The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-02-28
WEDNESDAY. FEBRuARY Is, 1912
Conservative VS.. Progressive
Party Policies.

Party Policies.
Twentv years ago there was probably
nor 3 more ardent friend OF progressive
reform than Hon. Frank Harris. editor
Of the ocala Banner. He was regarded
rs a radical, and an extreme one, OF
the most independent type. Ten years
later. a change came over the spirit
Of his dreams. He deserted the forces
of progressive democracy and aligned
himself with that reactionary element
which, for sixteen years. has persist
emily blocked the way Of democratic
SUCCESS IN national politics.
Naturally few things that The Jour-
nal does or says seldom meet the ap-
prevail OF the Ocala editor. Therefore
hin latest comment on the editor of The
Journal. while possibly not important,
may nevertheless be interesting TO
those readers Of this paper who pos
sftly know the editor Of The Journal
better than his ocaia contemporary
does. In Sundays paper. Editor Harris
takes occasion 70 observes:
A late issue of the Montgomery
(AIa-l Advertiser draws the following
pen picture Of the editor OF The PEN
sacola Journal:
The Advertiser says: We suppose
that It Is reasonably safe to assume
that IL w. j. Bryan and Eugene Deus
should publicly advocate the cultiva-
ton of cross eyes instead Of straight
eyes the esteemed Pensacola Journal
would be the first important newspaper
in the country to endorse the VIEWS o.
BRYAN and Debs on cross-eyed persons.
Anything that sounds progressive" or
anything that means a change from
the present order may count on the
Unreserved support OF Pensacola's
morning paper. And the trouble about
! The Journal is. 1t honestly believes IN
all this fooIishness"
This paper has frequently made the
same observations Anything that diff
ferentiates q candidates platform from
the good oId-fashioned democracy and
in which scintiilates those fantastic
pianks Of socialism and popuiism, such
as; the Initiative" the referendum"
the recall. ETC.. meets the instant APP
proval Of Pensacola's morning newspa-
per, but candidate wearing the old
fashioned garb Of democracy receives
stnnt praise at its hands.
1t really appears that 1t would much
rather follow Bryan to defeat year in
and year out than q democrat in the
good old schooi of Thomas Jefferson
JOH1 o18ESHaiis 10CH u 0S1nOCIdts
fer instance, as Judson Harmon, TO
triumphant victory.
The Advertiser seems to have Sc
cured very good snapshot of the
editor.
II our artistic critic who assumes to
be such good Judge of pictures means
to say that the editor OF The Journal
would rather so down In defeat with
platform and a candidate which he be-
lieves to be right rather than be sue
cessful with platform and a candi-
date which he believes to Be wrong.
then he has indeed drawn very cor
rect and acceptable picture, and we
thank him for the compliment.
The picture OF course may not be a
pleasing one to the editor OF the Ban
ner. but that is because he Is not a
good Judge Of modern portraiture. He
should read up and post himself.
We would suggest that he buy a
copy Of the Saturday Evening Post Of
Feb. % and read the first article "en-
titled Three Years OF Progress by
s William Allen White.
Mr. White cites figures to show that
this despised Initiative and Refereu-
dunn is now part OF the organic law
of % states and eight states more have
it up for adoption this year. It is in
effect now in zoe cities. Ohio has
granted 1t to all cities-and that's too
over the protest OF one Judson Har-
mon.
The recall is in operation in Oregon,
California and Arizona. and 1--WE other
: states win vote on its adoption this
year.
The other day in Birmingham the
city government tried to saddle onto
the people ten-year lighting contract
which was distasteflll to them They
called an election and by referendum
vote defeated the contract by more
than two to one.
This idea Of letting the people say
what they want and do not want is Of
course distastefuI to Editor Harris's
idea Of old fashioned democracy, but
It is exactly In line with what the
editor OF The Journal has advocated
ever since he began thinking on politi-
cal SUBJECTS
The Ocala editor may disagree with
the theory and practice Of the Tnitia-
tive. Referendum and Recall, but he
can hardly deny that the institution Is
being adopted in a majority of the
states today and that as soon as their
: cumbersome constitutional machinery
win permit 1t, it viii be adopted by ali
OF the states.
Our contemporary may not like these
= reforms in government, but he can
hardly deny that they are going on
And, furthermore. he knows that these
privileges once secured by the people