The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-02-17
Progrcssives and Semi-Rcactionarlcs
I'm the Democratic Party.

Progrcssives and Semi nl-Rcactionarics
in the Democratic Party.
The fight for the rights Of the peo-
pie against the dictates OF the few.
began in the Democratic party i'm Ohio
some time prior to the state conven-
ton that nominated MIR Harmon for
governor. This reactionary spirit was
under and against the protest Of the
former mayor of Cleveland and his
many progressive friends. in that
contest Mr. Harmon was victorious
He was elected governor of the state
He made his appointments, bending
the appolntces TO his own reactionary
Views with such subtlety. they scarce
~ knew themselves where they stood.
He threw around himself this strong
arm of state patronage and thought
himself inyincible This encouraged
him on to reactionary error. Up %
this time silence had been hobby
and silence was golden. But gradual
ly he began to open out First the
bud of electing United states senators
by the direct vote of the people with
cred i'm his hand He was asked to
put water on It ana revive It and he
dld, he poured cold water on il. and
would have killed E. II was saved.
however, by the progressive element
of the party, through the influence OF
its state and national friends. Eyen
all Of this did not destroy the conf
dence of his friends, who seemed
ready to endorse him for the presi-
dency and fight for him to the las,
ditch, until urged on by that ovcl-
weening selfish desire that actuated
Webster. Chase and Clay, he fell
victim to standpatism, and denied the
efficacy of the progressive remedies of
the initiative, referendum and recall
for the ills of the body polite, and
deserted his brothers and sisters in
ana out Of the church for the license
system. Ghat the fathers of the Ohio
constitution and the people had de-
clarcd should never and ought never
to exist or be tolerated i'm the state.
of Ohio. t.r
. What other principle Of the pro-
gresslves will be cast aside in his bat
tie forthc presidency II he has post
poned ana sacrificed the great and
enduring principles of the people for
the people and by the people. by gO-
and recall. may he not find some
specious excuse for favOring the trusts
and the interests more than he has
nov? Unless the newspapers arc "a
type of fabrication, Mr.. Harmon has
given his ultimatum to the progressive
hot-bed of the state, that unless they
bow the knee 20 covers that pulled
down former mayor OF Cleveland
the present mayor ana his progressive
friends VIII be pulled down also. if
within i5he power of the governor and
his appointees to do IT, ,u.t .r|
Now, because MIR, Harmon Is q
citizen of our great state, ana for-
sooth the one hundred thou
sand plurality governor thereof
can he be permitted TO deny the peo-
pie of the protection of inltiHtng
enacting and enforcing their own
laws, in the way and manner they
shall see fit. and deny them the right
TO recall judges for misbehavior, when
the power Of lmpeachment has fail }d
So remove or has become an inefficient
temedy? The initiatiSe'wud rcferon-
DUN rs like the recall The recall is
a. sword in the hands OF the people
impeachment IL q shield IN the hands
OF the servants Of the people to drive
cut (sometimcs) like. servants. No
remedy. Beclzebub is not supposed
to cast out Beelzebub lr the legsla-
tors are so few that the wealthy only
can have laws passed In their favor
by purchase, then the only remedy
Is TO have the people (the majority
of whom are too many and too honest
for men with wealth. to buy) use the
initiative. the referendum ana recall
for the establishment of just laws and
honest government ''with equality TO
all and special privilege to none" And
herein is the reason why we should
elect senators by the direct vote of the
people If a man can buy a legisla-
ture and thereby be elected a senator,
we know he can't buy the majority Of
the people of his party in his state to
elect him, no more than he can 10
make she laws for a few against the
many These are the principles we
are contending for Against these
equal and just principles do the re-
dictionaries contend? We are seeing.