The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1906-09-07
W. ]. BRYAN'S MADISON
SQUARE GARDEN SPEECH

period there is uncertainty, long drawn
out. which TO the business community is
often more damaging than change OF
policy promptly carried into effect,
| Would not the situation be improved by
constitutional amendment converting
tho first session OF congress within a
Few months after the election, and COM
pelin1 the second session to adjourn
several days before the following cleo
ton. Such change would not only
serve legitimate business interests. and
give the public the benefit OF more relief
through remedial legislation. but It would
protect the people from the Jobs that are
usually reserved for the short session.
which Is now held after the election, and
when many Of the members feel the less
responsibility because OF their defeat at
the polls
The Election OF Senators.
return moro convinced than before
OF the importance OF change I'm tho
method Of elcctiug United Stattg SON
atur7. There Is noticeable everywhere
a distinct movement toward democracy
In rs broadcast sense. In all the couu-
mand that the government be brought
nearer to tho people, In China a con-
stituton IL undor consideration. In Ja-
pan the people are scmnndiug that the
emperor from among his particular
fricnds shall be selected from purlla-
ment. and be in harmony with tho DOM
inant sentiment. In India there Is aEi.
tatlOn In favor of n native congress. In
Russia, the car has been compelled To
recognize tho popular voice I'm tho cs-
Enlistment OF douma. and throughout
Europe the movement manifrsis itself In
various forms In the United States this
trend toward democracy has taken tho
form OF a growing demand Tor the eloc-
ton OF United states senators by d.
rect vote of the people 1t must be az
ncult to oyefcstimatc the strategic AID
vantage OF this reform Tor since every
bill must receive the sanction OF tho
Ia y fal n ~
sentatiycs before II can become a law
no important legislation Of = national
character Is possible until the senate Is
brought into harmony with the peuplc
| am within the limits of the truth when
] say that the senate has been fnr some
years the bulwar,t Of the predatory
wealth. and that It even now contains
50 many members who owe their cleo
ton TO favor seeking corporations and
arc 20 suhscrvicut to their masters M To
prevent needed legislation. Tho popular
clared ia favor Of this reform. and two
thirds Of TIA" states have demanded IT,
and vet tn" senate arrogantly and impu-
IDENTIFY blocks the way.
The Income Tax.
The income tax. which some I'm our
country have denounced as a sOclsllstic
attack upon wealth, has. ! en- pleased To-
report the endorsement OF the most
conservative countries in tho old world
II is q permanent part Of the fiscal sys-
ten OF most OF the countries Of Europe
ana IN many places IL Ia A graded tax.
the rate being highest upon the largest
incomes. England has long depended
upon the income tax for n considerable
part OF her revenues, and hCr English
proposition 10 change from a uniform to
n graded tax / have been absent too
long to speak with any authority on the
public sentiment in this country nt this
time, but / am SO convinced ~ the iug-
tice ~ the Income tax that | feel sure
that tho people Will sooner or later de
maud an amendment 10 the constitution
which Will specifically authorize an in
come tax. and thus make 70 possible fur
the burdens Of the federal government To
be nppOrtloucd among the people IN
proportion TO their ability TO bear them.
II Is little short OF IA Disgrace to our
country that while Il Is able to com
mand tho lives OF It's citizens In time o.
war. II can not. even In tho most cN
treme emergency, compel wealth. to bear
it's share Uf the expenses Of the govern
meut which protects IT,