The Detroit times., 1912-02-21


r<cosnition that modern business
rondItions have come TO stay insofar
IA least as these conditions mean
{hnf business must be done In larger
units and then the cool-headed and
--F<<8f4F1EaeFe FF8fH8 tf8ff-t t-fHtF6aHe
an effective method OF regulating big
"Following Senator LaFollette, a
number of practical workers and
thinkers in Wisconsin have turned
that state into an experimental
laboratory OF wise governmental ac-
ton in aid OF social and industrial
fOsiice. They have Initiated the kind
OF progressive government that
means not merely the preservation OF
true democracy, but the extension OF
the principle OF true democracy into
{ndustriaAsm as well as into politics.
One prime reason why the state has
been so successful In this policy is
because II has done justice 10 cor
+ porations precisely as IL has exacted
Justice from them.
.All business into which the ele-
ment OF monopoly In any way or de-
kree enters and where Ii proves in
practice impossible totally TO elm
mate this element of monopoly,
8houid be exercised by administra-
i've. rather than by judicial officers.
mo man should receive a dollar
urlees that dollar has been fairly
earned Every dollar received should
Frepresent a dollars worth OF service
rendered. No watering OF stocks
should be permitted; and 1t can be
Drevented only by close govern
mental supervision OF all stock issues
90 as to prevent over-capitalization
we maintain that the nation and
the several states have the right 10
|regulate the terms and conditions OF
labor. Shape your constitution so
the people will be able through their
legislative bodies or by direct popu-
lar vote TO provide workmen's COM
pensation acts. to regulate the hours
@of labor for children and for women
*and TO provide for their safety while
+ ut work and 10 prevent overwork or
work under unhygienic or unsa1e
condftions."
|4 Col. Roosevelt then comes out for
The Initiative, referendum and recall
and other progressive reforms. He
|oaid:
|kn I believe in the short ballot. You
cannot get good service from the pub
He servant IL you cannot see him. ana
there 10 no more effective way or MD
Ing him than by mixing him up with
mnlfitude OF others so that they are
none OF them important enough 10
.tntch the eye OF the average, workaday
citizen. The crook in public life is not
the man whom the people
a <ht mselves elect directly to highly
1mportant and responsible position.
The type OF boss who has made the
name OF politician odious rarely him
aelf runs for high elective office; and
AZ he does and is elected. the people
nave only themselves 10 blame. The
|orofessional politician and the profes-
|*nfonal lobbyist thrive most rankly un-
der a system which provides multi
xnde OF elective officers. OF such Ovid
ID responsibility and OF such obscurity
that the public knows. and can Know
hut little as to-their- dHt4es-afd the
way they perform them. The people
have nothing whatever to fear from
kiving any public servant power so
Ions as they retain their own power 70
hold him accountable for his use or
the power they have delegated TO him.
You will get best service where you
elect only a few men, and where each
man has his definite duties and respon-
abilities. and is obliged TO work in
the open. 80 that the people know who
he is and what he Is doing, and have
the Information that will enable them
10 hold him to account for his stew
.., believe in providing for direct nom
NATION by the people, including therein
|UITtCt preferential lno
Election of delegates to the national
nominating conventions. Not as mat
Ger OF theory, but as a matter OF plain
and proved experience, We ind that
The convention system, while II often
records the popular will is also often
osed by adroit politicians as a method
o. thwarting the popular Will. In other
Words. the existing machinery Tor nom
nations is cumbrons, and Is not de-
nirned to secure the real expression OF
The popular desire. Now, as good ciu-
lens we are all of us willing TO ac-
Quicsce cheerfully In a nomination Sc
cured by the expression OF a majority
of the people, but we do not like TO ac-
Quiesce in a nomination secured by
4droit political management defeat
ing the wish of the majority OF the
n III believe in the election OF United
Hates senator's by direct vote. Just as
actual experience convinced our people
hat presidents should be elected Gas
they now are in practice. although not
IN theory by direct vote OF the people
instead OF by indirect vote through an
tkptrammeled electoral college, so ac-
tual experience has convinced us that
ecnators should be elected by direct
vote OF the people instead of indirectly
Through the various legislatures,
"a believe In the iniative and the ref
ercndum, which should be used not 90
destroy representative government.
but to correct it whenever IL becomes
V.srepresentatives--SH ere-~again am
ILuctTneu not VIII tBeOries, out with
ectuai facts. II In any state 4e peo-
pie are themselves satisfied v<h their |
Dresent representative system, then II |
- OF course their right 10 keep that
system unchanged; and IL is nobody's |
buxinoss but theirs But in actual |
frhcffce II has been found I'm very many
states the Legislative bodies have not I
been responsive 20 the popular will /
|Ihfrefore r believe that the state
should provide for the possibility OF I
0frecr popular action IN, order to make |
-rower--te--lapokes-su Standardization
botn by initiative and by referendum.
should be provided I'm such fashion as
10 prevent Its being wantonly or too
frequently used 1 DO not believe that 1
Il should be made the easy or Ordinary |
Eay OF taking action In the great
majority ofScases IL Is far better that
4ctinn on Legislative nratturs should be
Hken by those specially delegated to
Ierfornn the task; in other words. that
Vlc work should be doRe-by the eN-
Ierts chosen TO perforn1-it But where
NC men thus delegated fail 20 perl
Wrm their duty, thensft should be In |
NE power of the people themselves TO '
WerfOrm the duty, Tn a recent speech |
Vov. McGovern, OF Wisconsin. has de- |
4cribed the plan which has been there
adopted. Under this plan the effort
~ obtain the law is first TO be made
U1shed as far az II Will go; so that the
Details OF the proposed measure may
~ threshed over IN actual legislative
1cbate. This gives opportunity TO per-
net AZ I'm form and invites public scru-
my Then. " the legislature fails TO
4nhct II. II can be enacted by the peo-
DC on their own Initiative. taken at