Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1911-10-26
IT WAS bipartisan
ADDRESS AT THE WEBSTER
COURT HOUSE
SATURDAY NIGHT MEETING
IL. l.. Louks, of Clear Lake,
Addresses a Small But Atten-
tive Audience on the New
System and Primary

The Louck's meeting at the court
house was not very well advertised and
therefore but a small crowd was out to
hear 1.-THE Father of Populism in
South Dakota" on the issues that are
now before the people of the country.
Those that were present listened
attentively and at the close of the
speech a general discussion was held.
So we'll impressed were some of his
listeners that Mr.. Loucks was invited
to come again at a later date when a
meeting could be properly advertised
for him and not held on Saturday night.
The:Reporter and Farmer believing
that the theories advanced by Mr..
Louks would be Of interest to its read
ers asked for and received the follow
ing interview:
The advocates of popular govern
ment by majority vote believe that
the experiment of uncontrolled, dele
gated, or representative government
has proven a failure and that the
power to legislate direct should be
restored to the people, whenever a
reasonable number of voters so petit
ton.
We claim that a majority cannot,
under the present system, secure the
enactment of vital legislation desired,
and for proof of which we cite the fact
that for forty years a majority OF
the people have been in favor OF the
regulation and control of our transpor-
tation system. All political parties
have promised in their platforms to
regulate and control, and that up to
date no material results have been
secured.
The same is true of the tariff down
wards for the past thirty years, also
for an income tax and several other
propositions.
We are unable to prevent the enact
ment of legislation we do not want. As
recent ~instances-the Payne-Aldrich
tariff law and Canadian reciprocity.
That instead of controlling the corpor-
ations and trusts, they are now con-
trolling US. That nine men practically
control the transportation and tinan
cial system of the nation and that in
doing so they control all the commerce
and industry of the people.
That all attempts to control and to
regulate the corporations and trusts
have up to the present time proven a
failure.
That no prosecution or decision of
the courts up to the present time has
materially injured any corporation or
trust.
The reorganization demanded by the
present administration will strenghte l
rather than injure them.
That some of the obstacles preventa-
tive of majority legislation are. First,
a law called the constitution, adopted a
century and a quarter ago, under prlm-
tive conditions and suited to a time
when u forefathers were just emerg-
ing from a monarchial government and
experimenting with a democratic form.
The central thought apparently being
to give the wealthy minority the power
to control, so far as to protect the
minority from the newly enfranchised
majority, by making legislation as diff
cult as possibly, or what is known as
the Alexander Hamilton policy of
minority control.
A second is the usurpation of the
functions of legislation by the supreme
court in annulling of legislation enacted
by the states and congress, as uncon-
stitutional and by writing Legislation
into their decisions, instead of, as
intended and as practiced in all other
civilized nations, limiting their func-
tons to interpretating the laws.
A third, the power of the political
machine to control party voters
through the patronage or spoils of
A office system and the contributions of
campaign funds by corporations or
trusts interested in securing Legislation.
A fourth, is uncontrolled political
parties and representatives.
The remedy in part is to restore the
right to the people to initiate legisla-
I ton and submit same to popular vote.
To refer legislation direct to popular
vote when duly petitioned for.
To recall u%nfaithful public employ
ees.
To submit legislation without party
label.
To control political parties by legal
methods.