The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1911-02-09
l!|sjGgssEsPRlgREssllE



.Esntlnped from Page eone.l
consideration, again and again by the
Legislature. They were the subject Of
petition and convention endorsement,
and platform declaration for years be.
fore the iaw:making power would give
heed. Millions OF dollars were sacri.
feed toithe public in this delay. But
out OF all that experience comes the
lesson which We should heed today.
These great statutes in every essen.
tial principle were, in advance OF en-.
actnent. the product ola slowly form.
ed ard well considered public opinion.
They justified confidence III the wis.
dom and Intelligence and collective
judgment 0 f.the voters or wisconsin
This composite judgment is always,
safer and wiser and stronger and
more unsclfsh than the judgment OF
any one Individual mind. The people
have never failed in any great crisis
in our history. They have been be.
trayed by theft Representatives again
and again. The real danger to dem.
ocracy lies not in the ignorance or
want OF patriotism Of the people, but
In the corrupting Influence Of power.
ful business organizations upon the
representatives Of the people. The
real cure for the Ills Of democracy is
more democracy.
The National Progressive Republican
League.
To that end ,horough.going progress.
sives are organizing ~notionally to
strengthen representative government
by helping to give the people a more
direct conrtol over their public ser.
wants. On Saturday. January 81, 1911,
there gathered at my home In WASH
ington, D. c.. a group, Of men for the
purpose of organizing a National Pro.
gressive Republican League. I be-
lieve, gentlemen Of the Wisconsin leg.
islature and fellow citizens OF Wiscon-
sin. that day marks the beginning Of
a movement that shall bring govern.
ment back completely TO the people OF
every commonwealth in the United
States.
want to read to this distinguished
gathering here today the declaration
Of principles subscribed to by the few
who could be communicated with up
to the hour when the, organization was
completed. ] pause, on this important
occasion to give special emphasis to
this event because believe that It is
to be significant in the history OF II
government. Whatever may befall
this government to make government
IN each State and ip the nation truly
representative ot!ths, people, whatever
obstacles may be encpuatcred in the
construction OF constitutions, pre-.
dict here today that there is nothing
that will be permitted to stand be-
tween the people OF this country and
their absolute control Of their own
government. II constitutional obsta.
cles are encountered. constitutions
will be amended. In these days when
Jackpot" politicians control great
empire States. / want to say to you
that the people OF this country are
aroused to sober, serious thinking and
to the formation OF patriotic resolu.
lions that will not be thwarted or
baked by any obstacles. This govern.
ment Is to be saved In a rational and
in a perfectly conservative way to the
people. 1t has been my limited cxpe-
rience in something like a quarter OF
a century, OF public life that the people
are the conservative body of this coun.
try. They are to be trusted. The for.
nation Of this National Progressive
Republican League has not been hasty.
1t has been the subject Of long con
sideration. On the 21st day Of Janu.
airy, this month, there assembled thor
ough-going progressive Republicans In
the city of Washington, who subscrib.
cd to this declaration and dedicated
their best efforts to the advancement
OF the principles here embodied. |
read the National Progressive Repub.
lican Leagues declaration Of prlnci.
pies.
We, the undersigned. associate our.
selves together. as the National Pro.
gressive Republican League.
The object Of the League is the pro.
motion Of popular government and
progressive legislation.
Popular government in America has
been thwarted, and progressive iegis.
latlon strangled by the special inter.
ests which control %caucuses. delegates,
conventions, and party organizations,
The City Club Burlesquers."
That conclave Of comedy, 1.-THE CITY