Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1911-09-15
Lorimer the Leader.

erendum and the recall as menace tt
our government have at last found
leader worthy of the cause. Senator
Lorimer has taken command and we
may expect his genius to organize such
of the opponents of these reforms as
are not repealed by his record. In q
speech delivered before the veterans al
Duquoin, ILL.,, the senator said, accord.
ing to the Chicago Record Herald:
''Since was boy I have heard il
said that this government of ours must
fail, but I have always believed it was
indestructible so long as no laws can be
placed on the statute books except they
first be acceptable to the greatest
minds of the country. thought that
no serious blow could be struck at the
constitution or that no set of men trav-
cling from one end of the state to the
other could threaten the constitution.
"But of late l am convinced that
there is method by which the govern
ment can be destroyed. We have been
denouncing everybody and everything.
DO the people rule?' they ask. OF
course, the answer is Yes.
"But we can only trust ourselves by
some method whereby every statute
enacted is first Investigated by careful
minds as to its effect on the people.
Can anyone who thinks say that laws
placed on the statute books by the in
itiative and referendum will be put
there after intelligent consideration?
That il absolutely impossible.
':k about the intelligence of the
peoI1 Tell me, is there any man
hess who knows any one whom he
woah trust and follow on every ques-
tisn hat could be presented? When
We ar willing to give up representa-
tive government we will accept the in
itiatfvs and referendum. After years
Of experience am convinced that if
we want law on the statute books all
the people combined are not capable of
putting it there intelligently, but must
appoint some one to draft it and be re-
sponsible for it. Where does the re-
sponsibility rest under the initiative
and referendum?
'There is mania just now for pas
sing all kinds of laws. You men must
rise up and stamp out this socialism
and anarchy. This struggle means as
much to us as the war Of the rebellion.
II wish knew one honest man WHO
would act in accordance with his con-
science regardless of what might hap
pen. God gave it to me to live with
human beings from the time was at
TIE bottom until l reached the top
rug of the ladder. and I've found tut
few honest men who have the courage
Of their convictions.
Chow long can man hold public
efsce who is unfaithful to the people?
Not more than one term. The power
is in the people right now. We need
no recall.
Mr.. Lorimer also tells the veterans
that their work is mot yet done;;"
that sit is not always necessary to
carry gun that the peoples govern
ment may live" that sometimes it
can be protected at the ballot box"
ian excellent sentiment, by the way.)
He denounced the recall as club to
make "honest men dishonor them
selves" and he commended the presi-
dents veto of the recall of judges.
Here we have it from the highest au-
thority on corrupt government that the
initiative, referendum and recall are
the very essence of anarchy and social
ism-that the struggle means as much
''to US" as the civil war. 1t means
even more to Gus" Tor whom he speaks.
The initiative, referendum and the
recall mean more than war to the Lori
mer brand of politicians; war means
defeat to one side with peace after.
ward, but the initiative, referendum
and recall mean determination to the
system of exploitation for which Sena-
tor Lorimer stards. 1t is refreshing to
have Senator Lorimer announce that
the people can not he trus ted; that law
making must be left exclusively to the
legisiature-to SUCH a legislature, for
instance, as put him over"
Many opponents of the initiative,
referendum and recall are not as fir; nix
as Senator Lormer in expressing con
tempt for the intelligence of the peo-
pie, but back of the opposition to these
reforms is lack of faith in the capac-
ity of the people for self government.
This is the fatal defect in the oppo-
sition. These reforms are growing and
will ultimately triumph because THE
PEOPLE CAN BE TRUSTED and
because an overwhelming majority of
the voters BELIEVE that the people
cen be trusted. AS soon as the initia-
tive, referendum and recall are under
stood they will be Endorsed by practi-
cally all the people-by all but the plu-
toerat and the aristocrat-and Senator
LoriIsdPs opposition will assist the
people IN understanding the real issue.
His opposition discusses the character
of the opposition and the reason why
the opposition is angry.
HE democratic house has done splen-
cid Wtsa3x II has revised the house
rules, dethroned the car, and proved
that better business can he done with
o,,f u cnouL or occ fhan ,uifh IL han