The forum. [volume] (Springfield, Ill.) 1904-192?, 1911-08-17
Progressive Republican candl-
date for Governor Speaks.
CHEERED BY A LARGE CROWD
In Opening His Campaign at East
st. Louis, He Tells What the
Movement Which He Heads
Seeks to Accomplish.


fore large crowd, which gave him
an enthusiastic send-off The meet
ing was under the auspices of the
Progressive Republican League of st.
Clair county, and delegations were
present from numerous nearby towns.
The speech of Senator Jones is re-
garded as the keynote of this cam
paign. A full platform is to be an
nounced In few days.
Former Alderman Charles e. Mer-
Ram. recently the Republican NOM
inee for mayor of Chicago, also was a
speaker, In addition to local leaders.
This Is war to restore popular
Give the people chance!
This is a war to destroy the boss
and his machine based on the power
of patronage and pelf. The spells sys-
tenn must go.
This is a war upon predatory busi-
ness and its lure of lucre. The spe-
cial interests must go out of politics.
The progressive movement has for
its object the accomplishment of three
definite results: First, the restoration
of popular government; second, the
destruction of the spoils system; and.
third. the elimination of corruption
from political life.
These three things are intimately
related. The spells system is the fore
runner of graft and bribery. The
restoration of popular government to
the people at the ballot box will de-
stroy at one stroke the spells sys-
tenn and the corruption system.
"Self-seeking political leaders have
used patronage and the money Of the
special interests to build up powerful
political machines which have taken
the control of the government out Of
the hands of the people
Certain misguided captains Of in
dustry, representatives Of predatory
business known as the special inter-
ests,' have entered into a corrupt al
lance with political bosses and their
machines In an effort to secure special
privilege These representatives Of
the special interests have. In cooper
alton with political bosses and their
lieutenants, corrupted city councils,
legislators and executive officers In
their efforts to control the powers Of
government
''The progressive movement Is war
fare against these political bosses and
their malevolent machines and against
these special interests and their cor
rupting money.
1.-The only place where the private
citizen can exercise any influence over
his government Is at the ballot box.
The ballot box is the only forum Of
the collective private citizens.
'The only function of government
performed by the private citizen is
the casting of his ballot All other
powers of government are exercised
by the officers whom he elects. I'm
less the people. therefore, have full
and complete control of their govern
ment through the agency of the bal
lot box, the American citizen Is dis
franchised Governmental power must
be restored t. the people.
And this is the province Of the
progressive movement. 1t contem-
plates the enactment of certain def
mite and specific legislation for the
purpose of restoring popular govern
ment. This progressive legislation has
been carefully and thoroughly thought
out 1t has been adopted and used
with success in other states Of this
nation.
I'm Wisconsin the railroads and the
lumber interests controlled both POI
litical parties when the fight for popu-
lar government was inaugurated a
decade ago. They furnished the
sinews of war for the upbuilding of
both political machines. The people
Of Wisconsin fought the battle for
self-government They won. Wiscon-
sin today has truly representative
government Wisconsin destroyed the
spells system. and with 1t went graft,
bribery and corruption.
Oregon was dominated by railroad
and lumber interests. The people OF
Oregon made the fight for popular
government They fought for laws
which would restore the vital powers
of self-government to the people at
the ballot box The people won. The
people In Oregon control their gov
eminent today The boss and his
spells system are things of the past
The influence of the special interests
In politics is practically NIL. The peo-
pie of Oregon have fought and won
their battle for progressive legisla-
ton.
California was dominated by rail-
road and special interests. The people
of California have but recently fought
and won their battle for popular gov
eminent The Lincoln Roosevelt
League OF California. similar to the
Progressive Republican League Of H.
linois. fought for the progressive prin-
ciples. They won in California and
we propose to win in Illinois. Cali
tornia today possesses popular gov
eminent It's legislature has just en-
acted the vital progressive legislation