Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-12-30

the hands Of the people; that they are
supreme over legislatures, over Cow
eminent, over presidents, over consti-
tutions, over courts" he asserted.
Critioism Of Courts.
Senator La Toilette castigated the
supreme court by asserting that It had
arrogated itself far greater power than
had been conferred upon 1t in the or
iginal contemplation of the constitu-
tion
"The recent decisions Of the supreme
and federal courts have brought about
revolution in the position Of the
olution III the position Of the
courts" he said. without an act Of
congress-, the court, by It's rule Of rea-
SON., and it's weapon, the injunction,
has all at once created itself into leg
islature, an Interstate commerce COM
mission and supreme court, combined
in one. The rule of reason gives It leg
islatiye power--the power to deter
mine, according to it's own opinion,
that some restraints of trade are lawful
and other restraints unlawful. The
power to carry out the dissolution and
reorganization of the trusts and to
work out the details, to impose con-
ditions and to supervise their execu- !
ton is just exactly the kind Of admin
istrative power that legislature turns
over to a commission in order to carry
out the legislative intent. And, finally, !
punishment for contempt is the courts !
substitution for the criminal penalty
that the legislature attaches to the
violation of it's statutes"
x The senator pointed to the record OF
legislative and administrative achieve
ments in Wisconsin on the So called
progressive principle as proof OF his
theory that better government can be
given the people by restoring that
function to them. law
1.-THE very backbone OF true repre-
sentative government is the direct par
ticipation in the affairs of government
by the people through direct primaries
for the nomination Of candidates he
said. He declared that the old machine
politician has lost control in Wiscon-
sin through this law. He also favor
ed the presidential primary, system. OF
this he said: d
- Presidential Primaries.
IF there is, one thing more than an
other that has been put to the front IN
this campaign by the progressives it isl
the demand for the election of dele
gates to the national convention by n
primary elections land pro-
vision by which electors mayI
directly express their choice for
presidential candidates upon their
party ticket This proposition
HIS Uecll cppUSCu bS IAAS AAeASAcAAoA ~
publican committee, and by machine
politicians everywhere. They dread to
give up that peculiar power that
and conventions give them.
They fear the secret ballot that en-
ah.ts men TO vote their convictions and
without intimation or es-
niorn~e.' r.
The senator's speech dealt with the
%~ccrt action OF the republican nation
4 committee in leaving 1t to the gov
.r5-i,7r ccnrnitteos of the party to dt-
'rnt tie manner of selecting delegates. III
"JHe national republican committee iSl
almost wholly composed of men ops
ncsed to the primary principle he gAsSII
:c,teG. "At it's recent meeting in Wesh-lI
noton this committee went on recOydsij
not only as opposing voluntary pri1nr
ary election in states where there IL no
aw providing for them, but BY falling
10 directly recognize the law In these 81
states that have provided for the elhc-
ion of delegates to the national con-
rention in primary elections.
"ThTs this s5feac tiOnary spmmi tee
fla grAntiy sets ait naugh the Wit oil
he beaple OF tsa n great ates that;
nave r4ps diat leu Tile Caucus 4 z
yention system Such a policy will not (
lend to strengthen the party with the :
people We are fighting this thing and |
will continue to fight 1t until in everyi1
state primaries will be provided bYt
aw which will give to every voter the
means Of directly expressing his choice
If candidates to sa go upon his party
ticket, from president to coroner"
= . 81