The next year, 1903, legislatures were elected in but ten states and, as organized labor in these states had not yet been educated to the use of the questioning system, except in Massachusetts, little was accomplished for the initiative and referendum. In Massachusetts the labor people found themselves almost alone in demanding the people’s sovereignty, and during 1903 were quiescent. But in Kentucky Hon. J. A. Parker did valiant work. Through his paper, _The Home Tribune_, he called for workers for the referendum in Kentucky. At a joint state convention of the Allied People’s Party and the United Labor Party, a platform was enunciated in which existing political and legislative evils were outlined; and it was pointed out that the remedy is an improved system of government—the establishment of the people’s sovereignty through the initiative and referendum, to be exercised in combination with representative government. _The proposed change, it was declared, was the open door through which all the desired legislative reforms would come._ It was further declared that candidates of the Democratic and Republican parties should be questioned, and wherever a reliable candidate would pledge in writing for the improved system of government, no opposing candidate of the Allied Party should be nominated, and that every possible effort would be made to help elect the pledged candidate. The result in Mr. Parker’s own words at the close of the campaign was as follows: In all my work I found but little antagonism. The one obstacle was the bitter, unreasonable campaign carried on in this state, in which all principle was lost sight of, and the issue made on the hanging of Caleb Powers. The election was a riot of fraud and dishonor, and showed too clearly what little hope there can be in partisan action. The last election, not only in Kentucky, but all over the nation _has shown that to gain any substantial reform we must concentrate all effort on pledging candidates, AND IF THIS EFFORT IS SUPPORTED BY INTELLIGENT LOCAL EFFORT WE CAN WIN IN ANY STATE._ An instance of this is found in a senatorial district in this state, where Dr. J. S. Dossey had enrolled perhaps 300 volunteers for Majority Rule. The Republican signed our pledge, and, the Democrat ignoring the matter until after the time fixed as a limit, I wrote letters to our workers stating the situation. Within forty-eight hours came the Democrat’s pledge with a strong letter to support it, declaring that if elected he would give our bill his hearty support.