El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-10-07

in politics. Those who opposed such a
system were ignored, snubbed and per
secuted their advancement in congress
was Cbstructed and their reelection
strenuOusly contested.
A Government Nearer the People.
The government has drifted too far
away from the people. The admins
trat1On Of the government is an exercise
Of trem endOus power affecting the life
liberty and property Of every person
within its jurisdiction. The people must
control it. or others will run IL for
them.
Election Of United States Senator's.
Representatives in congress ara
elected by direct vote Of the people for
a term of two years. United States
senator's are elected by the legislatures
Of the several states for a term of six
years. The country for decades has
demanded a change in the constitution,
authorizing the election Of senators by
direct vote Of the people. No political
party dare declare against this reform.
Both political parties are pledged TO it,
ana yet the popular viii and the party
platforms have been continually ig-
nOred by the arrogance and faithless-
ness Of the Republican senate. The
StephensOnS, the Guggenheims and the
LOrimers still hold their stained COM
missions, and the senate moves on with
naughty compIacency, needless of the
popular will and party promises
The principle embraced in the initia-
tive, referendum and recall Is included
in the structure of our national and
state governments. The application Of
the principle is necessary, If the peO-
Die expect to rule. 1t is essentially fun
dGmental and democratic No man is
afraid of these doctrines unless he is
afraid of the people. How can there
be a real government by the people
if they do not act either in the initia-
iva nv Il
the power to recall undesirable public
servants? Those who are opposed to
the recall on principle must necessa-
rily favor life tenure Of office. / be-
lieve in the people electing their public
officers. and this applies to the judiCi-
airy as well as to all other departments;
and l favor short terms OF office. This
is one method Of exercising the recall
I trust no human power except the peO-
pie They never do wrong except when
mistaken as to the facts.
Party Platforms Binding.
What about the nature and force
of party Platforms Differences of Opin-
ion among the citizenship of the repub-
lie naturally gave rise TO the formation
Of political parties. The prime reason
for organized political parties is that
those citizens of similar political views
as to the principles and policies of the
government could act together. Thus
the platform Of every political party
is presumed to be a clear and candid
statement of its principles and policies.
When candidates of any party are
elected by the people and thus put in
power. a failure to carry out the party
pledges by those thus elected would be
a betrayal Of the confidence of their
constituents and a crime against the
republic
Democratic Doctrines.
ION this occasion time forbids a thor
ough discussion Of all the principles
and policies which we, as Democrats.
advocate. Many of these viii be the
subject Of future discourse.
Among these are:
THE effective regulation Of railroads
and other public service corporations.
THE independence of the Filipin0s.
= comprehensive system Of forest