The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-08-02


lieves that the people should rule and
that their demands should be respect
ed and complied with; that denial of
Just demands is a denial of free gov
eminent; that the Republican and
Democratic party organizations have
become fossilized into rigid machines
controlled by political adventurers act
ing for special interests and controll-
ing all of the machinery of govern
ment to the extent that the people no
longer have any voice therein and
their just demands are disregarded.
To the end. therefore, that the peo-
pie may have freer and better gov
eminent, that they may possess the
power to control party organization,
that they may enforce their will
through their representatives, secure
justice and the enjoyment of political
and industrial equality, we present
the following demands, to the accom-
plishment of which we promise I'M
f1inching and tireless effort:
l. The initiative, whereby GER
tain reasonable percentage of the vot-
ers of the state may petition for the
submission of a proposed law directly
to the people for their approval or
rejection. The same principle should
be made applicable to smaller dis
tricts.
2. The referendum, whereby a
stated percentage of the voters may
secure the submission of laws passed
nv 10 Ia inO n q
whole body of voters for acceptance
or rejection.
3. The recall, applied to all elect
i've, executive, administrative and leg
islative officers.
4. Direct primaries for the nomina-
ton of all elective officers and of all
officials of party organizations to be
held by all parties on the same day,
which day shall be a registration day,
these primaries to be governed by the
corrupt practices act.
5. The adoption of the proposed
amendment to the federal constitu-
ton providing for the election of
United States senators by direct vote
of the people, and in the meantime
the adoption of law similar to the
Oregon law, by which the legislators
elected by all parties shall be bound
by direct preferential vote for SEN
ators.
6. A preferential vote for candi-
dates for President and Vice Presi-
dent.
Z. The adoption of a more effective
and economical registration act and
corrupt practices act which shall
apply to all elections and primaries,
including the election of officials of
party organizations and of delegates
to all conventions.
8. Equal suffrage for women on all
questions.
9. A minimum wage for women
wage earners.
10. Efficient child labor laws, ma
tional and state, and the rigid enforce
ment thereof.
IL. A decided change in state edu-
cation which shall prepare youth to
engage in life work through trade
schools and widespread industrial and
agricultural education: free school
books for children in common schools.
II. A public utilities commission,
with power to regulate rates, service,
capitalization and issuance of securi-
ties of public service corporations and
to make physical valuation of the
property of such corporations, and
compel the production of books and
records.
10. An act prohibiting corporations
from the issuance or sale of watered
stock
IA. A workman's compensation act
for industrial accidents under which
establishment losses shall be settled
upon a scale fixed by statute, the
worker to have his alternative to pur-
sue his remedy in court
Is. Home rule for cities, with pow
er to adopt their own charters. I'm
til this can be accomplished by con-
stitutional changes we favor the pass
age of an act granting to cities and
towns the option of adopting commits
sion government in lieu of remaining
under the present cities and towns
act.
Is. The application of the competi-
tive merit system to the civil service
of the state and of the cities and coun-
ties thereof, and the adoption Of the