The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1911-08-18
]. s. SENATORS
GOVERN ENT
Bourne Declares People Only
Can Make Government
Truly Representative.

IA
- to the address of Senator Suth-
~ erland. Among other things,
he said:
IL believe in truly representative
government not pure democracy,
but under the political system which
has been built up government is not
truly representative and will not be
until the people have power to snake
II 30. The initiative and referendum
supersede no state legislature; they
merely provide the people means Of
securing laws which legislatures re-
fuse to enact and OF defeating unde
sired laws which legislatures do en-
act
Senator Sutherland says that when
ever our present form Of representa-
tive government proves ineffective or
works badly the fault is not with the
machine, but with those who are op-
Grating 1t; the remedy is for the peo-
pie to exercise more care In selecting
operating agents The people have
long tried this remedy; now they will
try changing the machinery by pro-
viding few new levers, drive wheels
and brakes. The most important diff
ference between the views of Senator
Sutherland and my own is clear. He
believes the machine Is all right, but
the fault lies with the people. l be-
lieve the people are all right, but the
fault lies with the machine.
Believes In Direct Primaries.
II believe in direct primary, in
Guiding a popular expression of choice
for presidential and vice presidential
candidates. Any man who was COM
petent to chose between Mr.. Taft and
Mr.. Bryan in the last election Is COM
| petent to chose between Mr.. Taft and
Mr.. La Toilette in the coming prima-
ries. BY adoption of this system po-
litical bosses, backed by campaign
contributors, will be deprived Of the
| power to select candidates, and thus
presidents will be relieved Of that en-
barrassing obligation which the nomi-
nee must feel toward those who have
placed him in Office.
Popular government contemplates
that all voters shall participate. The
technical work Of drafting a measure
should be performed by men Of skill
in that particular, but the people as
whole are the best judges of the
principles involved and can be trusted
to pass upon the merits. The welfare
of states Is safe from injury at the
hands of men who have never gone
\ beyond the multiplication table. The
chief attention of congress in recent
years has been devoted to efforts to
curb the rapacity of large business in
tereSts, to regulate trusts, to control
railroad rates, to prevent manufacture
and sale of injurious food products, tC
prohibit corrupt use of money in cleo
tons and to simplify court procedure
so that the results of litigation shall
not depend upon which litigant has
the greatest power of financial endur
ance. Evidently the government has
more trouble with men who have gone
beyond the problems of Euclid than i,
has with men who have stopped witt
the multiplication table.
THE senator from Utah says he ia
vors popular election Of senators. A
the first election after adoption Of tn,
initiative and referendum in Oregon
the people enacted law under which
we have chosen three senators by pop
uar vote, the legislature merely ratify
ing the popular choice. If the senate
really desires to secure popular cleo
ton Of senators in his state he shoult
first secure the practical operation o
the initiative, after which absolutel.
nothing can stand in the way Of popu
lar election Of senators.
"The people Of Arizona would bette
lose statehood than yield their right t.
control their state government Wha
mockery 1t is to start constitution
with preamble declaring we, tn
people Of Arizona, grateful to AL
mighty God for our liberties and thel
harbor for an instant the thought o
surrendering or limiting that God Civ
en- liberty at the instance Of any mai
who happens to occupy temperate.
the office Of president.
The Man Doesn't Change.
II see no reason why man VIII
occupies a judicial position should b
governed by laws and standards O
public service different from thos
. which apply to legislative or executiv
officers. Judges are but human. W
, sometimes elect legislators to tn
bench, send former judges to the legts
lature and place judges in executiv
, positions, even elevating them to tn
highest executive office in the land. !
man does not change his standards Q
I ethics when he changes his office. !
man who is dishonest or incompeten
q in an executive or legislative office wi
, as likely be dishonest or incompetent
in a judicial office. He who woul
use his power as an executive in a
, improper manner or for an imprope
! purpose would exercise judicial powe
IN ba ANNA NOV INV hranoh n