The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1912-05-23
THURSDAY, MAY %, 1912

with o view of eliminating all misun-
derstandings as far as possible the
editors of Everybodys Magazine have
prepared glossary of words in com
mon use in political debate at this
time which should be studied by all
men (and women) who have any in
elination to talk politics. 1t is as
the editors Of the glossary dryly re-
mark highly desirable that "when diff
ferent men use the same word they
may mean the same thing Every
body's editorial and few of the
definitions follow:
For the next few months every po-
litical conversation and speech and
editorial will be full of words more or
less loosely used to characterize the
political theories and personalities
that are at issue. In order to put dis
cassion1 into terms of common under
standing, it would be of service to
establish some definitions that might
find common acceptance. In any sci
ence precise Technology is prime
necessity Even in field as unset
entifc as politics, there may well be
a glossary in order that when diff
ferent men use the same word they
may, preferably mean the same thing
Here are some definitions which we
hope will be of assistance to the pub
lie during the coming campaign.
Nothing is more difficult than to de-
fine, and what follows is surely falli-
BILE. But not the least service of these
definitions may lie in discussion of
their precision.
Reform-A general term for all
propositions for change. Differs in it's
application in different communities.
For instance, in America, tariff re-
form means lower tariff; in England,
higher.
Reformer-The original kicker, faith
err Of the insufgent, grandfather Of the
progressive, great grandfather of the
radical, sometimes all in one person.
He thinks to change things by chang
ing the form of things \
lnsurgent-A reformer in politics
who is lighting, usually within his
party against some things he thinks
are wrong.
Progressive-An insurgent who is
fighting for certain definite reforms, e.
81 the Initiative, Referendum, and Re
call; the Short Ballot, the direct cleo
tion Of United States senators, etc.
Liberal-One who is in sympathy
with progressive ideals, but not limit
ed by any hard and fast program.
RADICAL term applied to adyanc-
ed progressives, who, impatient with
treating only the symptoms Of evil,
would remove the causes. They aim
to change the founds tion of the social
system.
Conservatiye-One who views with
timidity any effort to change political
conditions by untried means; a. useful,
pessimistic citizen, who thinks this is a
static, not an evolving, world; who
honestly believes that things are as
right as can be.
Stand-Patter One to whom any DO
htical change is necessarily a schange
for the worse; a conservative who has
a personal or business. reason for re-
sistance to progress, Satisfied with
the hand dealt to him in the game
of life, he stands pat =
Neutrality-suspicious. who thinks the
future lies in the past; and generally
bears the same relation to the conser-
yative that the radical does to the
progressive.
Demagogue-0ne who appeals to the
prejudices and passions of the people.
Plntagogue-one who appeals to the
prejudices and passions of the pluto
eracy
Conservationist A conservative Ii
heral His particular aim is to save
from private exploitation our public
lands, forests, water power, minerals
all the so-ealled natural resources
that have not already been taken up
by individuals,
Direct Legislation-A generic term
for the Initiative, Referendum, Re,
call, Short Ballot, etc.
Initiative--The right Of certain
percentage Of all voters (say twenty
per cent? to force the legislature to
submit given question to referen-
dun, even if the legislature for some
reason doesn t want to.
Referendum-rhe act of referring a
given question to all the voters for
decision; sort Of voters veto over
the Legislature.
It IS too soon FOR the people who
were missed on the first call for in