New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-04

political party It is this fact which needs to
be understood and kept clearly in mind II
substantial progress is to be made.
What, then, is the present programme OF
the Progressive movement? In the nation, the
first of the reforms which the Progressive
movement advocates is the removal from gov
eminent of organized influence exercised by
minorities fer special purposes. Because this
influence for the last quarter of century has
been exercised chiefly by corporations OF vari-
GUS kinds in their own behalf, the practical
problem becomes one of putting into effect
and carefully administering measures that Will
give to the government adequate control over
these corporations. The new Federal Trade
Commission must be developed into an ef-
fectve, judicious instrument of regulation and
control. The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion must be still further strengthened and
supported. The new currency system must
be wisely administered so as to take the con-
troll of credits out of the hands of few and
place them at the disposal of the many on
equal terms.
The machinery of the national government
must be modified by providing simpler
process Of amending the federal Constitution,
by providing for a nationwide system OF
Presidential preference primaries, by electing
the President and Vice President by direct
vote instead of by the Electoral College, as
at present, and by reform in legislative pro-
cedure in the houses of Congress.
THE RELIEF OF SOCIAL AND ECO
NOMIC DISTRESS.
In relieving social and economic distress
the nation, because of the limited powers
granted under the Constitution, cannot do as
much as might be desired. Certain things it
can do. 1t can appoint a non-partisan tariff
commission, so that revisions of the tariff may
be made in a scientific and honest manner
without disturbing the business Of the entire
country and precipitating panics. 1t can pass
a strict child labor law and a stronger en-
ployers' liability act to protect employees en-
gagged in interstate commerce. 1t can make
greater effort to conserve the nations natural
resources and it can use national power to de-
velop inland waterways and to guard against
disastrous floods.
What of the Progressive movement in the
state? To eliminate corruption there are
troll by the people. These measures include
system of direct primaries, thoroughgoing
corrupt practices act, the short ballot the
Massachusetts ballot and adequate regis
tration system. To secure control over off
Gals after they have been elected certain
measures of post-election control are advo-
Gated by most progressive leaders of all polit-
cal parties. These are the initiative referen-
dunn and recall, including the recall Of judicial
decisions that declare laws unconstitutional.
Finally, the state must pass laws both to
prevent and to relieve distress; to prevent
distress by saving the life of the child through
stringent child labor laws; by giving to the
child the benefit of the uplifting home nfu-
ence as long as possible through system of
mothers pensions; by protecting men, women,
and especially young girls, through a mini
mum wage law, and by adequate factory reg
ulation and inspection; to relieve distress by
placing upon society in the form of working
mems compensation acts, old age, sickness
and unemployment insurance acts portion of
the burden which the individual hitherto has
borne. In our cities the Progressive pro-
gramme has in view essentially the same OBJ
jects that characterize the movement in the
nation and in the state. Cities must be freed
from corrupt special iniuence-an influence