The members of the preliminary committee on organization are:
- Clarence V. Tiers, Chairman, Pittsburg, Pa.,
- Clement V. Horn, Wilkinsburg, Pa.,
- H. F. Lea, Bellevue, Pa.,
- H. W. Noren, Allegheny, Pa.,
- Walter Becker, Allegheny, Pa.,
- John C. Innes, Pittsburg, Pa.,
- George D. Porter, Philadelphia, Pa.,
- John E. Joos, Allegheny, Pa.,
- Nathaniel Green, Swissvale, Pa.,
- J. Ludwig Koethen, Jr., Pittsburg, Pa.,
- Hon. W. F. Hill, (Master State Grange) Chambersburg, Pa.,
- James Wm. Newlin, (Member of Constitutional Convention 1873) Philadelphia, Pa.
Reformers will watch with great interest this new experiment in third party politics. By limiting the demand to a constitutional convention and the initiative and referendum, and proposing to endorse such of the reliable candidates as pledge for the people’s sovereignty, the program is largely that of a Referendum League, plus the possibility of making an independent nomination. But a league can circulate nomination papers; in fact, every league impliedly stands ready to do so, if necessary. One thing is clear; that the Pennsylvania situation was such that the change to a Referendum Party put life and vigor into the referendum movement. Not only were hundreds of enthusiastic offers of support sent in, it is said, and from every quarter of the state, but leaders in the minority party and in the Lincoln party were brought to a point where they found it desirable to take immediate notice of the organization.
One reason for this is that the granges in the state, large in number and strong in membership, and organized labor, have not only declared for the initiative and referendum, but are systematically questioning candidates and publishing their replies. All that is needed to give great political power to these voters is an organization that stands ready to nominate referendum candidates. The mere existence of such an organization will accomplish most of its purposes. In this connection the experience of Jo A. Parker, in Kentucky, described above, should be borne in mind; also the fact that the People’s Party Conference of 1902 at Louisville almost adopted the program which Mr. Parker applied in Kentucky the following year. But in states where the minority party is under progressive leadership it is probable that a State Referendum League is the best possible instrument.
Isn’t it clear that the thing for the People’s Party to do is to complete at once the establishment of the initiative and referendum in America by going at it through the Kentucky or Pennsylvania program? Or that the workers in a state should organize an Initiative and Referendum League?
If we review the foregoing pages several things become clear:
1. That machine rule can be terminated and the people’s sovereignty re-established without waiting to change the written constitution. All that is required is a majority vote in the city council, legislature or congress. By this means an advisory-vote system can be established and then the candidates for public office can be pledged to obey the will of their constituents when expressed by referendum vote. This is merely the re-establishment of a direct vote system for instructing representatives—a system as old as representative government itself. The President of the United States is selected through an advisory vote by the people and public questions are also being determined by advisory vote; for example, municipal ownership of street railways in Chicago.
2. The basis of machine rule is an evasion of vital issues by both the leading parties. This power can be terminated at once by the systematic questioning of candidates as to vital issues, provided an organization or candidate stands ready to take the case to the people. Another way of stating the reason for questioning candidates is that the people are entitled to know how the candidates will vote if elected.
3. A third party organization can question candidates and declare that unless there is within each district a clear-cut written pledge by a reputable candidate, it will place one in nomination.
Or the program can be to place on the third-party ticket some of the old line party candidates, except in those states where fusion is prohibited by law.