New-York tribune., 1911-02-12
MAKES PLEA FOR RECALL
Senator Owen a Speaker at Re.
publican Club Meeting.
SEES MENACE IN CHINA
Criticism of Senate Meets with
Interruptions from Member
of Audience.

Robert l.. owen, United States Senator
from oklahoma and a Democrat, addressed
large and representative gathering of the
Republican Club yesterday on Initiative,
Referendum and Recall" The Senator re-
marked in opening that II was a mighty
good omen for the republic when a Demo-
crat could feel perfectly at home speaking
before the Republican Club OF the greatest
CITY in the Western world.
The club applauded its guest as step by
step he worked up his argument from the
results OF the referendum and recall in
Oregon to the need for that sort Of thing
in New York State. A slight break I'm the
evident sympathy between the club and
the speaker came. however. when Senator
owen criticised the United States Senate
for turning A deaf ear to the petitions OF
thrty-eight states demanding a constitu-
tional amendment for the election of Sem
ators by the people.
Think Of 1t. my friends. the United
States Senate the highest and most hon
ored legislative body in this nation, delib-
erately refuses to accede to the demands of
thirty eight states which have"-
They're right, too" some one shouted.
question:" Question:" Chairman Craign
pounded the table with his gavel and nine
tenths Of the members swept the confusion
into oblivion by jumping to their feet and
giving Senator owen a tribute of applause
that was only equalled by that which was
given TO Senator Albert g. Cummins, OF
Iowa who spoke to the club a week ago
Yesterday on Interstate Commerce
When the turnult subsided Senator Owen
resumed:
MY friend don't think they are right
The man who goes to the Senate as the
representative of a state and who refuses
TO comply with the will Of the majority OF
states is not IN truth a representative. lie
IS a usurper Of power"
The Senator said the only opponent OF
the referendum and recall was apathy"
He referred to what he believed was an
even more menacing apathy. 1t was the
blindness of those who were so busy get
ting money that they overlooked the
awakening Of China, a great empire OF
nearly four hundred million people who did
not fear death and in whose breasts was
being implanted the teachings OF war IN
stead OF universal peace" The people were
Just he said, and property would De pre-
served by the conservatives Of this nation
But have a care, my business friends,
you who are wrapped up In making money
This thing may go too far and you may
have a problem to face that will bring you
or your children to halt"
other speakers were f. c. Howe, secre-
tary to the National Progressive League
and Professor Henry J. Ford of Princeton
University, who said the referendum ana
recall would only be used as ''purgauve'
and then put on the closet shelf because
we would have no further use for 1t after
abuses had been corrected. III,
ative and Referendum Club. and Demo
crat, wanted TO know whether the psoPIe
who voted for change in New York state
last November would countenance the
"burlesque" now on at Albany II they nau
the recall paper in opposition TO the
initiative and referendum, written by wal
ter D. Kinney secretary TO the repre-
sentative Government League in Ohlo' was
read