The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-02-21

of course. preferable) proves insuffi.
Client we should not shrink from
bringing governmental regulation to
the point Of control of monopoly prices
II II should ever become necessary TO
do so, just as in exceptional cases
railway rates are now regulated.
We grudge no man a fortune which
represents his own power and sagacity
exercised with entire regard to the
welfare Of his fellows. We have only
praise for the business man whose
business success comes as an incl
dent 70 doing good work for his fell
lows. But We should so shape condi-
tions that a fortune shall be obtained
only in honorable fashion, in such
fashion that its gaining represents
benefit to the community.
In word, then, our fundamental
purpose must be to secure genuine
equality OF opportunity No man
should receive a dollar unless that dol
lar has been fairly earned. Every dol
lar received should represent a dol
lars worth OF service rendered. No
watering OF stocks should be permit
ted and It can be prevented only by
close governmental supervision OF all
stock issues. so as to prevent over
capitalization.
We stand for the rights of property,
bur we stand even more for the rights
of man. We will protect the rights OF
the wealthy man, but we maintain
that he holds his wealth subject 70 the
general right OF the community TO
regulate It's business use as the public
welfare requires.
We also maintain that the nation
and the several states have the right
to regulate the terms and conditions
Of labor, which is the chief element OF
wealth, directly in the interest of the
common good. You, trainers of this
constitution, be careful so to frame it
that under 1t the people shall leave
themselves free to do whatever is
necessary in order TO help the farmers
Of the state to get for themselves and
their wives and children not only the
benefits Of better farming but also
AuOht Vi ntAAtA buNAAtso llltAHOuh anu
better conditions OF life on the farm
Moreover. shape your constitutional
action 80 that the people will be able
through their legislative bodies, or
failing that. by direct popular vote, 20
provide workmen's compensation acts,
to regulate the hours OF labor for chill.
dren and for women. 10 provide for
their safety while at work. and to pre-
vent overwork or work under hygienic
or unsafe conditions.
To Secure Best Results.
So much for the ends OF govern
ment; and have, of course. merely
sketched in outline what the ends
should be. Now for the machinery by
which these ends are 10 be achieved:
and here again remember only
sketch IN outline and do not for no
ment pretend 10 work out IN detail the
methods Of achieving your purposes.
Let me at the outset urge upon you 10
remember that, while machinery is
important It is easy TO overestimate
It's importance: and, moreover. that
each community has the absolute right
20 determine for itself what that ma
chlnery shall be, subject only 20 the
fundamental Jaw OF the nation as eX.
pressed IN the Constitution OF the Uni
Ted States. e.. In the Arst place,
believe IN the short ballot. You can
not get good service from the public
servant II you cannot see him. and
there Is no more effective way OF hid
ing him than by mixing him up with a
multitude Of others so that they are
none OF them important enough TO
catch the eye OF the average. worka-
day citizen The professional politi-
clan and the professional lobbyist
thrive most rankly under a system
which provides a multitude OF elec.
tive officers, of such divided responsi-
bility and OF such obscurity that the
public knows, and can know. but little
as 70 their duties and the way they
perform them. The people have moth
ing whatever TO fear from giving any
public servant power so long as they
AtAdih NntlA ONh IbNNl W AADtN 'A''''
accountable for his use Of the power
they have delegated 10 him.
believe in providing for direct nom
nations by the people, including there
In direct preferential primaries for the
election Of delegates to the national
nominating conventions.
believe In the election OF United
States senators by direct vote. Just
as actual experience convinced our
people that presidents should be
elected (as they now are In practice,
although not in theory by direct vote
of the people instead Of by direct vote
through an untrammeled electoral col
lege, so actual experience has con-
yinced us that senators should be
elected by direct vote Of the people
instead OF indirectly through the vari-
GUS legislatures.
| believe in the initiative and the
referendum. which should be used not
to destroy representative government.
but 20 correct Il whenever II becomes
misrepresentation. Here again | am
concerned not with theories but with
actual facts. II In any state the peo-
pie are themselves satisfied with their
present representative system, then
It is Of course their right TO keep that
system unchanged; and II is nobody's