Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1906-09-04

since that tribunal was organized.
There Is perceptibla growth If SEN
timent In favor Of the settlement Of
International disputes by peaceful
means.
Before leaving International politica
let me add that our nation has lost
prestige. rather than gained 1t, by our
experiment In colonialisrn. We have
icule our declaration OF independ ence.
| given the monarchists chance to rid
and the scoffer has twitted us with the
inconsistency. A tour through tho
Philippine islands has deepened the
conviction that we should lose no time
In announcing our purpose to deal with
the PHILIPPINES as we dealt with the Gu
bans. Every consideration, commerce.
al and political leads to this conclus,
ION. Such ground as we may need for
coaling stations or for a naval base
VIII be gladly conceded by the Fill
pins, who simply desire an opportunity
TO work out their own destiny inspir-
ed by our example and aided by our
advice
ELECTION OF IT, 8. SENATOR'S.
return more convinced than before
or the Importance OF a change In the
method Of electing United States SEN
ators. There Is noticeable everywhere
distinct movement toward democracy
In Its broadest sense. In all the coun.
tries which l have visited there Is q
demand that the government he
brought nearer to the people,. In Chi
ma a constitution Is under considera-
ton. In Japan the people are demand-
Ing that the ministry, instead Of being
CHOSEN by the emperor, from among
his particular friends, shall be select
ed from parliament and be in harmony
with the dominant sentiment; In India
there Is agitation for native con-
gress; In Russia the czar has been
compelled to recognize the popular
voice In the establishment Of a douma
and Throughout Europe the movement
manifests Itself in various forms. It
must be difficult to over-estimate the
stragetic advantage of this reform.
for since every bill must receive tho
sanction OF the senate as well as OF :ha
house OF representatives before 1t be-
comes law, no important legislation
OF national character is possible un-
til the senate is brought into harmony
with the people. / am within the linn
It's Of the truth when l say that the
senate has been for some years the
bulwark Of predatory wealth and that
1t even now contains so many MEM
bers who owe their election to favor
seeking corporations and are so SUBJ
servlent to their master as to prevent
needed legislation. The popular branch
Of congress has four times declared in
favor of this reform by two-thirda
vote and more than two-thirds OF tho
states have demanded It, and yet the
senate arrogantly and impudently
blocks the way.
The income tax. which In our coun-
try the money magnates have defined
as socialistic attack upon wealth, I
am pleased to report. has the indorse-
ment of the most conservative coun.
tries of the old world. It Is n perma.
rent part of the fiscal system of most
OF the countries of europe, and in nanY
places 1t is graded tax, the rate be.
ing highest on the largest incomes
England has also depen.ei upon the
income tax for a considerable portion
OF her revenue and an English corn.
mission Is now investigating the lrop-
osition to change from uniform to q
graded tax. / have been absent too
long to speak with any authority on
the public sentiment of this country
at this time, but am so convinced of
the justice of the income tax that I
feel sure that the people will soone,
or later demand an amendment to the
constitution which will specifically au-
thorize an income tax and thus make
1t possible for burdens of the federal
government tn he 9nnnrtinna1 IN hA
people in proportion to their ability to
bear them. 1t is little short of a dis
grace to our country that while 1t Is
able to command the lives of it's citi-
zens in time of war, it cannot, in the
most extreme emergency. make wealth
bear it's share of the expenses of the
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