The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1911-05-15


political stock In trade. but they rsck.
onetl without their man. They did not
realize that all Of Governor Wilson's
life had been training for active
participation In politics and that his
studiea aud research into political his.
tory and political methods had given
him q wider knowledge Of the power
Of the people under aggressive leader.
ship than any Of the bosscs of either
party possessed. His whole political
theory ls based upon the right VI the
people to rule and their power to rule
when their EFFORTS are properly conccn
trated. and he demonstrated that his
theory was correct when one after an.
other his proposed reforms were
forced through the legislature by tho
power Of public opinion.
Even before Governor Wilson took
his seat In the executive chamber he
had won = victory over the BOSSES In
his own party. which had inspired the
people with renewed confidence and
terrorised the professional politicians
who were inclined to oppose his re-
forms. The election Of a United Statcs
senator from New Jersey was the first
important work for the new legislature
10 undertake. James Smith. Jr.. long
known - the big boss Of the Demo-
cratic party In the state. had decided
that he wanted this particular plum
for himself. aud he announced him.
self ~ q candidate. but at the pri.
maries held early In 1910 James A.
MARITIME. 4 clean and popular citizen.
had been . candidate for the senatorial
nomination and had received the In
dorsement Of the people at the polls.
Smiths name he'd not been presented
at the primaries. This did not make
any di6erence to Smith. who thought
that his power - boss was su@cient to
override the will of the people. Gov
ssnor. Elect Wilson declared that Smith
should not Be senator. that he had no
claim upon the once aud that MARITIME
had the strongest claim Of all. that Of
popular indorsement. The dsht b.
tween the OLD boss and the new leader
was short, sharp aud decisive. Rack.
"a BY public opinion. the new governor
won. and MARITIME was elected senator
on the drst ballot.
With these trlumphs to his credit Il
= small wonder that the people of the
United States are coming to look upon
Woodrow Wilson N one Of the great.
sst political leaders who have been DE-
veloped In recent yearx. A progressive
Of the progrrssives. II does not worry
Governor Wilson any TO be called
radical. In fact. he calls himself Q
radical. ~ am radical" said Governor
Wilson recently. and the nrst ele-
Dent OF my radlcalism Is: Lets get
at the root Of the whole thing and
resume popular government. We
mean TO have the kind Of government
We thought we had. I am ready to
draw the Initiative and referendum at
any time. I believe In u. ! have not |
The slightest fear OF It's disturbing our |
theory Of representative government !
! don't worry about theories anyhow:
lt's facts that worry me. The fact b !
We IN New jersey have not got amy. |
hing but the theory. while In states !
where they have tried II the Initiative !
and referendum has given them hack |
government. It works. |
rou know. without being called on 70 |
work at oil. Where legislative repes-
know that II they fall real. |
y to represent. the people have The
power to take the legislation hack Into
heir own hands. those Representatives
have an effective motive to represent.
The initiative and referendum h like
! gun behind the door-for use In case
" emergency. but . mighty good pei.
'uader nevertheless"
II Is perhaps unnecessary to add TO
his explanation Of Governor Wilson's
altitude toward public Affairs that