r ijl UjCo^ tloilliig:ei pH S.5 Mill Run F05.2193 PRICE 25 CENTS TO DEMOCRACY TO WORLD PEACE jTP-iTFS n??,)^\\/M r^lWMt^r'.'m AC l-i ^^l^ Copyrig-ht, 1919, by Thoffias Keefe. Ail rights reserved. PPB 24 1919 ■ ^ " A OALiL. There is a CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS, a volunteer to act as WORLD organizer, volunteers to act as NATIONAL organiz- ers, volunteers to act as STATE organ- izers, volunteers to act as COUNTY or- ganizers, and volunteers to act as PRE- CINCT organizers. Stop complaining; Volunteer and get busy. ©CI.A5rX723 THE WAY. To Democracy and World Peace. VOLUNTEER DRAWN DEMOC- RACY. Volunteer Drawn Democracy is not the name of a social system; neither is it the name of a form of government. It has been chosen as the name of a method to be used in- stead of the method by election, for securing representation in a repre- sentative democracy. As democracies using the elective method may be termed elective democracies, and the method elective democracy, so de- mocracies using the volunteer drriY\ n method may be termed volunteer drawn democracies, and the method Volunteer Drawn Democracy. Elective democracy is culling and picking with the theoretical purpose of securing the best qualified. Vol- unteer Drawn Democracy is taking at random from the whole number admitted to be quahfied. In the prac- tice of it representatives of the peo- ple would be designated by drawings had from the whole number of peo- ple eligible who volunteer for the purpose. If a given number of people are to be taken to represent the whole people in a law making body, eligible volunteers will be called for, and from those who volunteer, the re- quired number will be taken by drawings fairly had for that purpose. This method would treat all alike. It is democratic. A law making body obtained in this w^ay will represent all the people, the Democracy; and at the same time each element of the Democracy will have proportionate representation in the law making body. Representation is the first qualification of a law making body. Quality without representative char- acter is of no avail. It is proposed to employ the method in securing legislatures, as in a representative democracy they should be representative of the whole people, and the use of the method for such purpose is particularly in har- mony with the theory of democracy and the reason for representative government. The immediate use of the method for determining who shall be executive and judicial offi- cers is not here proposed, as those officers are servants and agents of the people, rather than representa- tives, in the true sense. And if the people can secure a truly representa- tive legislature by using the method proposed, agents and servants will be relegated to their proper place in the government. Evils in our execut- ive and judicial departments are now traceable largely to the use of the elective method for securing repre- sentation in our legislative depart- ments. The underlying principle, selection at random from the whole number admitted to be qualified, can be applied to all departments if deemed advisable. Government is for the welfare of the governed. Law making is the first and principal function of govern- ment. The legislature is the govern- ing body in every government. It defines the rights and duties of all, decides how^ they shall act and what they shall do. For this reason gov- ernments are described by the char- acter of their legislatures. If one man makes the laws it is an autoc- racy; if a few of the best make them it is an aristocracy; if the people make them indirectly through repre- sentatives chosen by them, it is a republic or representative democ- racy and if the people make them directly it is a pure democracy. The legislatures are for the purpose of giving orders, while other depart- ments exist only because of those or- ders and for the purpose of admin- istering and applying them. For this reason it is proposed that represen- tative law making bodies be first ob- tained by the use of the volunteer drawn method. After these are se- cured the question of the application of the principle of volunteer drawn democracy to other departments of government may be taken up by the people and its representative legisla- ture. Methods are judged by the results of using them. Volunteer Drawn Democracy will result in popular rule as near as is possible in a repub- lic. If we take indiscriminately a body of units from a greater body of units, we shall secure a smaller body truly representative of the larger body. It will be similar, will be of the same quality, and it will function in the same manner. If we make a discriminate selection, we shall secure a smaller body differing as much as is possible from the larger body. It will be dissimilar, will be of different quality, and it will function in a different manner. If the purpose in taking at all is only to secure a smaller body, indiscrim- inate selection answers in every way. However, if the purpose in taking is to secure a better body in any way, then discriminate selection is the proper method to employ. In a de- mocracy it is agreed that the whole body politic is qualified to legislate, but a smaller body is desired, there- fore, discriminate selection is un- necessary, and indiscriminate selec- tion is the proper method to follow, and is the only method fair to all concerned. That is the only method that will secure a smaller body that will function as the larger body would. It is the only method that will secure a smaller body that will be like the larger body in all ways. Election is discriminate selection. The best are taken. The election de- cides who are the best. As a result a class is put in power. The best are not representative of the whole peo- ple and will not function as the whole people would. The cream is not rep- resentative of the milk and will not function in the same w^ay. Repre- sentative government, with respect to the legislature, is had only for the purpose of condensing the law mak- ing body, making it smaller, not bet- ter, nor different. The idea that the best should be taken is an idea per- sistent in the human mind since the days of autocracy and aristocracy, and it has no place in a democracy. Holding to that idea and using the elective method we have arrived at an aristocracy rather than a de- mocracy, and that aristocracy is an aristocracy of wealth. How large a part of our body politic consists of laboring men, and yet how seldom does one appear in our legislatures! Perhaps in a hun- dred years not one has appeared in our national congress. Farmers con- stitute another large part, and they fare but little better. These classes are the backbone of our economic life. They do the essential work of the nation. The operation of the elective method is such that they are practically excluded from our gov- ernmental life. The class that appears prominently in our governmental life could disappear entirely from our economic life and hardly be missed. Not so with the farmer and the la- borer. A fair method of selecting representatives will result in the farmer, the laborer, and other classes having the same prominence in our governmental hfe that they have in our economic hfe; that they have in the army for instance. Volunteer Drawn Democracy will result in that kind of representation, and until we have that kind of representation there will not be government by the people nor for the people. Election for securing representa- tives is a remnant from autocracy. By what process of reasoning does the autocrat justify to himself autoc- racy — his right to absolute dominion over millions of his fellow men? By the same process of reasoning we must justify to ourselves the results of the use of the elective method for securing representation. The auto- crat is considered better than the common people; our representatives are considered better than the com- mon people, in fact they are chosen for that reason. We still have a little 10 of autocracy in our system. Auto- crats are faring badly these days. Each day increases the danger in possessing anything of autocracy. It is better to destroy what we have of it while we have it in our possession, else it may fall into other hands to our sorrow. If we hesitate to adopt a method fair to all, the cream may go to the bottom, and the skim milk to the top in our government. Why this spirit of discontent? It is confined to the laborer and the farmer. Perhaps they have been looking into the welfare of the class that has ruled so long, and Ihave come to the conclusion that there are places not mentioned by Milton where it is better to reign than to serve. Why do five or six million voters refrain from voting in our nation? May It not be that they have come to realize the futility of sitting in where the elective game is 11 being played ? Like many a gambler's game, at a glance it seems fair, is generally considered fair, being cus- tomary, but the invariable results of playing it demonstrate that it is most unfair. Before another class takes control of our government let the people take control. Then we shall have democracy and not until then. The people can never take control and maintain it by the use of the elective method. They are short of the ammunition used in elections. Democracy is government by the people. In a pure democracy the people meet and transact the business of government. As the num- ber of people entitled to participate in the government increases and the territory governed becomes exten- sive, pure democracy becomes incon- venient, impracticable, or impossible. There are so many people that it is inconvenient or impossible for them 12 to hold a meeting; and there is so much business that it would require too much of the time of the people. Therefore pure democracy is super- seded by a form of government in which the supreme power, while re- tained by the people, is exercised in- directly through a system of repre- sentation and delegated authority, periodically renew^ed, a republic or representative democracy. In a republic a part of the democ- racy is taken to represent the whole democracy, a part is substituted for the whole, not however, pursuant to any theory that the part taken is bet- ter for the purpose than the whole, or better than the part not taken, but for reasons of expediency and con- venience only. Democracy is ground- ed upon the principle that the su- preme power is in the people, that the people are competent and have a right to rule. The people delegate 13 that power to a part of the people pursuant to a theory that a part will do as the whole would do. Any idea that the part taken is taken because it is better qualified than the whole people is foreign to the spirit of de- mocracy. This is clearly indicated by the fact that the people reluctantly delegate power to their representa- tives, and do still reserve some of the most important powers to be exer- cised only by themselves, as in- stance, the power to amend the con- stitution, the supreme law of the land. The clumsy referendum is an attempt to restrict the power of the legislature. After the determination to change from a pure democrajcy to a repre- sentative democracy comes the ques- tion of determining what members of the whole democracy shall be taken for a time to transact the busi- ness of government in place of the 14 whole. When men in their affairs have been confronted with the prop- osition of making similar determina- tions in the past, in other matters, they have followed one of two methods. They have drawn lots or they have held elections. The first method has been followed in cases where the person taken was not de- sirous of being taken, was to per- form some disagreeable office, sub- mit to some unpleasant act, or take some great risk. There have been cases where a number of men in order to preserve their lives have found it necessary to resort to human flesh for food. To determine which of their number should die, they drew lots. There w^ere no candidates. The special fit- ness of any particular individual was not urged. The man taken by this method was not by that action set apart or classified as better. Ordi- 15 narily food is not chosen in this way. But the method is followed at such times in the interest of fairness. Every man has an equal chance and every man takes his chance. Those men act as a pure democracy. De- mocracy is desirous of nothing more than fairness. Fairness has been absent in the treatment of the people for so many ages that they are glad to have it under any circumstances. The second method, that of elec- tion, has been followed in cases where the person taken was desirous of being taken, was to perform an agreeable office, or was to receive some favor or honor. There were candidates and special fitness was urged. The man elected was by that action set apart and classified as bet- ter. Those men acted as a pure de- mocracy also, but the first act as a pure democracy is to decide which method to employ. The best, in the 16 form of rank, fortune or intellect, seeks an advantage in the form of more chances. The best is always looking for more chances while De- mocracy is looking for fairness. The Best has more influence, and has more chances in an election than in a drawing. Democracy is unsuspici- ous. The Best is a practical politi- cian. Fairness is discarded in the in- terest of more chances. The elective method is decided upon. Men draw lots for disagreeable things and hold elections for agree- able things. The jury panel is drawn, the legislature is elected. The Best avoids the jury panel and seeks the legislature. Is not the Best as neces- sary on the jury panel as in the legis- lature? The Best wishes to go to the legislature and he desires more chances. For ages men have been educated to look up to the Best, to render tribute of respect to the Best 17 and now they are educated to vote, for the best. The Best knows he has more chances in an election than in a drawing. He would be a poor poli- tician and as fair as Democracy if he should favor drawing lots for the legislature. He favors the course which insures him more chances. Democracy, fair and unsuspicious, is prevailed upon to adopt the method which is unfair to the people. Democ- racy is unfair to itself. Law making is the vital function of government. Only when that re- sponds to the will of the democracy is there democratic government. A representative law making body should function as the whole body which it represents. If it does not so function it is not truly representa- tive of the larger body. It should enact the same laws that the whole democracy would enact if it should meet, and it should enact those laws at the time the whole democracy would enact them. It should be a minature of the whole democracy, a sample, if you please. It should con- tain the same elements in the same proportion. It should think the same thoughts, feel the same feelings, see the same needs, and have the same desires. Every interest, every class, every condition should be found in the law making body as it is found in the democracy. Employers and employees should be there; landlords and tenants; farmers, merchants, teachers, lawyers, physicians, minis- ters of the gospel, capitalists, and laboring men; and they should be found there, as near as may be, as they are found in the democrac3^ If we have that condition we have a truly representative law making body, a democratic law making body, and the people will rule indirectly. Considering the end that we de- 19 sire to attain, which of the two methods is more Ukely to secure that for us? We have never tried draw- ing persons to serve in our law mak- ing bodies. We have held elections always. By employing the elective method we have never yet secured a representative law making body. De- mocracy is a mixture of many ele- ments. Some elements are always absent from our law making bodies, and they are always the same ele- ments. Some elements are always present in our law making bodies in greater force than in our Democ- racy, and they are always the same elements. The result is that our law making bodies do not act as the De- mocracy would act if it were in session. A man, very eminent in our nation, stated not long ago, that our gov- ernment is dominated by the inter- ests, and that it is a question whether 20 our government can ever dominate the Interests. Dominate is defined as meaning to rule, to govern. We, a Democracy, governed by the Inter- ests? Democracy should govern it- self. Democracy should govern the Interests. A question whether De- mocracy can ever govern the Inter- ests? And after all these campaigns and all these elections ! Imagine the whole Democracy in session and the Interests attempting to rule. The supreme power is in Democracy. The will of Democracy is expressed through the majority. It cannot be ruled except by the ma- jority. The Interests are not the ma- jority, for if they are, they are not the Interests. The Interests cannot rule at that session of Democracy. If the Interests rule in a representa- tive Democracy the fault lies in the representation obtained by the use of the elective method. 21 The whole Democracy is never in session. It delegated its powers to a part of the people on the theory that that part would do as the whole peo- ple would do. And now comes a man, well informed, an expert who has watched the operation and re- sults for years, and he reports that the Interests are ruling. That it is a question whether Democracy can ever rule the Interests. That means that the representatives are acting according to the wishes of the Inter- ests, not according to the wishes of the people, and that it is a- question whether the representatives will ever act in accordance with the wishes of the people. Can a greater failure re- sult from drawing representatives? Election is the dope that Democracy took which put it to sleep and en- abled the Interests to take possession of its power. And Democracy is ad- vised to take more of the same dope 22 in an effort to recover its power. That is like advising a man who has lost his money in a crooked gambling game to go back and play the game again if he would recover his money. Democracy delegated its powers to its representatives and they were sent to rule. But the Interests rule. There- fore a majorit}^ of the representatives must belong to the class known as the Interests or they must be servants of the Interests. What men have been elected by us as representatives? Have we not always voted for the best? Haven't we elected the Best? Can it be that the Best are the Inter- ests? The Best make up an aristo- cracy. An aristocracy is defined as those who are regarded as superior to the rest of the community, as in rank, fortune, or intellect. Those are the men we have been electing, and by our very action of electing, we have classified them as the Best. We 23 ourselves have put a class in power to rule, and have called it Democ- racy. Let a machinist hit upon a popular automobile and thereby acquire a fortune, let a prospector discover a mine and become rich, and do we not try to put them in the Senate? And haven't we succeeded so well that our Senate has been dubbed a millionaires' club? Let a man ac- quire the reputation of possessing a superior intellect and we send hiin to congress. That is in obedience to the unwritten law which commands us to vote for the Best. The reputa- tion for superior intellect is gener- ally acquired in service of the domi- nant class, and becomes a surety when the intellect is admitted to asso- ciation with that class. The machinist and the prospector and the man of average intellect are of the masses. The millionaire and 24 the man of superior intellect are of the aristocracy. The machinist and the prospector, as poor men, pos- sessed every qualification, that the machinist and the prospector as rich men possess. Wealth alone made the difference. Is wealth a qualification? Those men are proper representa- tives, whether rich or poor, but when they become rich their interests are no longer the interests of the machin- ist and the prospector. By reason of their former condition in life they may have sympathies for the machin- ist and the prospector, but those men are entitled to more than sympathy. They are entitled to right; the right of every man to be represented by a man in the same condition and hold- ing the same interests, or, at least an equal chance of attaining that end. How absurd to send a laboring man to congress and urge that he held sympathies for the rich because 25 he had at one time been rich him- self. Yet that is the kind of repre- sentation the laboring man gets, a representation that savors of guar- dianship and philanthropy. The use of the elective method has fully dem- onstrated that many have no repre- sentation and no reasonable chance of representation under it. As for superior intellects, they are presumed to act as Democracy would act, and Democracy has no superior intellect. The average intellect will properly represent Democracy. The representatives of Democracy as- sume to vote as the Democracj^ indi- cates its wishes. No higher order of intelligence is required to cast that vote than the intelligence which de- termines how it shall be cast. No more intelligence is necessary to vote for or against free trade in congress than is required to vote for or against free trade in the election booth. 26 Superior intellects should be there to represent superior intellects, and the man of fortune should be there to represent the man of fortune. The latter would appear personally and not by attorney. Without them it wouldn't be Democracy. All inter- ests and all classes should be there in the legislature as in the commun- ity. In the legislature they would come face to face, wearing no dis- guises, and each known for what he is. Question whether our government can ever dominate the Interests? There is no question so long as we use the elective method. It can't be done. The Interests ma}^ lose a trench or a sector, temporarily, but they have more of the reserves used so lavishly in the warfare of ballots, and they will regain their losses. The elective method is a net with large meshes which takes the big 27 ones always. The little ones are never taken by it, and the mediums only occasionally. A government by the big ones will never be a government by all, nor for all. To have govern- ment by all a net must be used that takes all, indifferently, the big ones, the little ones, and the mediums. When shall we change nets? All of us have a chance to vote but most of us have no chance to take any further part in the government in our present condition. To get an office a man must have time to spare campaigning, shaking hands and making promises, called fixing fences, and he must have money to pay for advertising his superiority. The workers are so busy making a living for all, that they cannot spare the time, and the unfairness of ages has left them without the necessary means to compete on equal terms with wealth at the game of election. 28 They are a class without representa- tion. Some units of the class may be fortunate and get out of the class but the class remains, and without representation. The drones have plenty of time to spare, and the same unfairness of ages has placed the wealth largely in their hands. Elec- tion is their choice of weapons. Of course they win and rule. Democracy is beginning to realize that its representatives know its wishes but are indifferent to them, even opposed to them. A few years ago we desired a revision of the tariff laws, intending a decrease on the necessities of life, and increase on the luxuries. We indicated our desires unmistakeably. The tariff was ac- cordingly decreased on necessities and increased on luxuries. But we soon found that the classification had been changed; so that, what were necessities when we voted, in many 29 instances, were luxuries when the law went into efTect, and what were luxuries had become necessities. It was a joke on Democracy. Democ- racy is good natured and has a sense of humor. Democracy laughed at the joke. But there have been other jokes on Democracy. Democracy is becoming serious. Good nature is getting tired of jokes. As a result of the use of the elec- tive method our country has become the battle ground of classes. One class has control, while another class seeks control. Government by any class is unjust. As no man can be a just judge where his ow^n interests are involved, so no class can do jus- tice to all classes, for the interests of the one class are always involved. Let Democracy say to each class in turn, "You shall not rule alone. I will put you in with the people and the people alone shall rule." 3.0 Meetings are held, speeches are made, agitators agitate. But repre- sentative government is not function- ing. It fails to work as it was thought it would. The drive wheel revolves but the belts are slipping. The engine runs but the gears are stripped. The power is not transferred to the point where the work is to be done. The wishes of the people do not result in laws accordingly. Let us attend to the machinery first and discuss the work afterwards. Let Democracy take control of the government once more. Let it recall the power from its elected represen- tatives. Let Democracy then call a meeting of the people. All of us have a right to attend and many of us will. By going to attend we volunteer. But when we shall have arrived at the meeting place we shall find that the hall will hold only five hundred. Five lumdred can go in; the rest cannot 31 take part. They must go home. What is the fair way of deciding who shall go in and who shall go home? How shall we reduce the number to five hundred without making any other change? How can a body of five hundred be had which will be most likely to do as the larger body would do? Shall we sell five hundred tickets to the highest bidders? Shall we use a method that will sort the people at the door, turning away laborers, farmers, and other classes, and allow- ing only those of one class and their lawyers into the hall until it is filled? Or shall we distribute five hundred tickets indiscriminately among those who have come, and allow those holding tickets to go into the hall? In that hall it is to be desired that each interest should have the same prominence, the same influence, and the same power that it has in the larger body, no more, no less. That 32 will be fair to all. That will be a smaller Democracy. The Best will again favor election which never did bring such a result. Fair Play, the much talked of and seldom seen Square Deal, will favor drawing lots. Only that will bring the result de- sired, a body representative of De- mocracy, a smaller body just like it. Let the people then adopt the method of drawing lots to determine who shall go as their representatives. Let Democracy call for volunteers for the office and from those who volunteer draw the required number by lot. Each man will have his equal chance. Democracy will then have a truly representative law making body. That body will be as a chip from the block; as a drop from the bucket; as a handful of grain from the bin; just as good and no better; a body free asDemocracy, dominated by no man, no interest and no cla?:s, 33 but by a majority. The Interests rep- resented in that minature democ- racy will be unable to dominate it. There men will vote for bills, and not for men to vote for bills. It is easy to deceive the people as to the effect of voting for a man. It is not easy to deceive them as to the effect of voting for a bill. That body will act as the whole De- mocracy would act if it could meet. Democracy is good natured. It will accept any act of that legislature without a murmur. Chances are equal and Democracy is a sportsman. Confidence in the government will be restored. Men will know that they are a part of the government; that it is their government for their wel- fare. Spirit of Discontent will die. Red flags will disappear. Dynamit- ings will cease. Professional politi- cians will profess no more. Political parties will promise no more. Poll- 34 tical leaders will keep off the firing line as leaders do in war, and from the rear they will direct public opin- ion by appeals to reason, knowing that when they have convinced a majority of the people by honest argument, they will have convinced a majority of the law making body automatically, and legislation to the desired end will follow naturally. Changes will come gradually and not by convulsions. Revolution will never come. Governing will be a business and not a game. This is the way to Democracy. Through Democracy runs the way to World Peace. Incompetent men will go to con- gress? If all the men eligible to con- gress shouldl volunteer, a congress obtained by drawing from them would have the same proportion of incompetent men that there is in the 35 body politic. The incompetent men in congress would have no more ef- fect on legislation in congress than the incompetent men in the body politic have on legislation there, and some of the most important legisla- tion is left to the body politic. Men are not inclined to undertake duties that they do not understand and there is no great danger that many incompetent men will seek to attend a meeting that will result in public exposure of their incom- petence. The glitter and glory that has always attended royalty will dis- appear from offices chosen by lot. Those chosen will not have been classified as better. Respect for the opinion of his neighbors will tend to deter a man from volunteering for a duty that he is incapable of perform- ing properly. The independent voter will have a chance. There will be a great num- 36 ber of competent men come from all stations in life, men who are by tlie operation of tlie elective method shut out from our legislative halls, stu- dents of the science of government and economics, statesmen, not pro- fessional politicians. Professional politicians are students of the science of getting a public office and holding it until they can get a better one. Openly they try to appear for all things that they think will be pop- ular; under cover they are for them- selves first, their party next, and the people last. Young men will go to congress as they go to war. But they will not all be young men. Old men will be there, speaking their honest thoughts with- out fear, speaking in behalf of a peo- ple and not a party; speaking to De- mocracy and not to the Congres- sional Record. But they will not all be old men. 37 The elective method prevents many an honest man from going to con- gress who would go to serve the in- terests of the people, and sends in his stead, a dishonest man, who goes to serve his own interest, or the in- terest of his master. It demands a sacrifice of any who would be a can- didate for office, a sacrifice that many cannot make. To secure the nomina- tion, time and money must be spent. That secured, more time and more money is required in the campaign for election. Then he may be re- jected. Few can afford the loss of so much time and of so much money. They are barred unless they take financial aid from some interest whos« servant they become if elected. An incompetent man in such a man's place would be an improvement. The more time and the more money spent in the campaign for office, the better are the chances of election. The man 38 looking for plunder can afford to spend more time and more money than the man seeking to render hon- est service. The elective method induces hypoc- r'lsy, frauds and bribery. It is expensive, disturbing to the com- munity and inefficient. The voter is often handed a ballot prepared by practical politicians, on which ap- pear the names of half a hundred offices to be filled, with two or three times as many candidates. What in- formation he possesses of the ma- jority of them is hearsay evidence furnished by biased witnesses, often witiiesses employed for the purpose by the candidate. The voter's action approaches pure guess work. The drawn method would be in- expensive to all, attended by no com- motion and would be efficient. As a result of the adoption of it, govern- ment by party would disappear. Gov- 39 eminent by party enables the Inter- ests to wield the balance of power which in results is all the power. Good principles, no matter what their source, would be made law without a party triumph. Ridicule and derision would be supplanted by reason in political discussions. There is so much of good for all of us, and yet, there are so many workers at Poverty, and so many drones at Riches, that reason should prevail. No matter what system of govern- ment or social system is had, if the elective method is retained, there will always be a dominant class, and the Best will have the best. Under com- munism it would be the same. The Best would be drinking wine in the cellar while the common people were working in the vineyards. To change to the use of the drawn method it is not necessary to carry 40 on an expensive campaign for the election of men to change the elec- tion laws. The drawn method may be used without the repeal or amend- ment of any laws. The present elec- tion laws may all remain on the books. Neither is it necessary to pass any new laws. It is only necessary that a majority of the democracy favor the drawn method, and resolve to use it at all times, and live up to that resolution. The laws differ in the various states. In some primaries are held, in others, conventions; but perhaps in all, nominations can be made by petition. In one state for instance, the methods of nominating are by primary election, and by petition. We will therefore consider methods of proceeding in that state, which can be used in all states with slight changes to meet conditions. A society will be formed which 41 may be called the Society for Volun- teer Drawn Democracy, and in the organization of which the following plan may be followed, viz: hi each voting precinct in the state, a precinct division of the society will be organized. All voters residing in the precinct who resolve to follow the drawn method of selection of of- ficers will become members by act of subscribing to that resolution. A meeting of the precinct will be called. Two officers will be chosen, from those who volunteer, by the drawn method, a secretary-treasurer, and a president. The precinct division of the Society for Volunteer Drawn Democracy will then be complete. County divisions will be formed whose membership shall consist of the presidents of the precinct di- visions of the county. State divisions will be formed whose membership shall consist of 42 the presidents of the county divisions of the state. Ward and city divisions will be formed whose membership, in each instance, shall consist of the presi- dents of the precinct divisions of such ward or city. By following the plan divisions higher than the state divisions could be formed, until a world division would be had. All divisions will follow the ex- ample of the precinct divisions in their organization. Expenses will be met by voluntary contributions. Officers will hold office until the first day of January occurring next after a state election of officers, and until their successors are chosen. Vacan- cies will be filled as they may occur, by the method of proceeding origin- ally used. In this way, for every state election, the entire personnel of the county and state divisions will 43 change. This Society will be fonned as a river is formed, as an avalanche is formed in the mountains, as the clouds are formed in the heavens, and without any leader. Democracy has no more need of the usual political leader than has a river or an avalanche. Leaders rule; those who follow are ruled, and the combina- tion is an autocracy. After the formation of the society any person desiring to volunteer for an office shall make his certificate to that effect, stating his name, place of residence, mentioning precinct, coun- ty and state, and the office for which he volunteers. The same person might volunteer for only one office. If the office is one to be voted for in more than one count}^ the certifi- cate will be filed with the secretary of the state division. If it is an office to be voted for in one county, one 44 city, or one ward only, such certifi- cate will be filed with the secretary of such division. The secretary will number and file each certificate, and will issue to the volunteer a certifi- cate showing the fact of the receipt of such volunteer certificate and the number assigned to the same. A reasonable time will be allowed for filing volunteer certificates, notice of the expiration of which time will be given by the higher secretaries to the lower, in order. The time having expired for filing volunteer certificates, the several sec- retaries will call meetings of their organization for the purpose of nom- inating. The governing body of the city, the county, the state, and the nation, the legislature, being purely representa- tive of the people, and chosen to take the place of the people, will always be drawn by lot. This is the basic 45 principle of Volunteer Drawn De- mocracy. Drawings may be had in the follow- ing manner. A wheel having on the outside the ten digits, to 9, inclus- ive, and a movable spindle will be provided, to be operated in full view of the assembled members of the di- vision. Numbers assigned to volun- teer certificates will be made to have as many digits as the highest num- ber assigned to certificates for that office, by prefixing ciphers. Thus, if the highest number has four digits, as 1919, each number will have four digits, and the number nine would be written 0009. To draw a number the spindle will be spun four separ- ate times, or as many times as there are digits in the numbers. Each time one digit would be indicated. If the first time the spindle stopped on 0, the second on 0, the third on 0, and the fourth on 8, the number 8 46 would be indicated, and the volun- teer holding that certificate number would be the nominee of the society for that oftice. In case a number higher than that of any certificate number is drawn, a drawing for a new number will be had. As to the other offices, until a legis- lature has been secured by the prac- tice of Volunteer Drawn Democracy, and legislation had in regard to them, it is suggested that state officers now elected be nominated by the slate di- vision of the society, by majority vote of those present and voting. Offi- cers now elected for several counties will be nominated by the members of the state division from those coun- ties, by a majority vote of those pres- ent and voting. Officers elected in the various sub- divisions of the state will be nom- inated by the division of the society for such subdivision by majority vote 47 of those present and voting. Presidential electors will be nom- inated by drawing the required num- ber from the state division of the society, which drawing will be con- ducted by that division. All officers so nominated by the so- ciety will then be nominated by petition in accordance with the laws now in force in the state, and their names will be placed on the election ballot with an appropriate designa- tion, as Drawn Delegate, where per- mitted. Presidential electors obtained in this way will hold a convention and elect the president and vice presi- dent, and the electors for each state will then vote in accordance with this choice. Thus the electoral college will be put to actual use. At a glance this may seem a radical departure from our present method, yet in re- ality, it differs but little. Under the 48 present practice a convention of prac- tical politicians belonging to one party is held and they name their choice, then another convention of practical politicians belonging to an- other party is held, and , they name their choice. Thus, by the action of politicians alone, the presidency is narrowed down to two men. The people at the election then decide v/hich of these two men they prefer, and are said to have made a presi- dent. Neither of these party conven- tions is representative of the people, and 3^et one convention or the other names the president. The president, on being elected, may depend upon the support of most of his party and be sure of the opposition or most of the other party no matter what he does or proposes. There is always a large party in congress ready to op- pose any measure because that meas- ure is proposed by the other parly, 49 and if good would redound to the credit of that party, with a corre- sponding loss of credit to the party in opposition. Thus beneficial legis- lation is delayed or prevented. With nearly half of congress always in op- position, it is not a dilFicult matter for special interest to control legis- lative action. By the method proposed above, the president would be chosen by a con- vention truly representative of the people, and the action of that conven- tion would be final. The president would be the choice of the people, chosen by the people from the whole body politic eligible, and not from two men. When legislatures have been elect- ed in this way, the present election laws may be changd to harmonize with the principles of Volunteer Draw^n Democracy. It could be pro- vided that bodies of men obtained as 50 the county and state divisions would be obtained in the society, should elect all state and county officers, for such state or county, similarly to the method of nominating proposed for the society. The state body would draw the legislature, and the presi- dential electors would be drawn from the state body. This would greatly simplify methods of obtain- ing oflicers, do away with political parties entirely, and campaigns to a great extent, and so do away with political patronage as a reward for campaign service. On our way we approach a cross roads. Straight ahead lies the road. Election, which leads to Aristocracy. To the left is the road. Executive Controlled Election, which leads to Autocracy, over near the powder mill. To the right is the road Volun- teer Drawn, leading to Democracy, which is farthest from the powder 51 mill, and is on the way to World Peace. At the cross roads comes the acid test. Those rendering to Democracy lip service only will be known from the true believers. To Aristocracy, to Autocracy or to Democracy? Which way? The president under Volunteer Drawn Democracy would enjoy less power than he now^ does. Attributes of a king would disappear, and in the place of them would appear those of a general overseer of administra- tion. The incentives for the presi- dent to seek to enlarge his powers would to a great extent be removed. The people would be at his elbow, power of impeachment in hand. No longer would he be the creature of politicians and party, but of repre- sentatives of the people. His power to influence legislation would be lit- 52 tie more than that enjoyed by any other prominent person in the body poUtic. Party and patronage would be things of the past. These have too often been used to secure further lease of power, or to transfer it to a successor of the executive's choice. His power to appoint officers, to be approved by the senate, would dwin- dle to a mere power to suggest names, or nominate. His veto power would fall into disuse, and even if exercised, might have no other effect than to send the matter to a referen- dum of the people. It is to be con- ceived that such a congress would more readily favor referendum, and machinery to that end might be pro- vided where bills on important mat- ters were passed by technical majori- ties. Under the elective method the ex- ecutive is becoming more powerful. As commander in chief of an army 53 possessed of the instruments of mod- ern -warfare, an army trained to obedience, a subservient congress, and with the news service and means of conveyance under his control, it is not difficult to imagine a situation where lust for power might lead an ambitious man to follow some prece- dents in history. A man too sure of his own high motives, grown impa- tient with a conservative congress, might be lead to dispense with even the rubber stamp. Perhaps it were best that a rearrangement of power be had. Under Volunteer Drawn Democ- racy congress would come into its own ; it would be the governing body in the nation. Patronage would be of no political value to its members. Loyalty to party would be displaced by loyalty to the people, whence the members came, and whither they would so soon return, to enjoy or to 54 endure with the people the effects of their own actions. Inducements to act in a manner indifferent or op- posed to the interests of the people would be entirely removed. Men will do what is right and fair if the inducements to do otherwise are re- moved. The House of Representatives w^ould be a governing body of con- siderable numbers, and truly repre- sentative of the people. Action by it would be action by the people, indi- rectly. And yet, its action would go to the senate, another representative body, less numerous, but truly repre- sentative, and there such action would be reviewed and tested for De- mocracy. The same action by two representative bodies, action not had by use of a party whip, should lead to the conclusion that the action is in accord with the wish of the people represented. 55 Each member in congress would vote according to his individual views after full discussion, which would be revived, and yet each poUtical senti- ment would have the same promi- nence in congress that it has in the body poUtic. Drawing lots will re- sult in greater surety of representa- tion for the majority opinion than will voting for a platform of princi- ples, constructed to get in on, rather than to stand on. The scandalous waste of public money for partizan poHtical pur- poses, affirmed to exist, by each party in turn, would end; and the present unbusinesslike methods obtaining in public fiscal affairs would be super- seded by methods harmonizing with modern business methods. We might even be treated to the spectacle of a president seeking advice from con- gress instead of giving advice to it. Considering the limits of human in- 56 telligence it seems more reasonable that one should seek the advice of many than that many should be ad- vised by one. More of us would have an opportunity to go to the City of Washington, not for the purpose of living there, but to visit it on a mat- ter of public business, and to return and give the people at home the bene* fits of our observations and experi- ences. In this way a healthy interest in public affairs would be stimulated. Judicial officers now appointive by the president would have to stand the scrutiny of an uninfluenced, impar- tial senate. If the Congress deemed it advisable, the principles of Volun- teer Drawn Democracy could be ex- tended to a degree in the selection of those officers. Judicial officers might safely be drawn from the whole body of lawyers, who might volunteer. An erroneous idea prevails that a judge must be a person of legal ability ex- 57 ceeding that of the average lawyer. The prime requisite of a judge is in- dependence, which in its turn induces fairness. Legal ability is a secondary qualification to be desired. All prac- ticing lawyers have had their qualifi- cations passed upon in some manner, and have been officially certified as possessing sufficient qualifications to take the public's money as reward for private service. It seems it would not be difficult to admit that they have the necessary qualifications to take the public's money as reward for public service in the same pro- fession. Decisions by learned courts divided as five to four, may be reconciled with the theory that five were compe- tent and four were not. Who will affirm that a drawing of lawyers will result in a lower percentage of quali- fied judges? It is not to be feared that lawyers incapable of performing 58 the duties of a judge will volunteer. One who doesn't know the rules will hardly volunteer for umpire, and De- mocracy will stand for a lot of bum decisions if it thinks the umpire is calling the plays as he sees them. There is a prevalent feeling that the high judiciary has too much in com- mon with the dominant class. Every safeguard should be placed around the selpclion of judges to remove every suspicion of lack of independ- ence and fairness. If by the use of the elective method the present dominant class is de- throned, it will be only to enthrone another class in its place. The change will be accompanied by no benefit to the people as a whole and will result in the usual commotion that always accompanies any radical move. The tendency of election is to enthrone a political boss, an autocratic leader, 59 a dominant class. By election they may lose their positions but the posi- tions are immediately assumed by others. Under present methods tTie dominant class must rule or submit to rule by another class, and it can justify its position held as the result of the warfare of ballots, as a posi- tion held in self defense. No other class would do it justice, as it does justice to no other class. The adoption of the volunteer drawn method will dethrone the present class but it will not enthrone another. It will ensure to each class its proper place in the government and the present dominating class Eliould embrace it, not forgetting the truth, "Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown." When the method is adopted the I ecple will have attained liberty, freedom and self government. All will dwell together more like a loving 60 family than a contentious mob. Revolution can never come. Revolu- tion comes because there is no ade- quate machinery to determine the majority opinion, or because the peo- ple seek greater prominence in the government. Revolve our govern- ment today and what a change there would be. Revolve a democracy and there is no change. Democracy turned upside down will look the same, will be the same, and will work the same. This place is not Democracy. Let us move on to it. It must be en- tirely unoccupied as the waj^ to it seems never to have been used. It should be a heavenly place as its praises are being sounded by all. When we have beaten out the way to it perhaps others will come. Then we can fix up that way over to World Peace, which is not far from Democ- racy. It won't be much work for Democrats who have worked on the roads so long. Let us move. THOMAS KEEFE, Author. I NOTE. If you favor the method call the atten- tion of other voters of your precinct to THE WAY. If they favor it organize your precinct division of the SOCIETY FOR VOLUNTEER DRAWN DEMOC- RACY. Members are required to pay no dues nor membership fee. They are only to subscribe to the following resolution, viz: "We do hereby resolve to practice VOLUNTEER DRAWN DEMOCRACY." If you are unable to secure THE WAY from your newsdealer or bookseller it will be mailed you, postage prepaid, on receipt of twenty-five cents. ANNOUNCEMENT. THE DRAWN VOLUNTEER which will be a monthly publication containing news of the progress of the SOCIETY FOR VOLUNTER DRAWN DEMOCRACY, com- ments on THE WAY, the METHOD pro- posed, and the ELECTIVE method, will appear in the near future. Criticisms and suggestions which may be published in THE DRAWN VOLUNTEER are solicited. The subscription price will be One Dollar per year, payable in advance. Send in your subscription and those of your friends. THOMAS KEEFE, Publisher, Endicott Bldg., St. Paul, Minn. Dated, Feb. 10, 1919. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS II 012 051 448 9 Q IV LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 012 051 448 9 J