Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1908-08-20


not only threatening danger, but actual
suppression OF the people in the control
Of their own government. These are:-
First, the undue and unfair use of money
in elections to accomplish results desired
by the persons and corporations that con-
tribute immense sums to campaign funds,
and secure their returns later in immuni-
ty from interference or in distinctly fav-
orable legislation, both calculated to their
own enrichment, but to the injury of the
masses; second, the election Of United
States senators by state legislatures, in
stead OF popular vote, making it easy for
the corporate interests to entrench them
selves in that body and defy the will of
the people; third, the present system in
vogue in the House of Representatives,
whereby the speaker has almost arbitrary
control, and can promote or stife legisla-
ton much as he pleases. The Democracy
promises reform in all these departments,
making it easy for the people to rule.
1t is very shrewd and clever bid for
favor and Mr.. Bryan presents it in TAX
ing way. He quotes freely from Presi-
dent Roosevelt's messages concerningsthe
dangers threatened by the holders OF
predatory wealth, !" also from Candidate
Taft's utterances endorsing them, so that
he fastens the Republicans firmly TO the
confession that these evils do exist. Next
he shows that they have taken root and
flourished during Republican rule, and
finally he seeks to demonstrate that the
Republican party cannot cope With the
situation, while the Democracy can.
1t is right here that voters will part
company with Mr.. Bryan. With the
skill of the complete master OF sophistry
that he il, he may carry them with him
thus far. but when it comes to conceding
that the Democratic party can do any
thing that requires consummate courage
and ability in statecrait, the voters balk
at the proposition. The records OF the
two parties speak louder and clearer than
even Mr.. Bryan, and with all his clever
ness he cannot wave them aside. The
voters know that whenever problems
have arisen they have been solved right
ly by the Repu blican. not the Democra-
tic, party. And they are satisfied now to
leave the situation in the hands of that
party, assured that such corrective mes-
sures it really demands have been and
will be applied in a sensible, practical
way, and that to turn it over to the De-
mocracy would be to invite either chaotic
attempts to do something impractical, or
violent measures that would not stop
With handling the abuses alone, but
would strike at legitimate business, para
lyze industry and create a condition that
would be far worse than the first.
The Republican party and candidates
take a sensible, not hystericai, attitude
toward campaign contributions. They
recognize the necessity OF a campaign
fund and the rightsof all persons to con-
tribute to it. They recognize no claim
by the contributors to the favor of gov
eminent by reason thereof. Even Mr.
Bryan stops short Of the assertion that
the Roosevelt administration has catered
to such interests, or that Taft would do
so IL elected. The people know better.
The whole record Of the past four years
has fastened them In this confidence.
Nor do they believe that the Democratic
party, with all its protestations, is q
whit more virtuous, or that its campaign
fund, however made up or publicly de-
clared, represents the unsordid testimony
OF its creators more than that of the Re
publican party.
Undoubtedly there has been an awak-
ening in the conscience of both parties
regarding the raising and use of money
in politics during the past dozen years.
tue, and neither has q record of clean
hands in the past. The days of Mark
Hanna were also the days OF German.
But il there has been an effective leader
in the cause OF clean politics, not q mere
talker, that leader is Theodore Roosevelt,
and the Republican party has backed
him to the full limit. Such things as re-
main to be done will be done under Taft =
leadership, and the country will move on
in due course.
The popular election of senators is an
academic, rather than q party, question.
Republicans and Democrats will agree,
and others disagree, about it. Whether
political primaries or conventions would
give us ADLER or better men, wiser and
filter in all ways to enter the federal Sem
ate, than we now get by electing them by
the several state legislatures, is . ques-
ton of expediency only. There have
been grave abuses in some states, where
legislatures have been debauched and
corrupted and seats in the Senate bought
outright. In other states there has never
been . hint of such thing. On the
other hand, state campaigns have not al.
ways been free from guile, nor have such
minor prizes as the governorship-minof