Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-09-10


vised Of the legal arguments pro and
con, even II they could understand
them. Again. the power OF a reckless
press would be enhanced and justice
and equity would play little part in tho
result.
The evil tendency OF such so-called
reform IS in the destruction Of the
sanc;ity OF our Constitution. Under
the initiative and referendum, no
greater consideration by the people is
required In the passage of consti,u-
;ional amendment than in that OF any
temporary and unirportant measure.
The system Of representative gov
eminent is an institution hammered
GU; in the struggle for liberty by our
Anglo-Saxon ancestors for 500 years
The system of written constitutions
and an independent judiciary has vim
dictated itself in the strenuous life Of
the republic for l25 years. and there
is nothing in the actual results of the
initiative referendum and recall that
commends them as substitute
PARTIES ARE ESSENTIAL
TO POPULAR GOVERNMENT
What is true with respec, 10 the
state is true with respec; to tho party
Parties arc essential 10 popular gov
eminent. In no other way practically
can the will OF all the electorate be
interpreted and embodied in ai,irma tive
action, Legislative and executive.
The convention system gave rise to
abuses Bosses and machines were
able TO control the convention. but
even under the worst boss and the
worst machine, the convention was a
body with sense Of some responsi-
biiity growing out of its desire TO nom
mate a ticket which would win in the
election; and. therefore. while il may
have nominated many machine candi-
dates whose selection did not make for
the public interest. II frequently nom
mated men OF strength and popularity
and high character in order that the
ticket might be vote-getting one.
Under the system Of the general
primary. there IS no such rcsponsi-
bil!ty. Especially is this true in the
selection OF tho subordinate officers
Circumstances of no real or proper
significance in the selection OF quail
ned candidates affect the choice In such
cases
mary is any less subject 10 the control
of machine and the boss and n politi-
cal organization than convention
Primaries are usually attended by a
minority of the party. In other words
the result is much affected by the num-
Der who can he aroused 10 come out 10
VOC. and that depends upon organiza-
ton. This places IN the hands of the
politicians who have an organization
the means to control.
The representative system in Legis-
latures and in conventions. system will
work we'll il the people who ought to
vote will turn out, and it Will work
for the reasons l have stated n great
deal better than the initiative and
referendum and the general primary.
But should realize under any sys-
TEN the politicians will control, if the
people fail In their electoral duties"
MIR. Taft said trades unions had
secured much benefit for their mem
bers through the political influence
they have exercised; that they are here
to stay and Will remain powerful fac
tors in the progress OF the community
He held that the chief ground for crit
icizing the recent policy OF trades
unions is that. with the power they
have leGitimately acquired by COM
bInation, they are now attempting 10
place organized labor in a privilege
class. He declared that the Clayton
act making legal secondary boycott
Nigh: work great hardship upon en-
ployers.
CONVENTION ADJOURNS
AFTER ELECTING OFFICERS
The American Bankers Associations
annual convention adjourned to-day,
after eIecting James K. Lynch. of San
Francisco, president and Peter X. Goc-
bel, of Kansas City, vicc-president.
Kansas City was awarded the 1916 con-
vention.
The cotton resolution offered by Rob-
crt T.. Maddox, of Atlanta, follows:
whereas. the cotton crop of 1914
was marketed at low prices, with con-
sequcnt loss and hardship to the plant
ers of the cotton growing States. and
all those CONNECTED in any manner with
the production and sale;
Whereas, following the advice OF
recognized financial and agricultural
authorities. the planters greatly re-
duced the acreage planted in cotton
this year. in their endeavors to pro-
mote, as far as Ii lay within their
power. the general welfare:
whereas, the recent declaration by
belligerent powers that cotton is con-
traband now threatens to seriously af-
feet the marketing of this seasons crop
and work great hardshlps;
Whereas, the President of the United
States and the Federal Reserve Board