The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-03

policies. At no time within the last hall century has there been a time when SC many new theories have been presented for approval. no time when our govern ment was so near a precipice-no time when policies have diverged in so many ways from the teaching and practice ol the fathers of our republic, and at nc time was it more necessary than now to be prudent in the selection Of onr poll cies and in selecting our public servants that may make them successful or mar them and us.
 Untried theories and methods have been presented by able. conscientious iheh' I doubt not. sincerely believe that the remedies presented are curealls, but eHpe- rience and prudence seem to suggest tha' in governmental affairs as in HIS the nesn is heir to, there is no one nostruln that will alleviate all the ills of life or that will make our condition a modern utopla.
 If an individual has rheumatism ana his business compels him to stay for weeks in a marshy district where he gets malaria. then accidentally breaks his arm, the prudent doctor would at once direct his energies to the broken arm; after that was put in condition to grow together, then treat the other ills and ailments.
 So it is in relation to the policies of government that afflict or affect the masses.
 I have never heard any reason advanced against the people electing the post masters that serve them. Surely the peo- pie in any given locality ought to know they do know who they want-who would be likely to serve them best They know far better than any congressman or Pres ident.
 While I believe in the election of all public servants by those they serve, l do not hold that such a reform or innova- tion would lesson the burdens of the peo- pie or increase the laborer's chances of gaining home, and I do not believe that innovations of like character should be injected into a national campaign.
 People Already Initiated
 Personally the initiative, referendum and recall present no terrors to me, because the peope now initiate. begin, start all re- forms. Indirectly they have always used the referendum and recall. After all these new names and policies seek an end that Is already in the peoples hands-ir short, the method is changed-the result the same as now.
 It was the people that initiated the de mand for a secret ballot. They initiated
 
 name their representatives in the Senate as they now do in the house-and many political leaders have been recalled by their old fashioned referendum and now are in private life. because they imagined they were the masters and not the ser wants of the people.
 Personally l can say amen to the doc Urine of electing the President and Vice President by a plurality vote of the peo- pie, and I heartily indorse the idea of naming the heads of departments-the cabinet-at the same time and by the same method that we name our candidates for the presidency. The fathers provided for by providing a Vice President: they knew not of, nor thought of an- archists in free country; but we have seen the necessity for a change and have provided for a successor to the Vice Pres ident in case of his death or removal. To- day it is possible for our people to have a President that a majority of the voters never heard of until selected as a cabi- net officer. The one man power in gov ernment, the selecting of department heads, of judges, of postmasters, does not appeal to me, because I am too thoroughly imbued with the Jeffersonian idea of trust. ing all the people, rather than giving al power into the hands of one man.
 And yet do not believe that the laborer the farmer the merchant or mechanic Cl any other citizen would have his burdens of taxation lessened by such changes hence I believe with Gas shown in all re- cent elections) a great majority of the people that the lessening or taxation is now, and long has been, the real para mount policy the adjustment of whicf would make for the good of the great majority.
 Its Benefit to Majority
 l do not think any advocate of a lower tariff claims that a reduction would ac- complish all the desirable changes or re- suits that may be wrought in govern ment; but no one has yet been able to show any other single policy that would so benefit the majority, as the downward sliding scale of tariff taxation
 No hideous monopolies in manufactur- ing would exist If the taxes were ad- iusted so that wage differences-or if you please. the entire wage was added to the cost of production-to protect our working men. No suits against capital nor in- functions against labor by the govern ment if the mother of abominations were adjusted as in the old Walker tariff.
 Let us look the facts squarely in the face as presented in Massachusetts in the election just had In more than 200 lead ing speeches made in Massachusetts by tectionsts-subject, tariff taxation-the orators cited the growth of towns and cities and capital in New England "as the greatest evidence possible of the value of the protective system"
 Example of New England
 I know something of New England having been nall the important trade centers, in the manufacturing and mining districts not only in the last decade. but before the war between the states. gladly testify to their worth and wealth l know they are enterprising, energetic pushing people. I have also read the early speeches in Congress made by Web. ster, when he was advoca ting for his peo- pie tariff for revenue only, what is now called free trade. I know that as long as fleets were built and sailed at a profit either to harpoon whales or to dragon the negroes of Africa to make them drunk on New England rum and manacle and shackle them and force them in theii ships holds, that the shackle manufac. turers of Bristol and Providence, R. I. the ship buildes of New Bedford and 1h, distillers of Massachusetts did not CT, aloud for any reforms, and also that inc forebears of many of the prominent pro- tecuonists Of New England became rict by methods that are now called accursed
 The people initiated reforms and throuei the then existing referendum and recal policies were changed and the New Eng lander added to his store of wealth b, manufacturing the fleecy staple the kid naped negroes raised. I also personal, know that from 1881 to 1865 that by reaso, Of government contracts in shoes clothin, and munitions of war the accumulated capital of New England grew apace