The Stanford interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1911-1912, 1911-06-06

teemeu DOulSNiie ii"'N' " w
that our editorial which the Times re-
printed in its symposium ON Saturday,
vac not in response to its editorial Oh
MAY 24th. in which it calls upon the
people and press OF the State to see
,ha, tho candidates for the legislature
pledge themselves to the enactment
of progressive legislation before their
election we were discussing its pre-
v,ous announcement, in which IL mad
made the unheard of and extraordinary
demand that the candidates for gov
crnor not only express their platform
of principles in general terms, but go
further and submit a bill of legisla-
tive particulars furnishing, definite,
well thought and workable plans for
their achievement" We had not
read the Times suggestion as TO pro
gressive planks for legislative candi-
dates when our editorial was written.
and our observations had no reference
what ever to the Times later utter
ance. Before reading the Times OF
Saturday, we had written and had in
type the following in discussion OF
that:
The Louisville Times is now sound
ing the right key. 1t urges that every
candidate for the legislature be COM
PEELED to state unequivocslly his posi-
ton on the progressive meas
ures which are needed 10
place Kentucky in the
front rank of the sisterhood OF States.
where she belongs. The Times sug-
gestions in this line are much more
pertinent than its demane that the
candidate for Governor submit speci-
tications for carrying into effect the
reforms that are needed. AS we have
stated before it is the duty OF the
governor to suggest and the province
Of the legislature TO act. The. two
democratic candidates for Governor
having placed themselves on record
ss heartily in favor of progressive
legislation, it is up to the prospective
members of the next General Assem-
bly, to say what they will do a'ong
these lines. And every citizen and
well wisher of the commonwealth
should not hesitate to ask his candi-
date Just how he stands on these
measures, outlined by the Times as
follows:
L. State aid for good roads.
2. The right of the counties to is
sue bonds to build schoolhouses.
3. A bipartisan board of control
for the States penal institutions, APP
pointed by the Governor, and approx
ed by the Senate, in the place OF the
political machine and lobby now con-
stituted by the Board of Penitentiary
Commissioners maintained at the
States expense. The abolition OF the
contract labor system. The employ
ment Of the conviots in sne building
OF roads.
4. The overthrow of the lobby by
the use of the initiative and referen-
DUN, II II can be accomplished in no
other way.
s. State inspection of State banks.
@. Popular election of United
States Senators.
Z. A primary for the nomination OF
al States officers by both parties, the
expense to be met by the State. the
poor man to be given an equal chance
with the rich in offering for Office.
g. constitutional amendment
giving the people the right, If they so
desire, 10 revise the tax system.
9. The removal. by law. OF the
peace officer who fails to protect his
prisoner.
The Times then adds most truly:
The one and only time in which the
people control the politicians is when
the politicians are dependent on the
people lOF HUMILIATION anu S'S~s.c-<'
The ole and only time in which the
people have the power to exact
pledges is before nomination and cleo
tion. The man who goes to Frankfort
unpledged is free 10 make his own
terms. The man who goes pledged
cannot escape responsibility II his
pledges are violated. There have
been strong forces at work in botf
PARTIES to keep Kentucky illiterate
her roads uIbuilt her prisons tn'
richest spoil in a system OF spells. hel
taxes oppressive. her elections tn
prev of the powerful. her lack OF Law
and order a byword for others a curs'
10 herself. Strong forces will be nee'
cd 10 right these wrongs. The Times
as a Democratic newspaper believes
that the Democratic press and TN
people OF Kentucky possess the pow
err requisite. AS a Democratic news
Al q