The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1912-05-17

/ pOOI Ny UeluS llluS uSpilN6u Ol dh HOll-
est reward for faithful labor, and thus
being charged unfair prices as con-
sumers.
| 1t has been impossible to correct this
bad condition, because the monopolies
We're strong enough to finance the cam
paigns of INSCRIPTIONS men who pre-
tended to be the lovers of the people,
but in reality had strong and secret
alliance with monopoly and privilege.
Before l entered public life had
been studying this condition. knew
| that the principles of the democracy
would afford a complete relief for these
obvious evils.
The remedy is to put the power back
again into the hands of the people,
from whom the governing power has
/ been skilfully diverted by the crafty
methods of the machine caucus, ma
chine convention and other corrupt
machine methods. The remedy is to
provide the concrete mechanism by
which the people can in reality exer
else full power. These remedies have
been going through process of steady
development. The remedy is, first, the
Australian ballot; the mandatory pri-
mary, with thoroughgoing corrupt
practices act; publicity of campaign
| ,f,tht OF ~ irnif fot nf
campaign contributions; the initiative,
the referendum and the recall; the
election of Senators by direct vote;
the presidential primary; the abolish
ment of all political nominating con-
ventions.
| BY these processes the mass of the
people who are now Systematically de-
| frauded by the proceeds of their labor
by monopoly, who are mnwisely taxed
| by the Federal Government and by
State, County and City Government,
| in greater or less degree, will be able
to regain the governing power and
abate these evils. Our present tax,
on account of past wars, through the
pension lists, and in expectation of
future war; through the Army and
Navy, amounts to over six hundred
millions per annum, of which Okla
homa pays, according to population,
about one million dollars a month, as
tax upon the labor of the people.
The economic reforms, of the tariff,
of industrial and transportation mo-
nopolies, cannot be made effective
until the rule of the majority is es-
tablished For that reason ! favor,
first, the establishment of the Peoples
Rule, and by the Peoples Rule mean
the establishment of mechanism
| through which the people are honestly
registered and can honestly vote, by
which they can directly nominate and
elect their public servants; by which
they can initiate any law they do want
and veto by referendum any law they
do not want; by which they can amend
the Constitution of any State or of the
United States by a majority vote; by
which corrupt practices in elections
can be absolutely stopped.
The most remarkable changes have
taken place in the United States Sen
ate within the last five years Over
half the Senate has been retired by
death or political changes Under the
fixed rule of seniority, this has adj
vanced both of your Senators to high
place on the Committees of the Sen
ate. Under the fixed rule of seniority
of the Senate, If the Democrats con-
troll the Senate in 1918, as now seems
to be a certainty, | will be one of ten
or twelve senior Democrats holding
a commanding position on the floor OF
the Senate, and will be able, because
of this fact, to be more useful than
ever to the State of Oklahoma. Any
new member succeeding me would be
obliged to take Committee assignments
on the Committees of minor impor-
lance and in subordinate places l re-
mind you that Maine exercised DOM
mating influence in the United States
Senate by retaining Frye and Hale for
a period of years. call your atten-
ton to the fact that Wyoming controls
the Chairmanship of the Committee
on Appropriations and of the Commit
tee on the Judiciary in the United
States Senate, under the same fixed
rule of seniority. This circumstance
l refer to is an asset of great impor-
tance to the State of Oklahoma, which
should not be lost.
i Continued on Page Two.)