The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1912-08-24

brought about through special privi-
leges. Principal among these are: Ex-
cessive tariff and other unjust taxes
abuse of patent privileges, private
control of the Nations finances, and
monopolistic control of transportation
resulting In the ruin of free competi.
ton and in the confiscation of MINER
ais, forests, and other resources orig
1nally held by owners not affiliated
with the transportation monopoly.
During fifty years we have made
many attempts to reduce the tariff to
fair and reasonable basis The net
result has been an increase of it's bur-
dens.
We have tried to regulate trans
portat1on companies and to deprive
them OF their monopoly-cr creating DOW
er' we nave Won many victories on
paper, but the march on CONQUEST
has gone on until railroad combina-
tons and trusts have become the
wrongful owners of natural resources
worth countless millions of dollars.
Ihose still owned by the public are
falling into the same hands. Unless
stopped, the conquest will be COM
pleted. We shall stand stripped Of
natural resources unequalled in all
the world. a prodigal among it's peo-
pie, reduced to the humiliating neces-
sity Of begging favors Of those who
have robbed u.s. - = :-:.-
But no economic evil is beyond the
reach of people with the courage
and the will to do the work Of read
1ustment which the development of
their time demands j.
Power Can Not Be Battered.
The sovereign power cannot be sold
or bartered away. The people who
delegated their power to their SER
| wants can take it back at pleasure, and
use it for their own protection and
benefit. ..
Many cures have been suggested
for the ills from which We suffer, but
none of them can help us until put
into use and supported by majority
OF the people. No human being can
know what the majority want until
| they have expressed themselves. No
means for such expression now exists
But the road lies open. Other
states have pointed the way.
The initiative and referendum will
| give voice to our will. When we put
into our constitutions, the majority
| can choose any remedy which to them
may seem wise and good.
Within the state is the place to ap-
| ply them first. When they have been
firmly established here, they can be
added to our federal constitution
whenever the majority so determine.
AS a tool for shaping our future I
propose tina tthee initiative and refer
endum~ be made the foremost issue at
the coming elections
1 pledge myself, IL elected, to use
every constitutional means granted to
| the governor toward their adoption
into, our fundamental law.
:: For Utilities Commission. :.
AS a progressive program to be TAX
en- up immediately after the adoption
OF the Initiative and referendum, I
| propose the following: =, T.F.
"A commission with ample power to
supervise and control our public utili-
ties and secure good service on fair
and equal terms to ALL; i. 3
The recall applied to public offices.
| Re-apportionment in obedience to
the constitution. IA 5 J. &.
Changes in our. system Of taxation
| so that; improvements rather than
speculation shall be encouraged. The
farmer and the workman whose in
dustry gives us food and clothing
should not be fined for the benefit Of
! those who hold land in idleness. The
manufacturer and the merchant
should not be burdened with taxes
that ought to fall on privilege.
AS q defensive measure against OPP
preston by public service corpora
tons the constitution should provide.
means whereby, II the majority SO de-
cides, any public utility may become
the property OF s,the public served
thereby upon payment Of q fair price.
Industry should bear the burden Of
accidents to those who serve 1t. The
law should secure fair compensation
to the injured workman. 81. to his
family in case OF death. SIS
Direct Legislation Trust. s*s
There are other issues on which I
choose the progressive side. but it Isl
q waste OF time and q play into the
hands OF reaction to attack them
without proper tools. The Initiative.
and Referendum should Is come first.
After thai. the maj ority can compel
u any measure ~ may deem necessary
oilsd down this form aims III
81 a