Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-15

any slilOEe pAIueS 4ylu5 dESuItu lpobes
you will find direct nominations IN
their platforms, too.
Therefore, say there is no use
discussing a question in which
everybody believes and for which
every party mas declared.
When l ran for Governor in the
dim political past, direct primaries
were fully discussed and the people
fully convinced.
When in later years all platforms
contained declarations in favor Of
direct primaries, all parties were
positively pledged to this principle
and all public servants definitely
committed.
Question of Decent Politics
The question now, therefore, is
not merely a question of direct pri-
maries. but of decent politics. II
is not a question of complicated
theory, but of common honesty. The
question now is whether a man can
pledge himself to pursue a certain
policy in public office, and can Sc
cure his election to Office because
of that promise, and then refuse to
perform his sacred pledge and to
execute the peoples viii.
The question is whether we shall
have honest men in public Office or
rogues and perjurers. These
may be plain words, but they are
true ones. The man who breaks
his solemn oath is a periurer, and
the man who obtains office under
false pretenses is as much a rascal
as the man who obtains money I'M
der false pretenses.
There is only one remedy for such
rascality and such treachery, and
that is to turn the rascals out.
There is only one way to compel
public servants to do their duty.
There is only one way to turn them
out in case they fail to do their
duty, and that way is to adopt and
put into operation not merely direct
primaries, but the whole Progress
sive program.
Must Have Direct Nominations.
To be able to nominate men who
you believe represent the people
and not some corporation owned
boss, you must have direct nomi-
nations.
To have honest and impartial
elections. uninfuenced by political
prejudice and machine politics. you
must have the Massachusetts, bal
lot.
To compel your representatives, TO
adhere to their pledges and give
proper consideration to the peoples
wishes, you must have the initia-
tive.
To prevent your representatives,
when once safely installed in Of
Ace, from giving away your public
property to privilege seeking cor
porations, or from sacrificing your
political rights and liberties for
their own private advantage you
must have the referendum,
To punish those representatives
who have been Indifferent 20 the in
terests OF the people, to deny to
those who have proved traitors the
opportunity for further treason, 60
discharge incapable or unfaithfuI or
dishonorable public servants, you
must have the recall.
None of Powers Dangerous.
None Of these powers is danger
Gus. 1t is the attempt to conduct
a great business without these pow
ers that is dangerous.
None Of these powers is expert
mental.
They are already successful and
in beneficial operation in the ma
jority Of the progressive States Of
the Union.
No private business could be con-
Quoted successfully unless it had
the ordinary business mans control
of tine conduct of his employees. and
the reason your public business is
not conducted either honestly or
efficiently is because you DO not
possess these powers.
Those among YOU who are Dem
ocrats may say TO yourselves,
Why should J. Democrat, vote
for these purely Progressive pou-
cieso"
If you say this. let ne say in re-
pE that these. policies are NOT
merely Progressive policies: they
are primarily Democratic princi-
pies.
The Democratic party Is the
party demos <ratos, Of the power Of
the people and these measures are
essential to a proper and compre-
hensive exercise Of the peoples
power.
Would Never Need New Parties.
II the Democratic party had
done its duty TO the public and
. kept the faith OF its founders. &c
would have written these principles