The Detroit times., 1912-03-19
ONE BOSS GREATER THAN
TEN THOUSAND VOTERS
CHARLES r. ADAMS.
Repression of Public Opinion
Sure To Bring Extreme Meas
ures, Says New Yorker

The problem before the American
people now is the problem OF perfect
Ing the machinery OF democracy SO
that the will OF the people may be as
certained; government by aristocracy.
ollgarchy, and autocracy has failed,
and the common people have come TO
recognize that they must participate
I'm government themselves II they are
TO be governed WELL" said Charles
Frederick Adams, OF Brooklyn, who
spoke before the Lawyers club on
Direct legislation" Tuesday noon.
Good government" he continued,
cannot be carried on by any limited
set OF people. There should be reg
ular meetings OF the voters In every
election district In the country for tho
purpose OF discussing public affairs;
public men should be brought before
them and they should have chance
TO express their opinions. The busi'
ness OF government In large nation
must be carried on by representa-
tives, of course, but these representa-
tives must not be given authority
over the people. They must serve
the people, find out what the people
want them to do and do 1t.
THE founders of the republic were
more afraid OF the people than they
were OF British government and the
constitution was framed with this
fear In their minds. No provision
was made for the method OF nominal
ing men for public Offices, and expert
ence has shown that the nomination
Is by far the most important part of
the election, and IL fell into the hands
OF the politicians. The ruling class
in this country is the illiterate indie
cent bosses, whom you will not allow
In your home. One OF these men has
more influence than 10000 voters, and
congressman is more afraid OF a
dozen men In his district than he IS
OF all the electors.
THE conservative element in the
country Is too much alarmed over
the effects of giving the people more
power over legislation. The people
would be conservative. They would
not listen to personal grievance and
II would take real cause and long
period OF years to gradually build up
public opinion to a point OF legislat-
Ing. The feeling that the people
could have what they wanted would
make them conservative.
The repression of public opinion,
the failure to provide adequate, or
derby ways In which It can express
itself will bring q reaction TO ex-
treme measures on the other side.
Socialism anarchism, the growth or
unrest among the working people are
the signs that the present system Is
not working right.
No class is infallible but the aver
age of the people, the balancing OF
/, one selfish interest against another
will bring the best result. The people
should not be the slaves of legis-
lature. Our legislatures and city
councils are a constant stencil in
the nostrils of the nation. There Is
constant. treachery and bribery OF
one sort or another. This goes as
fer as congress, where there Is the
bribery OF the river and harbors bill
and other log-rolling measures. Brib-
cry Is not always in the form OF
money. There are men in congress
who would sell their souls for smile
from j. Pierpont Morgan"
Mr.. Adams advocates the establish
ment of the direct legislative meas
ures such as the initiative, referen.
dunn and recall for the purpose OF
giving the people a larger share in
the government.
Mr.. Adams is one OF the lecturers
OF the Henry George association. He
has had q long experience in law
having been admitted to the bar In
XnrL in 1SID