The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1915-10-05

NE iutuFe 81 Kansas tlty and the
West issued the first number OF the
Kansas City Star. He had given up a
profitable career as a contractor be
cause he had become increasingly in
terested in community matters.
From a personal acquaintance with
samuel j. Tilden ne had become in
fected with the passion for public
service. 1t is a great thing To lead
armies" the destroyer Of the Tweed
ring had told the young indiana
builder. but ii is d greater thing
to lead the minds of men"
Experience in politics. particularly
as Tilden's Indiana anage mad
convinced MIN that il was possible 10
move men in the mass for the
achievement Of great social ends to
better advantage through a news
paper than through any other
means.
This idea, gaining possession of a
man of extraordinary energy. initia-
tive. force courage. and imagination.
was pound to produce unique results
with the temperament of a natura
lnSurgent, a strong sense of Justice.
ana a burning contempt for every
form OF special privilege, it was
inevitable that Mr.. Nelson should es-
Ia blish a newspaper that should be
a force for social progress.
On this thirty-hfth anniversary Of
the Star 1t is fitting To reState the
creed of its great founder. which re.
mains the creed of the personality
rather than Observation-Disclosures n.
created. Briefly, that creed may b,
stated in the ashton:
The achievement of a fuller meas
: ure of justice, of a richer, longer lif,
for all the people, through the use O
the Instruments of democracy.
, IN Mr.. Nelson's vision the forces o
government, the schools. churches
! and other social agencies, should b
, improved and made more efficient i
order that the average family Shout
partake increasingly of the benefits c
!, civilization.
Democracy was the means, con
tlnulng social betterment the end.
. As to Democracy.
e 1t follows that Democratic govern
Il ment must be strong and efficient.
y 1t must be strong enough to TAX
care Of itself againSt any aggression
That means an adequate navy ar
army, with a trained reserve of cit
e zens accustomed to modern milital
D Instruments.
It must be efficient, or it will fail
S accomplish what it might for tt
common good. That means thel
4 must be an enc Of irresponsible go
eminent. There must be a concel
q %tration Of authority and responsible
! ity. There must be commission go
y eminent for cities, and an applicable
! OF the same principles in State ar
u nation. The boss system must 6
= Partisan politics have no place in CT
:, affairs. Merit and not political Sc
= vice must be the standard OF appoin
e ment to public office.
The short ballot is an essential pa
y of this improvement. Only by concel
y trating on a very few men can Poop
- know whom they are voting for.
multiplicity Of candidates simp
throws power to the political M
:; chimes. In combination with IL
= short ballot and the concentration
authority should come the direct pr
:, mary, the initiative, referendum al
: the recall. In this 2 the Peep
can best choose their public servan
and exercise authority over them
r In order to deprive the big interes
er Of the power over government viii
they now possess through their abili
for financing elections, paying the e
penses Of meetings, compensate
party workers, and the like, all t
= expenses OF elections must be Dor
c by the government.
Honest elections are fundamental
a democracy. Laws must make fra
hard and an honest vote and cou
easy. An alert public sentiment,
n course, must be behind the laws
n The courts are an important
CHI strument of democracy, and they "
TX not achieve their purpose until JUST
is made really free-until n Sta
pays the lawyers as we'll as the Judg
So long as the rich mar can hire
ha ablest lawyers the poo man must
at a disadvantage and justice will
ci- really for sale.
in But political agencies are only p;
of the instruments that the commr
al ity uses. The churches. the schoC
amusements, books, magazines,
- cial enterprises OF all sorts. each /
it's contribution and each deserves I
earnest thought Of the best minds
noO<-oASc AnhioUo-Ont2