Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 May 1903 — POLITICS OF THE DAY [ARTICLE]

POLITICS OF THE DAY

Good Democratic Doctrine. The steady but rapid spread of the referendum principle forebodes evil to the party of protection and plunder and good, and nothing but good, to the party whieh stands for “equal rights to all and special privileges to none,” and which bellev.es In, and Is not afraid to trust, the common people. Missouri is the fifth State to vote on the adoption of this system. The vote will be taken at the next general election. The other four States that have adopted It are South Dakota, In 1898; Utah, In 1900; Oregon and Illinois in 1902. By this system of direct legislation the people are really getting back that eontrol over legislation with which they never should have parted, and which they never “Intentionally” gave up. By It they ate simply reasserting the power of the majority to rule and the eglit cf the people to veto legislation hicli does not 'suit them and to iulftate, if their representatives fail to do so, measures which they wish to become laws. It would be absurd for the people to give their representatives supreme control over legislation as it would be for a man to give his lawyer an irrevocable power of attorney to do tfs he pleased with the client's property. Every representative should have, and in theory has, a string to him which, when lie becomes a liis constituents can pull. The optional referendum is such a string. It is the system of optional referendum and initiation which is now finding favor in many cities and States. Under it, if a certain percentage (5 or 10), of the voters ask that certain important measures be voted upon, a vote must be taken. If tbe chosen representatives of the people are faithful, no vote will be necessary, and the referendum law makes no trouble or expense to the State. It should not, however, be assumed that it Is ever inoperative or Ineffective. Experience in this and other countries proves that it is wonderfully effective, even when it exists only potentially. Legislators are not likely to pass bad laws when the people have the power to veto them, hi fact, legislators will not be bribed so pass bad laws which always confer special privileges upoii somebody or jome corporation—when the people hold this veto power. On this point Governor Charles N. Herreid of South Dakota says: “Since this referendum law has been a part of our constitution we have had no charterinongers or railway speculators, no wild-cat schemes submitted to our legislature. Formerly our time wag occupied by speculative schemes of one kind or another, but since the referendum has been a part of tbe constitution. these people do not press their schemes on the legislature, and hence there is no necessity for having recourse to the referendum.” It was the Democrats, aided by the Fopullsts, who inaugurated tills most excellent system in South Dakota and Utah. It is a Democratic system, and the Democratic party everywhere should make this plank in its last national platform mean as much as possible. If it stays close to the people they will yet come close to it They cannot be fooled all of the time. The referendum is the deadly enemy of the trusts and monopolies; it is an anti trust weapon in the hands of the people. It will do away with corruption and stop boodling and will greatly improve our .representative system of government and,' incidentally, will result in putting more honorable men in office. It will make big campaign funds unnecessary and all but Impossible, and will give a poor maif a chance to seek and obtain political preferment. It will, in short, take away the power of the monopolists and corruptionists and return it to the sovereign people.—Byron W. Holt.

Tariff Revision Urged. The National Association of Manufacturers have been bolding a convention, and amongst the resolutions reported for consideration was one “urging tariff revision on general lines.” Last year at their convention at Detroit & similar resolution was adopted, but the Republican Congress paid no attention to such uemands. Manufacturers Jiave discovered that the tariff tax pinches them as well as the consumers and by advancing the cost of living forces increased wages. They have also discovered that the tariff fosters trusts and that trusts obliterate competition and advance prices, thus still more increasing the cost of ilving and wages. JThe manufacturers of farm machinety juA paying enormous prices for theirviinber and iron, both highly protected, and this coffies out of the farmers in increased cost of farm machinery. The boot and shoe manufacturers find that the duty on bides makes dear boots. The paper manufacturers complain that the duty on wood pulp increases the cost of paper, and the list might be continued to include all kinds of raw material: Most of these manufacturers have the pinch of the Increased duties demanded by countries on goods they seH for export; for all the European countries except England are trying in this way to keep out our goods as our protective tariff keeps out most of theirs. There -H. - ,2 >- , .

is where the fanner Is again Interested, for most of these countries are increasing their duties on American agricultural products to protect their own agriculturalists. If Europe ethould have good crops—which has not been the case for three or four years and this country should be fortunate In having another favorable season—the price of some farm products will drop to those of ten years since, and our farmers will have a hard time to make both ends meet again. When Europe has short crops they are compelled to buy of us, or of other countries who raise a surplus, but they purchase these necessities where they can buy them cheapest, tariff or no tariff. In the end the farmers and the workingman pay the tariff tax and the latter gets but a small advantage by the increase of wages for his living expenses are advanced in proportion. The (armer who has to sell In competition with the whole world bears the greatest burden, for he a!so has to pay more for what he buys and has no protection on what he sells. With the manufacturers demanding revision of the tariff to suit them, it should not be difficult for the people who pay the greater portion of the taxes it imposes from enlarging the revision to relieve them of the greater burden.

Political Po'poni-rl. It is said that the War Department is still feeding the troops in the Philippines on embalmed beef, though Gen. Miles recommends that beef on the lioof be supplied, but there would be no profit for the beef trust in that way of doing it. Postmaster General Payne certainly has a tough lot of employes around him, if the numerous charges made against them are any ways near true, yet only one has so far been called to account. Alaska is the latest scene of peculations by army officers and Secretory Root has been obliged to order courtmartial proceedings, but perhaps the matter will be hushed up as'the smuggling cases were in Porta Rico. Favorite sous are springing up in several States to compete with Teddy for the presidential nomination. Senator Elkins is the last one to be groomed and will, it is said, open a big barrel for the occasion. What a good time those Southern delegates will have next year. The Railroad Merger Company does not so much care what the courts decide, if it is onljvallowed to continue the exorbitant freight and passenger rates and thus pay big dividends.

The Union Veterans’ Union are not satisfied with a treatment the old soldiers are receiving at the hands of the last Congress and Commander Pettys is so excited about it that he says: “Every bill introduced favorable to veterans was killed in one house or the other, and we find a great majority of those who have worked and voted in favor of the veterans were representatives of the Democratic party.” Hoop it up, Brother Pettys, and tell the truth, whoever it hurts. If President Roosevelt would investigate the civil service as closely as he has the wild animals in the Yellowstone Park, he will find that some of his appointees to office are tougher subjects titan bears or mountain lions and require similar treatment. Turn the rascals out.

Senator Hanna, is trying to snuggle up close to organized labor and is giving them lots of taffy these days, but then Brother Hamm fs up for a reelection for United States Senator and is a prospective candidate for President and tbe laboring men have lots of votes.

The pious Baer takes the ground that he controls a monopoly of the anthracite coal fields through his ancient character from the State of Pennsylvania and that no law can be Invoked to prevent the coal trust from charging the public whatever. Brother Baer and his associates may demand. It Is hardly likely that any of the big fish will suffer by the stirring up of the mud hi the Postoffice Department; some of the small fry will foe caught In the net and exhibited to the public to show the skill of the administration. Publicity is one of the strong cards of President Roosevelt, though so far he' has not told an anxious country how to make the trusts let up In their depredations on the public purse, though he is talking every day on the subject. Ills cabinet officers, however, seem to shrink from publishing the facts about the scandals in their departments, especially Secretaries Payne and Root. When the President can spare time enough to look into the scandals perhaps he may take the pedple into his confidence and reorganize these rotten departments. Tariff Re'orm bjr Ita Friends. The plan for letting!the tariff be reformed by its “friendi”—which means by the beneficiaries of governmental co-partnership and. special privilege—ls about as reasonable as It would be to appoint a committee of foxes to devise plans or the relief and greater security of the geese.—Albany Argus. Teodor Macbuow, a Russian, Is 8 teak 8 Inches tall, and Is still growing. ■ > -i: —f ; ...