The Alaska citizen., 1912-09-09
THE, GREAT COMMONFR ON
 VII SONS ACCEPTANCE,

Governor Wilson's speech acccpt- ing th, Democratic nomination is original in its method of dealing with the issues of the campaign Instead of taking up ,nr platform. plank hy pIauk. inc takes the central liea of the Denver platform a. II,a repeated and emphasized in the EAI. timoro platform and elaborate 1t. using the various questions under consideration tu illustrate lur auplI- cation ot the principle fahiua the doctrine that -o,rramcn is att organization formed lor the people themselves and to be perfected by them ds an instrument for the ac- e0mplishmeHt of such cooperative work as is necessary, he shows how all the evils complained of al the present time grow out of the appro- priation by few of the instrument talities of government Ills speech gives striking evidence of the force of cumulative testimony and also il- lustratcs the power of intelligent anaiy sis In taking his position so strongly he pre-empts the ground that Mir. Kooscyelrs noa party seeks To occupy.
 In the course of his argument he indorscs the Democratic demand for the popular election of senators, presidential primaries, and "PubH- city as to everything that concerns government from the sources Of campaign funds to the intimate de- bate of the highest affairs Of the state" Instead of using cpithets and employing dcnunciation against those who have abused existing sys- tens he seeks reform along rational lines and would cure those defects in governmental forms which have been discovered by experience.
 The election of senators by the people will bring that body within the reach of the voters and convert it from bulwark of predatory wealth, in which seats have been secured by corrupt means and by the aid of favor seeking corpora tions, into popular body reslou- siye to the peoples will This re- form has been described in a form, CT Democratic platform as the gate way to other reforms" and il would he difficult to oycrcsrimatp the beneficial effects of this constitutions al change
 The presidential primaries which the Baltimore platform indorscs. and which Governor Wilson defends will correct another long standing and grieyous abuse. namely. the se- lection of presidential candidates in conventions where trading and swap ping can defeat the wishes of the people. Ingratitude has been de scribed as greater sin than rn- repayment of good with ill while the latter is the repayment of ill with ill., We must. therefore con sider at all times the effet of tho obligations incurred when so great an honor as the presidency is be slowed upon a public man, however well meaning. by those who may be in control of the convention. It is impossible for a man so nominated and so obliged to give to the public the sort Of service that the public has q right 10 demand. When the presidential primary is adopted in all of the states, as it is quite snc to be within the next four years the people will be in position to confer the office of chief executive upon the man of their choice aId the nominee, being obligated 10 tDe people and to the people alone. will rise to the requirements of h;s high position.
 Governor Wilson properly csli- mates the value of publicity as shown by his sweeping indorscment of the party's position on that sub ject. The demand for publicity Is now so universal that one linds it hard to understand how secrecy could have been tolerated So long; how an intelligent people could have Teen so slow to recognize that elc"'iCns and all officil service