Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1915-07-02

what one Australian called the don
key work" In development This sec.
ton ID in the minority. however, and
win doubtless remain % until 1t ID
demonstrated that other plans Of set.
Element and development have been
tried. and 1t has been conclusively
shown that the occupancy of the
northern territory by the white man
is impossible II there be evil re-
sulting from the experiment in de-
mocracy. the white man. the Briton
away from Great Britain, is RESPONSE
BILE and the white man alone.
Dem oeraey to the Limit.
The Australian federal constitution,
modelled upon the Constitution of the
United States. carries to the farthest
limit the principle Of trusting the
people. Every adult. man or woman,
has an equal voice in the election of
both houses of parliament. There is
no property qualification and no cir
cumstance entities any citizen to more
than one vote. In actual practise,
however. as Frank Fox, keen observer
and long resident Of Australia, pointed
out, 1T has been found that the prin-
ciple OF federalism imposes a check
on the actions Of the Australian parli-
ament, which is deeply resented by
the advanced labor leaders. and the
inconvenience Of which is acknowl-
J edged by others. The constitution fol-
lowed somewhat closely the United
States model, and reserved very large
powers to the states-far larger, for
} example, than the states or provinces
t have in Canada. To provide that
: there should not be any arbitrary en-
a croachment on state rights, states
y house was set up, in which house-the
q senate-the tiny state Of Tasmania
J. has equal representation with the very
y large state Of New South Wales. Also,
9 the respective power Of the states OF
l. the federatio were defined by the
8 written constitution and the high
r. court Of the commonwealth was made
4 the guardian and interpreter OF that
n constitution"
10 This high court, It may be observed.
70 has kept jealous watch for any
Il trespasses by the federal power on
A state rights, and has declared great
a. deal Of the federal legislation "uncon-
ID stitutional," and therefore invalid, be-
g. cause it went beyond the powers CIV
In en- to the federation or commonwealth
H. by the constitution. This has created
r. q strong demand for revision of the
re constitution, just as the decision OF
We the majority Of the justices of the
er United States Supreme court in the
er income tax case caused demand for
ry a revision of the American Constitu'
Is ton. It strikes observers from Older
al countries with surprise. and perhaps
n with disnay that 1t should be urgent
be ly proposed to enter upon profound
constitutional change after only ter
years experience of federation undel
the act Of union.
Labor In the Saddle.
Other experiments, tried out, ma!
be abandoned, lightly or otherwise
but the experiment Of democracy Il
not among them. The Australian
whether he be a member of the La
Dor or OF the Liberal party-the tw'
great political parties-is democrat
One man is as good as another man II
\ his eyes and, to employ the Iris
| phrase, often little better. The sec
rotary OF the drayman's union is al
pointed member Of the legislativ
council. The cabman, who ovel
charged me in Sydney, as cabme
| overcharge the traveller in all cite
upon earth, is a member of parli'
ment. One premier is miner, al
other a printer. Not in mere theor,
as in some other countries claimin
to be democratic, the government
Australia Is In the hands of the butte
er, the baker and the candlestic
maker.
The extent to which democracy go'
may be illustrated by the New Sout
II Wales experiment. The Labor part
returned to power in this state. Il
s most important in Australia, selectt
as its leader. w. A. Holman, who hi
filed this place with distinction in Il
previous parliment. Under the CO
stitution and by precedent the form
ton OF government, that is the {
lection Of cabinet ministers, fell to
lot Premier Holman, as an ultima
z democrat, declined to avail hims'
OF this immemorial privilege, a.
called q secret caucus Of all the Lab
members of parliament to select t
new ministry. A score of candidat
were voted upon by the 4S Lat
members, and after six hours of STR
TAI" uous balloting the caucus selected
names. These are the new cabil
Aus ministers, though the caucus left
Ition ...,enmart =, their separate. nc
ralia ,oI,os i, of,cere - the nremier.
hern 1900 ro..,d soel.II.m.
oped w,th manv Australiana democrs
nefe spells opportunity for socialism.
Deen greater or less degree. The two ch
vhitA - A.4..,,oc