Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1912-08-16
PLATFORM z or f MI. R;IiiNlnDA1I

lions OF pupuc pOucy are OF uCCle 1U'
portanee to: anyone but himself. But,
when he seeks an office with power to
influence the future development Of a
state, he owes it to those whose sup
port he seeks to tell them frankly what
principles he holds as fundamental and
what issues to him appear Of immediate
Importance so that they may know the
nature of the enterprise in which they
are invited to join him. My candidacy
is therefore the only fact which can
justify me in publishing this statement.
If it appeals to the understanding, the
judgment and the sentiments Of the
people of the state, it's author is en-
titled to their serious consideration. If
it fails to do so, he has no claim upon
them. With this preface make bold to
submit the following PLATFORM in sup
port of my candidacy.
Representative government without
direct popular control Of its policies is
relic of an age that is gone.
Under it's operation the resources of
a continent, the richest on earth, have
been taken from us, partly with and
partly without the color of law. Min
nesota has been one Of the principal
victims.
The few who profit by this injustice
hold us at their mercy. This power is
un-American, despotic and dangerous.
Despotism lies in substance, not in
form.
Through excessive prices, rooted in
monopoly, tribute is taken from us by
lawless combinations.
The cost Of living has been doubled
so that the few who control our re-
sources and public utilities may gorge
themselves on the substance drawn
from the earnings Of millions.
Jefferson said: "The land belongs in
us.u1ruct to the living.' This can only
mean that Nature s resources are the
inalienable property Of the people. If
we fail to enforce this principle, those
| who come after US will be the victims
of despotism.
Industrial democracy is the only
/ free institutions and form the ground
work for the development of strong,
| virile people.
| economic freedom. We must regain. in
| dustrial independence or cease to be a
| free people.
Our industrial conquest has been
brought about through special privi-
| leges. Principal among these are: Ex-
cessive tariff and other unjust taxes,
abuse of patent privileges, private con-
troll of the Nation 8 finances, and mon
| opolistic control of transportation, re-
! sulting in the ruin of free competition
and in the confscation of minerals,
forests, and other resources originally
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
! portation companies and to deprive
| them of their monopoly-creating power.
| We have won many victories on paper,
! but the march on conquest has gone on
| until railroad combinations and trusts
have .bacome the wrongful owners Of
| natural resources worth countless mil
I lions of dollars. Those still owned by
the public are falling into the same
; hands. Unless stopped, the conquest
will be completed. We shall stand strip
ped Of natural resources unequalled in
! all the world, a prodigal among it's
people, reduced to the humiliating
necessity Of begging favors of those
who have robbed US.
But no economic evil is beyond the
reach of people with the courage and
the will to do the work Of readiust-
ment which the development Of their
time demands.
The sovereign power cannot be sold
or bartered away. The people who del
egated their power to their servants
can take it back at pleasure, and use
it for their own protection and bene-
fit.
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 a 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 when
ever the majority so determine.
AS a tool for shaping our future T
propose that the initiative and referen-
dunn be made the foremost issue at the
coming elections.
I pledge myself, = if elected, to use
every constitutional means granted to
the governor toward their adoption in
to our fundamental law.
As progressive program to be taken
up Immediately after the adoption of
the initiative and referendum, I pro-
pose the following:
A commission with ample power to
supervise and control our public utili-
ties and secure good service on fair
and equal terms to all.
The recall applied to public offices. !
Re-apportionment in obedience to the
constitution.
Changes in our system of taxation
so that Improvements rather than
cnaor1ation shall ho oncourorol rho