI
preme Court Judges, the Hon. Robert
T. Owen, United States Senator from
Oklahoma, addressed about a thousand
people at Shellpot Park last evening.
The meeting was held near the band
stand and was under the auspices OF
the Referendum League of Delaware.
Senator Owen arrived in Wilmington
shortly after o'clock accompanied
by his wife. They were met at the
Pennsylvania railroad station by W
W. Knowles and Francis l. DUPONT
The party proceeded to Mr.. Knowles
residence where dinner was served.
They arrived at the park at o'clock
and MIR. Knowles. who presided over
The meeting, reviewed the objects of
the initiative, referendum and recall.
and the work the league was doing
here. He then introduced Senator
Owen, who spoke on that subject.
In beginning his address Senator
owen said that while his state was far
off he felt at home in Delaware, hav-
ing been born I'm Virginia and edu-
Gated in Maryland. He was glad of the
opportunity to discuss the question,
sying that the ordinary citizen does
not realize it or the monopolies that
exist.
Prior to the French Revolution, the
speaker continued, Paine asserted that
four-hfths of the value of the peoples
wealth was taken from them, and he
ventured to assert that one-third of
every dollar, the worker or his family
spends annually is wrongfully taken
by monopolies
Monopoly was not new, the speaker
said. as according 10 the first Book of
Genesis, Pharaoh, who ruled the valley
Of the Nile, had as his adviser Joseph,
who prevailed upon the king to store
all the corn away, and when a seven
years drought came Pharaoh and his
captains of monopoly had the sup
plies.
No man in the world compares with
Pharaoh, Senator owen said, but we
in this country have thousands of such
captains of monopolies in the steel
trust, iron trust, woollen and all other
trusts. These captains have entered
the governing business and they are
served by Republicans. Democrats and
at times, by both together.
$50 people say that politics are
dirty. That may be, but It is your
business, and If you do not attend to
Il. they will do It In a dirty manner"
said the speaker.
Power in the People.
Senator Owen referred to the party
tlfQues and nominations behind closed
doors and told of voting dead men,
ghosts. and asked what chance a man
had with a ghost. 'In the West
when we found out that crooks were
la, Cd thnwr nut md
we have machines there, when
we find one we make 1t prove char
ncter," he added.
The initiative was then explained
as method whereby the people
would have the say whether meas
ure would be presented 10 the Legls-
lau1re and tho referendum was the
veto power the people had to use
when the legislators passed measures
not desired by the people. Before
this is possible" the speaker con-
tinued, 'it is necessary to have passed
a corrupt practices act, which will
stop the voting of dead men and the
use Of money. automobiles and bands
at nominations.
.'The Oregon law on the subject wa'
reviewed and the people were salts
ned There It was stated honest mel
of both parties got together and th'
vast majority Of men are honest Sen
ator Owen declared, but what the.
want is square deal. The result II
that state is that money is no
used as Il is in Delaware by Addick
and dupont" Senator Owen said, ant
he offered TO retract this statemen
II he was wrong. The working o
this act as applied TO franchises wa
explained, and Senator Owen state
that If a franchise was sold TO tn
Pennsylvania Railroad or any othe
company the people could stop tn
legislators from delivering it.
The statement that the initiative
and referendum intereferes with
representative form Of governmen
was considered by the speaker, VIII
said the people did not know at pres
ent who represents them. "You ma
know the man prior to the caucus br
the nomination IS by the few" he salt
1T does not matter who elects as Ion
as the few make the nomination"
Senator Owen spoke Of the passag
OF the woolen schedule in the Senat
yesterday. saying that the Delawar
representatives did not vote for it, ye
il affects every man, women and chill
in the country. Il strikes at the pric
OF clothes, stockings and all othe
goods having wool in them.
Recall Of Judiciary.
The recall was then discussed an
Senator owen asked why the peopl
did not have the recall when the
elected and pay the salary Of the me
who represent them. Tho judiciar
was spoken Of and It was claimed
Senator Owen that at times they al
unreasonable and he condemned the
practices Of judges declaring uncoI
stitutional the acts passed by II
Congress and Senate at Washingto
This procedure, the speaker declare
was not heard of in England sin'
1901. yet he knew that the busine
interests of this country acted when
vacancy existed on the bench.
Senator Owen then stated that {
Monday next he would speak
Washington in favor OF bill allo'
ing Congress and the Senate TO recs
the judges of the Supreme Cou'
which has become the bulwark of 4
interests, he said. He advocated
fixed term for the judges
There are laws on the statute boo
dealing with corporations and the !
straint Of trade. but has anyone go
TO jail, Senator Owen asked. I