The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1912-07-31

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thets may mean much or little. Nc
sensible man is mislead by them. The
bad boss is a stencil, especially in
politics, and off with his head! But
boss is not always undesirable; we
should not like to have a contractor
build house without a boss to SUI
perintend it, and he would not smell
any sWeeter if called a foreman. If
there were bosses on the Taft side
such as Senator Crane, there were
also bosses on the Roosevelt side
such as Gov. Hadley, good men both.
Indeed the colonel will probably adj
NIT that he himself was the biggest
boss of them all. In fact, all these
leaders We're acting in representa-
tive character. If they were bosses,
so are the senators and representa-
tives in the federal and state legis-
latures bosses, because for the time
they control but still represent and
are responsible to their constituent
cies.
We get little enough anyway of
calm deliberation. Shall it be still
further diminished? Could the demo-
cratic convention at Baltimore have
done better had it not been guided
by its normally delegated leaders?
Will not the sober second thought of
the country say that the best result
in both conventions is the nomina
ton of Taft and Wilson, each repre-
senting respectively the two great
divisions of public political opinion?
Would that sober second thought be
as content, now that the turmoil is
over, were the nominees Wilson and
Roosevelt, or Clark and Roosevelt?
Would Hayes or Harrison or Cleve
land, three respected presidents, have
been chosen under the new primary
system?
To insist that the voters shall have
in their power the making and repeal
of laws and to the recall of judicial
decisions and officials, is utterly sub
versive of representative government
and of the security of constitutional
safeguards Legislation and judicature
demand the most deliberate and all
sided consideration. This should
come after open and public discus
sion, presenting all sides OF every
question. How is this to be had II
the statute is to be practically enact
ed and the decision made in the heat
of the crowded polling place by votes
cast in the irresponsible privacy of a
booth by voters not only not respon-
sibe to anybody for their act but
very large percentage of them not hav-
ing at all familiarized themselves with
the matters to be settled by their
votes? 1t is not that the people are
not intelligent and fully competent
Dr. that they are not to be trusted
when they act with knowledge and
Under responsibility. But common
experience is absolute proof that they
never give the attention to matters OF
legislative or judicial consideration
which those selected by them for that
purpose do give, poor as the results
but not often, are. Even
IN questions which now and then are
submitted to popular vote, as very
properly some local questions are, not
me in ten, unless it be something
ike the division or the set-off OF a
own, takes the trouble to inform
himself as to the merits Of the ques-
ion, and oftener than not refuses or
leglects to vote upon it.
Yes, the fundamental question IS
whether it shall continue to be a
government of the people through
heir representatives chosen or con-
tituted by them. And pretty vital
question it is. Taft's stand on 1t IS
certain.