The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1911-09-02
By ARTHUR W. DUNN.


Washington, Sept. 1.-[Special. IA
great struggle has commenced for
control of the Democratic national
convention next year. In some re-
spects 1t resembles the contest Of
1895, when the silver men of the party
started out to get control Of the con-
vention and nominate a silver man as
well as make silver platform. This
time the fight is to secure q radical or
progressive candidate and a radical
platform.
By radical and progressive 1t is
meant that the initiative and referen-
dunn, the recall and such other meas
ures as will give the people direct con-
troll Of the Office machinery Of the gov
ernment and the states and also the
legislation shall be adopted.
The men who are pressing the move
ment are earnest, sincere and con-
stantly active. That was true Of the
silver men in 1896. An active cam
paign will do much in this direction,
especially as it is backed by william
]. Bryan, who has often said that the
platform was more important than the
candidate. H.
No Congressional Declaration.
1t cannot be claimed that there has
been any real congressional declara-
ton on this subject. There was much
discussion Of the Arizona constitution
In both house and senate, and there
xuorr raw, .o dicol xriaxr,,- <xnroccad t,xy
many Democrats. But neither the ini-
tiative and referendum nor the recall
was indorsed by any vote. The Dem
ocratic idea was that Arizona had
right to have such q constitution as
the people wanted, whether It contain
ed these radical innovations or not.
Be Another "steai."
= 1t was Congressman Sims of Tenness
see who declared in the house that In
1895 the Democrats "stole everything
that was good from the Populist party,
and the Republicans came along and
stole from us nearly everything we had
stolen from the Populists." The initia-
tive and referendum was one of the
things that were not taken at that
time, nor has it yet been appropriated.
Neither has government ownership of
railroads, although Mr.. Bryan has in
dicated desire to acquire both for the
Democrats. I once heard him tell
distinguished gathering Of prominent
Democrats that he would "drive every
man out of the party who does not &C.
cept the initiative and referendum"
II Bryan has a large control in the
next convention Sims may witness an
other of the ''thefts'' which he spoke
about so glibly not long ago.
Mild Senator Hepburn.
II do not want to be harsh" remark
ed Senator Hepburn, speaking Of the
'isms" which he has so often con-
demned. Then he went on to call the
men who support them children" and
'1ot of carpenters undertaking to
tamper with the work Of trained
builders" "Are men going madY' he
asked. He said their creed was that of
socialism, and much to the same ef-
feet. Oh, no-the Idaho senator did
AOt Wdut " Uc udESuy uc "duV
ed to bat 'em over the head with q
club. .-
Seeing the Army Posts.
Every secretary Of war acquires the
wanderlust. Secretary Dickinson went
to the Philippines and many other
places. Secretary Stimson has been to
Panama and Cuba and is soon to make
a grand tour Of the country and visit
the different army posts. Every secre-
tary likes to see things, especially as a
generous government pays the ex.
penses Of these inspection tours.
Against Expositions.
Several times during the session
bills relating to expositions Of one kind
or another were brought up I'm the
house, and 1t was made manifest that
the temper Of congress Is against gov
ernment aid to expositions OF any
kind. One reason why San Francisco
took the Panama exposition from New
Orleans was because the far western
city promised not to ask any govern
ment appropriation. Every time any
exposition measure, no matter how
trivial, was brought forth the man
who was urging 1t was forced to prom
ise that no government appropriation
wonld be asked.