The Progressive Party clearly stated its position in the platform: The Rule of the People The Progressive Party, committed to the principle of government by a self-controlled democracy expressing its will through representatives of the people, pledges itself to secure such alterations in the fundamental law of the several States and of the United States as shall insure the representative character of the Government. In particular, the party declares for direct primaries for nomination of State and National officers, for Nation-wide preferential primaries for candidates for the Presidency, for the direct election of United States Senators by the people; and we urge on the States the policy of the short ballot, with responsibility to the people secured by the initiative, referendum and recall. |
The Democratic Party was somewhat more equivocal. The party pledged itself to promoting presidential primaries and the popular election of United States Senators: INCOME TAX AND POPULAR ELECTION OF SENATORS We congratulate the country upon the triumph of two important reforms demanded in the last national platform, namely, the amendment of the Federal Constitution authorizing an income tax, and the amendment providing for the popular election of senators, and we call upon the people of all the States to rally to the support of the pending propositions and secure their ratification. |
PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY
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The Socialist Party made a brief statement: The adoption of the initiative, referendum and recall and of proportional representation, nationally as well as locally. |
The Republican Party, following the Taft's views, opposed the recall of judges: Since the responsibility of the judiciary is so great, the standards of judicial action must be always and everywhere above suspicion and reproach. While we regard the recall of judges as unnecessary and unwise, we favor such action as may be necessary to simplify the process by which any judge who is found to be derelict in his duty may be removed from office. |