Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-04-23
VIEWS
ON POPULAR RULE.
Tyranny Of Minorities, Not Of Ma
jorities, to Be Feared.
HAS FAITH IN PLAIN PEOPLE
They viii Make Fewer Mistakes In
Governing Themselves Than Any
Small Class or Body Of Men-Taft's
System Mockery Of Popular Gov
eminent.


The majority OF the plain people
will make fewer mistakes in govern
ing themselves than any smaller class
or body of men.
I have scant patience with talk Of
the tyranny OF the majority.
We are today suffering from the
tyranny of minorities.
It is a small minority that lies be-
hind monopolies and trusts.
It Is small minority that stands
behind the present law OF master and
servant, the sweatshops and the whole
calendar Of social and Industrial in
Justice
It Is small minority that is using
our convention system to defeat the
will of the majority in the choice Of
delegates to the Chicago convention.
The trouble is there have held pub
lie office in the states and nation men
who have served not the whole peo-
pie, but some special class or interest.
When the majority Of the people
do. in fact as well as theory, rule, the
servants Of the people will more quick
ly obey. not the commands Of the spe-
cial interests, but those Of the whole
people.
No man would say that 1t is best to
conduct all legislation by direct vote
Of the people.
But the initiative and referendum
are needed when legislatures fail to
carry out the will of the people.
The direct primary. II accompanied
by stringent corrupt practice act,
will help break up the corrupt partner
ship Of corporations and politicians.
! do not advocate the recall Of
Judges In all states and in all com
munities.
But democracy has a right to APP
proach the sanctuary Of the courts
when special interest has corryptly
found sanctuary there.
! urge that where the courts con-
strue the due process clause as If prop
erty rights. to the exclusion of human
rights. had first mortgage on the
constitution, the people may, after
sober elaboration. vote, and finally
determine whether the law which the
court set aside shall be valid or not.
Those who stand against the
changes propose are champions of
wrong and injustice, and of tyranny
by the wealthy and the strong over
the weak and helpless.
! am proposing merely that in GER
tain class Of cases, involving the po-
lice power, when q state court has
set aside as unconstitutional law
passed by the legislature for the gen.
eral welfare, the question of the va
lidity Of the law be submitted for
final determination to a vote OF the
people.
Mr.. Taft's criticism is really less a
criticism Of my proposal than criti-
cism Of all popular government
The view that the constitution Is a
straitjacket to be used for the control
Of an unruly patient--the peoples
false and mischlevous.
Mr.. Taft's position is that we have
a special class OF persons wiser than
the people, who are above the people.
but who govern them and ought to
govern them. and who protect various
classes OF people from the whole peo-
pie.
= Such system Is not popular gov
eminent. but mere mockery Of pop
ular government.
l do not believe that any people.
and especially our free American peo-
pie. will long consent that the term
liberty" shall be defined for them
by bench Of judges.
There is no danger of a revolution
In this country. but there Is grave dis
content and unrest.
We stand against all tyranny, by
the few or by the many. We stand
for the rule Of the many In the inter-
xHH.,