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The Direct Legislation

Victory

But perhaps the most important election held in the West last

week was one the result of which was not even mentioned in most press despatches. In Illinois, as we stated a month ago, the petition of over a hundred thousand voters secured the submission of three important questions to ascertain public opinion respecting them. These questions related respectively to direct legislation in State affairs, direct legislation in local affairs, and the popular election of United States Senators. The questions relating to direct legislation were so crudely expressed that they did not promise to secure affirmative answers from all believers in the principle presented, but it now appears that the manner of formulation did not materially affect the result of the vote. Briefly stated, the first question asked whether the voters favored a referendum upon acts of the LegisJature whenever five per cent. of their number petitioned therefor, and a referendum upon proposed legislative measures when ever eight per cent. of their number petitioned. The second question asked whether the voters desired a corresponding referendum upon measures adopted by or proposed before City Councils and other local governing bodies. The great majority of legislative candidates bound themselves to endeavor to carry out the will of the voters as expressed in the election, though the vote had no mandatory effect upon legislation. In Chicago the complete returns as tabulated by the "Record-Herald" were as follows:

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adopted the direct legislation amendment to their Constitution, brings the issue into practical politics in every part of the country. The increase of popular distrust of legislative rule, occasioned by the growing power of the lobby in State capitols and city halls, and the increase of popular faith in popular government, both find expression in this extraordinary turning toward direct legislation.

The Omnibus Statehood Bill

When Congress reconvenes in December, the first important measure on the calendar of the Senate will be the Omnibus Statehood Bill, which passed the House at the last session by an overwhelming majority. By this measure Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Arizona would at once be admitted into the Union as States, with not only their proportion of Representatives in the lower house of Congress, but with two members of the United States Senate for each commonwealth. Of these Territories Oklahoma is without doubt entitled to admission as a State. It has a population of half a million. This population is of the same high character, as regards education, industry, and American spirit, that has always marked the people of the agricul tural West. New Mexico and Arizona, however, stand upon a somewhat different plane. As regards population they have now more people than most Western States had at the time of their admission into the Union, and a far greater number than was required ten years ago, when Dakota Territory was divided into two States and Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho were simultaneously admitted into the Union. New Mexico has nearly three hundred thousand people, and Arizona more than one hundred thousand. New Mexico has for the past thirty years contained in the neighborhood of a hundred thousand people, or twice as many as were required of Wyoming at the time of its admission, but it has been held in the position of a Territory because in the government of the Union a certain amount of homogeneity is essential to bring about harmony, and the people of New Mexico were in large measure aliens in sentiment as well as in language. This condition, however, according to the report of the Secretary of

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the Interior, has been rapidly changing during the present generation, and especially since the recent mining developments have added so greatly to the population of the State. In 1870 the census showed that 85 per cent. of the people were illiterate; the census of 1880 reduced this percentage to 65; the census of 1890 brought it down to 44; and the census of 1900 puts it at 33. There is, therefore, less illiteracy in New Mexico than in two or three of the Southern States. The reason, therefore, which has previously forbidden admission of New Mexico as a State is no longer as forcible as formerly; but its admission as a full partner in the business of governing the United States is none the less of doubtful advantage to the people of the rest of the country. The indifference of a Spanish population to many of the public questions with which our people are cerned is likely to make them for the present a drag upon political progress, though, of course, the duty of considering these questions will forward an educational movement within New Mexico. In considering the question presented by this bill Congress ought to discard all notion that these Territories have any right to Statehood. Admission into the Union is admission of a partner on absolutely co-equal terms into a political partnership. The State admitted helps to govern the other States, has the same representation in the Senate as the States of larger and more settled populations; and may in a doubtful election determine who shall be the President and what shall be the complexion of the House. Such a partnership ought neither to be asked nor conceded unless it is for the mutual advantage of both the new State and the older States into whose political union it seeks to be received. The burden of proof is on the applying State to show that its admission will be beneficial to the Union as well as to itself, and in the case of New Mexico and Arizona such proof has not yet been furnished to the public. It was certainly a mistake for the Senate, to fix so early a date as the third day of the session for a vote on this bill, which ought to be voted down, unless by general consent the time for a final vote is postponed and an opportunity for fuller discussion of the question is afforded.

The Miners' Demands

Mr. Mitchell's statement of the demands of the anthracite mine workers made to the Strike Commission last week was so compact a document that it was reprinted in full by the more important daily papers all over the country. In terseness, in clearness, and in temper it was a model of composition, and it puts the miners' case so that it will be understood not only by the Commission, but by the people at large. The demands made by the miners at their last Convention, says Mr. Mitchell, were as follows: (1) An increase of twenty per cent. in wages for the men employed on contract or piece-work; (2) a decrease of twenty per cent. in the hours of men employed by the day; (3) the weighing of coal for the miners by the "long ton" of commerce, 2,240 pounds, instead of the varying standards now employed; (4) the regulation of hours, wages, and labor conditions by agreements between the United Mine Workers and the anthracite coal companies. The demand for an increase of one-fifth in wages is based chiefly upon the statement that the present yearly wages of anthracite mine workers are lower than those of other workmen of similar skill undergoing similar hardships, and notably lower than the wages paid for kindred work in the soft-coal fields of the West. The demand for the eight-hour day is based in part upon the same reasoning, and in part upon the better quality of work, the better health, and the better intellectual and social conditions which the short-hour day brings with it. The demand that coal shall be paid for, "whenever practicable," at its actual weight is based upon the statement that the small sizes of coal-pea, buckwheat, etc. are no longer worthless to the operators, and that the laborers ought no longer to mine a ton of excessive weight on the ground that the operator cannot sell a large portion of the miner's product. The demand that labor conditions in the anthracite mines, as now in the bituminous mines, shall be regulated by agreements between the whole body of workers and the whole body of employers is urged upon the ground that the workmen have a right to make such collective bargains, that their organizations are helpful to their members in every relation, and that

for which a judge, an army officer, or a regular soldier is debarred from taking such active part. On the other hand, officials appointed through patronage and upon political considerations cannot be thus restrained, in the present state of public opinion. They must not, however, coerce the political action of their subordinates; and they must not use their offices to control political movements or to influence the result of elections. There is great need that the competitive system should be extended to the Consular service; and we trust that, before the next report is published, the Commission may be able to chronicle the passage of legislation by Congress on that subject.

only through such collective agreements between employers and employed can discipline in the ranks of labor be maintained and harmony preserved. The coal companies, by the terms of their agreement with the President, are free to reject a recommendation on the part of the Commission that such a trade agreement be entered into with the United Mine Workers, but the Commission is free to recommend whatever terms it sees fit by which to secure permanent peace, and the coal companies could not lightly reject a recommendation that they should make yearly agreements with workmen representing all their employees-union and non-union. Of course such agreements would be practically with the miners' union so long. as that body maintained its ascendency among the miners, but the companies could at all times retain the assurance that Progress in the ceived by the editors of they were dealing with their own employees and not an alien organization. The public will look with great interest for the reply of the operators. It will have to be skillfully drawn as well as intrinsically strong to counteract the impression made on the public by the statement of Mr. Mitchell.

Civil Service Reform

The nineteenth annual report of the United States Civil Service Commission announces substantial progress in the competitive system. During the last fiscal year the inclusions in it were the rural free delivery service, a considerable part of the field services of the War Department, and permanent employees of the Census Office. Over sixty-two thousand persons were examined for places, and nearly fifteen thousand persons were appointed, reinstated, or transferred-a large increase over any preceding year. Regarding the political activity of officeholders, the report says that in the classified service, where choice is made without reference to political considerations, and where the tenure of office is unaffected by the change of political parties, it is entirely practicable to provide that the officer or employee, while retaining his right to vote as he pleases and privately to express his opinion on all political subjects, should not take an active part in political management or in political campaigns, for precisely the same reason

Philippines

Recent personal letters re

The Outlook from Manila indicate that the Filipinos are more and more coming to recognize the fact that the American Government is really attempting to do something for them. The mission of Governor Taft to Rome contributed to this result, because it was perfectly evident that the United States. in that mission could have no selfish object, but was zealously striving to take off from the Filipinos the hated incubus of the friars. Outside of Mindanao there is no war going on in the islands, and the latest reports from Mindanao state that the Sultan of Bacolod, who lately defied the United States and declared that he wanted war, not negotiation, has now asked for peace. Ladronism, however, exists in several provinces, and the civil authorities now propose to call in the aid of the military to suppress it. There has always been a certain amount of ladronism, or brigandage, in the islands, and it is particularly rife now, partly because of the depression that exists after every war, and partly because of the deplorable condition of agriculture. The scourge of the cholera has been a severe blow, and for a time doubled the death-rate in Manila, but the epidemic is now dying out, and only the island of Panay is suffering severely. From the point of view of business and agricultural prosperity even a worse misfortune has been the loss of the carabaos from rinderpest. This dreaded plague has destroyed three

quarters of the animals upon which agri culture directly depends, and the effects will be felt for two years. One correspondent, writing to us of educational conditions, says: "Commissary, currency, and cholera-these three C's have been our greatest handicaps." By the first is meant the withdrawal of the military commissary privilege, which took place while the American teachers were on their way, so that they were greatly disappointed on arrival to find that privileges which they had expected were unavailable. The currency trouble arises from the fact that many teachers who expected to be paid in United States currency have been paid in Mexican currency, at a loss of ten per cent. The educational work, nevertheless, is acknowledged as a success by most observers in the Philippines, although it is only a beginning of what will be done. The native schools need complete reorganization. Recent cable despatches from the Philippines assert that great numbers of the natives are being threatened by starvation unless relief of some kind is provided. It is understood that large purchases of supplies have been made by Governor Taft in the East, and that rice is being distributed by the civil governors of the provinces. It is not supposed that it will be necessary to provide for supplies from Washington. The Philippine Com mission, according to one report, has appropriated $2,000,000 Mexican to purchase rice and to charter vessels for its distribution and sell it at actual cost price. The so-called New Catholic Church, led by a seceding priest of the Roman Catholic Church named Agaplay, appears to be gaining some headway; and there have been disturbances between the followers of the new Church and the regular priesthood. In one case it is stated that the dissenters took possession of the parish church, declaring that it belonged to them; a great crowd of women mobbed the Roman Catholic priest and for several days occupied the church building, sleeping and taking their meals there. The significance of this revolt we cannot with our present information adequately interpret. If, as we suspect, it is caused by hostility to the Spanish ecclesiastics, it may be expected that it will disappear as soon as the purpose of the Church to substitute Americans for Span

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reau of Immigration by the appointment of new officials at the head of the bureau at Washington and the office of the port of New York, doubts as to the advisability of those changes were raised by many public-spirited citizens. The very obvious improvements that have followed the new management have by this time quieted these doubts. One of the first noteworthy improvements was the dismissal of the man who for over thirty years had been concerned in the business of exchanging American money for the money brought in by immigrants, and who had carried on the business in his own name for six years. This man had abused his extraordinary opportunities by overcharging the immigrants and enriching himself at their expense. The business was, therefore, put into more responsible and trustworthy hands. Other holders of privileges at Ellis Island, where the immigration buildings are situated in New York Harbor, have been relieved and substitutes appointed. substitutes appointed. In his report recently made public, Commissioner William Williams, of New York, calls attention to other abuses which are in course of correction. It is unquestionable that many of these have already been abolished: the filthy conditions of the eating-rooms, the lack of proper utensils, the exorbitant prices charged for refreshments necessary for the long railroad journeys, the arbitrariness of many of the officials, the compulsory service unwarrantedly required of detained and in some cases sick immigrants-all these have, to a degree most astonishing in view of the shortness of time, been done away with. Now, to use the words of one who has had the opportunity of observing almost every detail at Ellis Island, "the immigrants are treated like human beings." In the meantime the disregard of the law on the part of the steamship companies has been met with new vigor. The foreign agents of the various lines are very active in

inducing great numbers of Europeans to emigrate to America, without regard to their fitness according to the United States laws. It has even been proved, according to the report of Mr. Frank P. Sargent, head of the National Bureau of Immigration, that the steamship lines have overtly evaded laws by guaranteeing to intending immigrants that if any are refused admission at a port of the United States they will be taken to Canada and brought to United States soil by one of the hundreds of roads across the border. As a consequence of this practice, CommissionerGeneral Sargent recently visited Canada to confer with the authorities there concerning possible agreements with regard to immigration, as it affects both countries. Out of this conference between American and Canadian officials it is not unreasonable to hope that results may come outreaching the specific subject of immigration.

The extraordinary soA Pilgrimage Forcibly Interrupted called pilgrimage of the Doukhobors has been stopped by the authority of the Canadian Government, and the Doukhobors themselves returned by train to their villages. Two widely varying accounts of this action are given in the newspaper despatches, and it may be noted here that the accounts of the actions of the Doukhobors which have reached the press in the United States have, from the beginning, differed so widely as to create an impression that there has been some sensationalism in the stories sent by Manitoba and Winnipeg newspaper correspondents. Thus, as to the returning of the pilgrims, the Superintendent of Immigration, who has been at Yorkton, near the scene of the recent occurrences, telegraphs that the pilgrims were entrained "without difficulty," brought to Yorkton, and are being induced to return to their homes with little trouble. On the other hand, a long press despatch declares that the pilgrims were forcibly loaded in cars like cattle, and guarded by a large detachment of mounted police, who were necessary to keep the Doukhobors from throwing themselves from the car windows. This account asserts that it was only after a prolonged struggle that the five hundred mounted police, two

hundred farmers, and five hundred other citizens placed the fanatical pilgrims in the trains; that the Doukhobors would themselves use no aggressive violence, but struggled so that their slight clothing was torn from their backs. The report adds that twenty out of the five hundred pilgrims escaped and are still wandering on the prairie in a temperature that means death to them. If this account is true, it records one of the most distressing instances in history of what may be called collective and contagious fanaticism. As our readers have previously been told, the Doukhobors are a peculiar Russian sect who, because of their theories about non-resistance, refusal to recognize civil government, and religious and other ideas, found the conditions of life in Russia intolerable, and were brought to Canada some three years ago. We believe there are now between four and five thousand of the Doukhobors near Yorkton in Assiniboia. For a time they seemed to be prospering and to be receiving sensible American ideas, but within the last six months their fanaticism has assumed an acute form, and recently some of them have abandoned their farms, and, in insufficient clothing and without regard to the extremely low temperature of the region, have undertaken a pilgrimage on footmen, women, and children-with the apparent object of impressing their religious ideas on the people of the neighboring country. An account written some two weeks ago described their condition as pitiable in the extreme. Even then the thermometer was below the freezing-point, and the Doukhobors were camping out near Yorkton absolutely without shelter. They speak very little English, and could only say that they were "looking for Jesus." The authorities succeeded in getting some of the sick, the women, and the children housed temporarily in sheds, but even this was much against their will; and it is alleged that many of the mothers who allowed their infants to be taken under shelter absolutely refused to follow them until forced to do so. Offers of clothing and of food were refused in the majority of cases. Altogether the problem presented to the Canadian Government is an extremely difficult one. Nothing could be more disagreeeble than the use of force against people like these, who believe

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