New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-15
From The Tribune Bureau.1
Washington, December "A.
Quo Vadis.

Quo Vaols.
whittier goest thou?' That IS the
question which many OF the more
thoughtful men I'm public life and no
doubt. many out Of it. would ike 10 ad-
dress to that large class Of voters VINO
seem to be carried away by those sd-
vanced policies proclaimed as progressive
such as the initiative and the referendum
the recall, both Of judges and OF Judiciai
decisions, and popular primaries Tor the
nomination of every official. from county
sheriff TO President Attention is called
by the more conservative to the TACT
that only a comparatively short time ago
persistent efforts were being made TO him
plify politics and business. Men OF All
shades Of political belief were denouncing
intimacies between politics and business
as subversive Of the public good were
demanding that the tarin be taken OUT Oh
politics in SO far as possible, were urging
that every practicable step LOOKING TO the
simplihcatlon of the political problems
presented to the voter be taken and that
politics be permitted to make no greater
demand on the workingman and the pusi-
ness man than was imperative. Out .ol
this sentiment grew the demand Tor the
short ballot and for non-partisan judicial
tickets. and there was much rejoicing on
the part OF the reformers whenever poht-
zeal parties could be induced to agree on
judicial candidates chosen Tor their Pc
culiar fitness for Office rather than be-
cause of their political affiliations.
Now all is reversed. Men who call
themselves progressive are advocating
system which would necessitate going 10
the polls. not once year, but many
times; are urging system OF popular
legislation which must depend Tor us
success on men IN all walks In life deVot-
ing much time and close attention to the
merits Of proposed legislation in order
that they may vote intelligently; are ad-
vocating a method of recalling Judges
which would make every jurist Insecure
until he had perfected political orgahi-
cation too strong and too farreaching TO
be overthrow by any temporary wave oI
popular clamor. And. It is pointed out
in New York State the Roosevelt party
which lays claim TO being the only true
blue, dyed-in- the-wool progressive party.
repudiated the proposition for purely
non partisan judicial ticket
1t is contended that a cursory eXamlna-
ton OF the questions submitted 10 the
voters In every state where the initiative
and referendum prevail must convince the
most skeptical that without the eNpendl-
ture Of vast amount OF intelligent Ell
fort q majority Of the voters cannot pos
slbly determine the merits and dement's
OF tho various propositions, must prove
to the person OF average intelligence That
only very small percentage OF the voters
can understand the questions propounded'
and that therefore. government by In
itiatlve and referendum ia not govern
ment by the majority, but by the minor
ity.
Men who have given thorough and con-
sclentious study 10 these problems nam
tain that even in the majority OF the
states where popular primaries were
held 10 choose delegates TO the national
the verdict rendered was
that OF the minority Of the voters, and II
IL happened to accord with the Views OF
the majority In that instance II was due
TO good fortune rather than to the trust
worthlncss OF the system.
whittier gOest thou these men say
to the voters. Run going, progressing II
YOU like, toward government by the
minority? Run rendering Intelligent par
tlcipatl0n by the great majority an i'm
possibility? Run pilins up complications
which must defeat the very end you
would achieve7 And these men also ask,
How long viii II be before the pendulum
swings I'm the opposite direction? How
long will II be Before the very men who
are now trying TO climb into power by
these innovations will be denouncing
them as subyersiye OF liberty and as
actually designed to render popular par
ticipation in politics and the consideration
Of things political so intricate as to be
beyond the reach OF the average voter?