Norwich bulletin., 1912-09-11
|FROCRESSIvES HELD RALLY HERE
Hon. Tracy Becker of California the Speaker of 100 in Town Hal-His State the Cradle of the Party Argues for Initiative. Referendum and Recall of Judicial Decisions.

that makes the enemy tremble in their boots.
 Down on the Bosses.
 How long is boss going to last if a party insists upon direct primaries, which are real direct primaries, and not only so named? And how long is party that adopts the initiative the referendum and the recall? Those are Tn the constitution of California, with woman suffrage, too. (Applause)
 Women Voted Right.
 l will not discuss woman suffrage. but only say that the great majority or women in our state thought righ. and voted right
 MT. Becker read a telegram from Governor Johnson showing what the legislature Of 1909 to 1910 in Califor- ma had done, showing a long list of remedial measures along labor lines. This he adduced as proof of what pro- gressives would do when they made promises.
 Initiative and Referendum.
 Upon the initiative and the referen- dun the speaker gave some of his ex- per1ence Of these in Oregon and in Cal lfornla. California has absolutely done away with the objections to the initia- IVY eAAAo eAAC ACACl IuG SOlu- ton is in a ballot received by mall ten days before election by every voter which is like the ballot to be used on election day. There is, too, the provision that anyone having an argument to present for or against can have 100 words printed at the state expense, and this comes with the sam pie ballot ten days in advance. Trust the peopls,
 You can trust the people, the speak CT said. Abraham Lincoln could trust them, and no man since him has known better how to trust them than Theodore Roosevelt. The quicker you get back to the people and cease to be reactionary but progressive, the soon- CT you will get away from the dange. of socialism and anarchy.
 Bryan's Service to the Country. Bryan did the country service, the l speaker declared, when he compelled the democratic party to nominate al Baltimore man whom they never in- l tended to so honor; but Wilson. like Grover Cleveland, would never be able | to rise above his party He will be absolutely powerless, tied down to a constricted circle like the heifer set out to graze at the end of a pole and weight device such as is used on the l farm.
 Upon the recall of judicial decisions Hon. Mir Becker said that he believed that a certain class of enactments as- 1 sociated with the exercise of the police power the people must take into theil hands. You cannot find It in tht power of the supreme court to declare unconstitutional a law passed by tht representatives of the people, but ther, is precedent in the Dred Scott case fol the re- enactment of law by the peo. pie after 1t has been declared uncon. stitutional by the supreme court. Thi time has come when these encroach. ments of power must be checked, fol today we stand the only country in tn, world in which nine men can ,declar, unconstitutional measure which thu | great majority of the people have sai; | Is for the public welfare.
 | The measures recommended by tn, l progressives give the people a direc i interest in municipal affairs. Tn l speaker said he did not intend to sa. an unkind word about either Taft O Wilson, but Taft has had his chance He has lost it. The best thing tha has been said about MT. Taft was b.
 Senator Deliver, who said of him
 Taft is a large. fat, amiable gentle
 man, surrounded by whole lot of me
 who know exactly what they want. 1 (Laughter and applause.)
 With the election of Roosevelt. if
 should happen. the speaker prophesie
 that there would be a good safe work ing majority for a progressive presi dent. and if not now it would be onl two years to the election of anothe legislature.
 Chairman Davis led in three cheer
 for the speaker in closing the meetin and also announced a caucus for Mon
 day night, when delegates to the stat convention are to be elected.