Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-09-16
THE DIRECT VOTE.
(Speech of Congressman Finley Gray
of Indiana-}

of 1ndiana.}
| Mr.. Gray Another power vested in
| the people and surrendered to be ex-
/ ercised as a part of the appointtve
power was the power of election or
administrative officials. In addition to
| the reasons existing for the recovery
/ to the people of the power of election
/ of United States Sc lators by the direct
vote. other and equally potent reasons
/ exist for the direct election of many
/ officials of the government now ap-
| pointed by the executive. When the
appOintive power was vested in the
president on the adoption of the con-
| stitution, the growth and extent which
the federal jurisdiction has assumed
was not contemplated or dreamed of.
| The enlarging functions to be per-
/ formed, the multiplying appointments
to be made, and the overshadowing
| power Of the executive Office was
never in any manner apprehended.
! Such a concentration of power and
| Capitalization of authority as now ex-
lists in the executive by reason OF the
constitution was never in any manner
considered by the trainers of that in
strument, and would have never been
authorized If even family realized by
our forefathers.
Many of the activities of the general
/ government administered by officials
appointive by the president as closely
and intimately affect and concern the
people as their own local governments
administered by officials elected by the
| direct vote of the people themselves.
This ever-growing and extending fed
| eral jurisdiction and the increasing
activities of the general government
I q Of hn Ia
administered under executive appoint
ments make a readjustment and lin
/ itations of the appointive power of
/ the president imperative to prevent
/ the concentration and overshadowing
power of that Office a necessity fast
+ becoming realized. When the appoint
ment of all poStmasters was vested in
/ the president the activities of the pos
tai department, the close relations of
I the postmaster with the people and
their everyday business affairs as re-
allied today was not even family in
the minds of the trainers of the con-
stitutiOn.
As the jurisdiction of the general
government brOadens its power must
! be in the same ratio decentraliZed and
7 brought closer to the people for their
better and more effective direction and
!
/ cover to themselves the power oselect
! by the direct vote many officials who
direct the activity of the general gov
/ eminent of concern to them in their
4 local affairs. While no executive has
ever taken advantage of this power
for abuse, the power exists to be abus-
ed. The test of a safe repository or
distribution of power is not what good
/ men viii use it for, but what use bad
men may make of it,
When the federal constitution was
adopted by our fOrefathers, vesting in
congress the full power to declare
/ war, defense-''tO provide for the COM
mon defense"-Was the ONLY object
/ for which war was contemplated War
4 for the vanity Of world power. con
! troll of the seas, and the ACQUISITION
/ OF foreign territory for exploitation;
war 10 open markets and the enforce
ment of COnsCienC eiess contracts en-
tered into with unsuspectfng natives
and their governments: war for profits
in preparedness, were not In the minds
/ of the trainers of the constitution
( They did not fOresee the growth and
developments Of the country along
social, industrial and economic lines
nor the combinations of capital. the
concentration of wealth, and the or
ganization of great special interests.
nor realize the influences which would
be brought TO bear for war and for
policies which lead to war and call
Tor war in their support The time
mas come when the government should
he brought closer to the people for
the exercise of more direct and posi-
tive power by them relative TO war,