The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-03-12
WILLIAM
ContInurd rom pnrc ono.


Lords Permit me to introduce lead
er who has led"
Cheering which lasted for several
minutes followed as Bryan rose to
speak. The delegates and their guests
stood up and cheered. The many
women in the audience were equally
as demonstratlve and discarded the
feminine handkerchief waving for the
masculine handeiapping.
Many state officials were I'm the
audience and the galleries held many
delegations. some of which Travelled
over 100 miles, from the rural coun-
ties where Bryan has always been pop
ular in his advocacy Of progressive
measures.
The Nebraskan's voice was a trine
husky as he started to speak, but this
/ Igradually wore off and the familiar
resonant voice reached to all parts
OF the hall.
lie read his speech.
i. and X. Received Well.
Mr.. Bryan's views on the initiative
and referendum were received with
enthusiasm by a convention that is
pledged to that reform. His declara-
tion that opponents of the initiative
and referendum try to kill its effec-
tiveness by advocating high percen-
tages which would make it unwork-
! able, was followed by the
statement that eight per cent
petitions for the initiative of desired
laws, IL per cent for constitutional
amendments were not unreasonably
low, and that five per cent petitions
are high enough for the referendum.
The crowd appeared to like Mr..
Bryan's views on the recall of all Of
iicers, including the judiciary. There
rounds of applause when he declared:
1T is not necessary to reply to the
argument that the recall would make
towards Of judges: the Judge who
would be swerved by fear Of recall
would not be tit for the place anyhow"
one of the most enthusiastic DEM
onstrations was given the spGIlxeh
when he took upthe subject of bank
guarantees. The government should
not demand a guarantee from banks
and leave the depositors unprotected"
The Crowd Surged.
When Bryan concluded his address
the crowd surged forward and he held
reception lasting for half an hour
Nearly every man who shook his hand
made some reference TO his campaigns
and the possibility of his candidacy
in the near future To all Of these,
Bryan smiled good naturedly but the
only comment he made was when
Judge Smith, OF Geauga county. re-
marked: "I have voted against YOU
all my life, but | would be glad to
vote for you now"
"G appreciate your sentiment but
hardly think 1t would Justify me in
running again" was Bryan's answer.
National Committeeman Harvey
CARRIER was in the line Hello. Har-
vey," exclaimed the Nebraskan as
Garber reached his side.
Mr. Bryan said in part:r
The written constitution has be-
come an American inStitutlon and its
hold upon the people IS not likely to
be shaken; It's claim to confidence Is
jeopardlzcd, however, when one geG-
| GRAFTON attempts to fetter the freedom
OF succeeding generations by provl-
sion that prevent majority from
Amending their constitution.
"Our federal constitution illustrates
the limit to which constitution may
go In restraining the public viii and
In compelling majority 70 submit
to the rule of the minority.
1--WE need, and | doubt not some
day will secure an amendment to the
federal constitution making 1t easier
for the majority TO change the con-
sdtution
The Initiative.
'@rhe latest step in advance Is em-
bodied in what Is known as the lnitia-
tive For some years past the initla-
tive and referendum have found in
creasing favor among those who arc
seeking to make the government re-
sponsible TO the peoples will. While
the referendum enables the people to
veto a public measure before It be-
comes a law, the initiative not only
enables the people to repeal any Law
which is objectionable to them but,
what is more vital to their welfare,
permits them to enact directly any
law which they may desire without
any recourse to the Legislature.
1T has cost centuries to secure pop
ular governm ent-the blood Of mill
lions Of the best and bravest has heen
poured out to establish the doctrine
| that governments derive their just
power from the consent or the gov
| erned. All this struggle, all this sac
rlfice has been In vain If, when we
have secured representative govern
| ment the peoples representatives can
betray them with impunity and mock
their constituents while they draw
| their salaries from the public treas
ury. The attacks which formerly
were made on the initiative and refer
endum have been direct more recent
| ly against what is known as the re-
call The recall is an evolution rath-
er than revolution, The right to
terminate an official term before It's
legal expiration has always been rec
| ognized / know of no public onlcial
who Is not liable to impeachment al
the hands of some tribunal The only
difference between the recall ana Inn
lpeachment Is that in impeachments
the trial Is before a body of officials
while the recall places the decision IN
the hands of the people. n impeaeh-
ment had been found entirely salts
factory, recall would not now be un-
der discussion.
| t4l.t,t trxou,ntfon IfnCOuu1