The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-12-21

De maintained basis OF minimum cost greatest
results AS i'll industry, this can be obtained only
through the application the principles of efficient
management
One OF the great for inefficient government
in this country has been the system which has domi
mated political effort 1t is known the convention
system. In most the citizens who constitute
the two larger political parties. Republi
can and Democrat delegate the selection of party
nominees to a small part of the citizenship. which
elects the nominees in convention assembled The
citizens as whole then their votes at the general
election for the nominees their delegates selected
for them. The members the party receiving the
largest number declared elected be-
come the officers employees government
This system has enabled minority control the
government OF the United States. Out OF it has de-
veloped boss" rule. That is, or a gang OF
in each election unit controls delegates that
select the nominees for either party. Consequently
the bosses control the nominees Therefore, inasmuch
this is true of both parties, it makes very little diff
ference whether democrat republican is elected
to office. In either the official owing his nomin
alton and electonsince the people have only the boss
selected candidates from which choose-to the boss
acts first in the interests of his boss machine and
last in the the people, theoret
caly supposed to represent alone.
The machine, which is dominated by the boss is
made Of men who expect financial reward for their
work in politics. The venal voters taken OF
by the direct payment of money at the time of the
selection delegates at the general
elections. Those who fancy their work is on higher
plane morally than that of the venal voters receive
their reward in the shape of positions by
appointment from the successful candidates. Conse
quently under the boss and convention polt
cal preferment the struggle is create as
many government positions possible in order
have many rewards possible to give to the polt
cal workers. The boss, who generally shuns the
of official position receives his reward
share in the profits of the special interests he
tects at the peoples expense.
Today the Money Power controls the bosses
political machines. Such rule does not find favor with
the ordinary voter and he will not contribute to it's
financial support. Therefore, for the money that is
necessary keep the political machines running
smoothly the bosses ask and receive large contr-
buttons from the Money Power In return for this fnan
cia assistance the Money Power protection for
its special interests whether not they conflict with
the general interests all the people For instance
in the last presidential election Taft together with
republican house and senate elected because the
voters given to understand they would be given
relief from high tariff exacons. The republicans did
not keep their promise when they passed the Payne
Adrich tariff BILL the people concerned
The special interests of the Money Power not In
terefered with. The machine delivered protection
usual to those from whom it derived it's financial
ackng.
silent but effective rebellion against boss and
convention
sweeping over the country. Its weapons are direct
nomination by of their respective party
nominees and the initiative. referendum and recall.
Four five states already have enacted laws that take
from the Money Power its rule by eliminating all
danger OF boss rule under the initiative, referendum
and recall well direct nominations. Many ctates
have adopted only direct nominations which less
effective In combating boss rule than where other
ways also used.
states neither
the initiative referendum and recall are, from the
political standpoint, slave states. Those where d.
rect nominations alone provided for semisave
semifree states. And the few states where direct
nominations we'll the initiative, referendum
recall used in selecting and holding public officers
responsible the only free states. The cond-
ton holds in the city government The
new form Of commission government with nonpartisan
primaries for the selection Of candidates by the people
we'll nonpartsan elections and the checks Of the
initiative referendum and recall, in its rapid spread
the country is emphasizing the
tween slave and FREQ government OF cities
Oregon is OF the few states that has written
the initiative referendum and recall provisions
it's constitution. Under the title of Popular
gated Government, Senator Bourne of Oregon
in speech in the senate how Oregon attaining
political freedom under direct nominations. the in
itative referendum and recall and other important
features. The speech is we'll worth reading and any
citizen can get copy of it by writing to Senator
Jonathan Bourne, Jr, at Washington, D. c.
The supreme court OF the United States is to
hand down opinion the consutionalty OF initia-
tive legislation. The question brought before it by
the Pacific States Telephone Telegraph company
Pacific states unit Of the Money Power-n suit
against the State of Oregon account of law
iginating with the people through the initiative
supreme court should decide initiative legislation
constitutional situation analogous that following
the bred Scott decision the half
century ago will created. Such a decision will
simply political slavery upon the great OF