Omaha daily bee., 1914-12-07
NEW HERESIES FORM
DEMOCRACY DANGER
Failure of Representative Govern
ment Only Justification Of the
Referendum and Recall.
CRoFOoT ADDRESSES ALUMNI
Michigan Men Listen TO Address at
University CIub--Cra wfOrd Raps
oxford University Tactics
Go Rhodes Men.


Flat failure of representative govern
ment Is the only justification OF initiative.
referendum and recall laws. said Attor-
ney L. +. Crofoot to the Michigan alumni
at the University. club Saturday. He
uttered bitter denunciation Of these
measures as political heresies
After declaring that a false cry of "un-
holy alliance between business and gov
eminent" had arisen In the United States,
Mr.. Crofoot said:
Safe and sane reforms did not suffice.
Within n decade a trinity OF political
Observation-Disclosures, referendum and recall
was conceived and given birth in the
far west
These heresles have insidiously and
gradually worked their way through the
new and sparsely settled states without
in any way justifying their existence or
fulfilling the extravagant predictions
made for the good they would work.
THE danger from these heresies lies In
the possibility OF their wide adoption be-
fore time has demonstrated the utter
futility of such measures to correct evils
which arise, not from a faulty system.
but from lack OF attention to public af-
fairs on the part OF the voter, and his
failure TO do his share in working out our
political problems through the medium
we have at banda representative gov
eminent.
Tend Toward Democracy.
'Unless one is prepared TO say that
representative government lie a failure
that it has broken down under the stress
laid upon 1t by modern conditions and
the complexities of modern life--there is
no basis for belief in the efficacy OF the
initiative. referendum and recall. The
chief political virtue their advocates can
claim for them is that they tend toward
democracy, giving the people direct
voice in legislation, and immaculate
power TO dismiss those elected to oftice'
These changes do tend toward democracy
ana by that same token are unsuited to
our needs and are revolutionary.
Mr.. Crofoot maintained that these
measures would cause the removal OF
strong officials, and that the weaker OF
ficials would always keep ear TO the
ground to catch the first murmurings OF
political opinion He attacked pohucal
charlatans" and said 1t was recognized
in the beginning that q democratic form
NJ government was unsuited to the needs
Of tho people.
Gives Minority Power
.trhe recall outruns democracy-makes
elective officials chosen by the people re-
,.,o,,al,,a whenever their conduct does not
so,,are with the prevailing public ideas
NJ crofoot continued, speaking OF Con-
,orvat,on of Our Political system Ano
what "a infinitely worse. 1t places wlthn
,ho novyor of an organized minority 10
,,,,.,. its will in the removal OF ortlclals
NAV as must often happen, the majority
"a indifferent or unorganized.
collective officials would become poll
.,oaI invertebrates, with ears to the
ground to catch the trend OF pubic
on,pion. Is It possible that representa-
tive government has fallen 10 such 10"
estate that voters cannot elect men whom
thew are willing to trust for the relatiVeiy
abort terms of office prevailing IN TINS
country. Must they, as fancied sate-
vuard hang over the heads OF these same
officials a sword of Damocles In the form
Of popular favor, which may fan ana
decapitate them whenever they tail 10
respond TO the passions and prejudices OF
the hour, easily aroused and inflamed In
times of public excitement.
Better far to select few bad Officials
than 10 paraIyze the efficiency. and In
dependence. and courage Of all elective
officials"
W. ]. Hammil of Council Bluffs fol-
lowed Mr.. Crofoot, speaking from the
subject, Influence OF the University OF
Michigan as an institution
In a scholarly address Frank Crawford
indicted" the University of Oxford,
which he attended for a while, and then
moved that the indictment be quashed.
because of the 'superbly sympathetic
spirit of the English common people
and the great courtesy with which he
was treated there.
Among other things Mr.. Crawford
charged the tories with being jealous
OF the United States and of politely.
snubbing the Rhodes scholarship men,
who are 1.-THE flower of America"
The university itself said Mr.. Craw-
ford. needs a rodding, for 1t does not
meet the demand OF the English nation.
He suggested that the United States
ought 10 have a plan Of bringing some
English students to an American uni
versity, on the Cecil Rhodes plan.
Following officers of the Alumni as
ISOLATION were elected for the year; DR..
c, f. Crowley, president; r. c. Peters.
first vice president; DIR. Donald Macrae,
second vice president; ]. p. Palmer, third
vice president; c. e. Paulson, secretary;
r. NJ. Crossman, treasurer; H. b. Smith,
DR.. Claude Uren Dexter L. Thomas, j.
IT Adams and w I Haron,uI .w..,,At,,.