Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1908-08-13

evident alarm, Indicates that he has
read it carefully. He even had before
him the action Of the Democratic ma
tional committee in Interpreting and
applying that platform: and yet, he
fails to say that he favors the publica-
ton of the contributions before the
election. OF course, it satisfies a nat
ural curiosity to find out how an cleo
ton has been purchased, even when
the knowledge comes too late to be Of
service, but why should the people be
kept in darkness until the election is
pastf Why should the locking Of the
door be delayed until the horse is gomez
An Election Public Affair.
An election is a public affair. The
people, exercising the right to select
their officials and to decide upon the
policies to>be pursued, proceed to their
several polling places on election day
and register their will. What excuse
can be given for secrecy as to the in
fluences at work? If a man, pecun-
iarily interested in Concentrating the
control Of the railroads in one manage
ment," subscrlbes large sum to aid in
carrying the election, why should his
part in the campaign be concealed I'M
til he has put the officials under obli-
CATION to him? If a trust magnate
contributes 100000 to elect political
friends to Office, with a view to pre-
venting hostile legislation, why should
thot oS hn I'D 10 wi Is
are securely seated in their official po-s
sitions?
This is not new question; it is a
question which has been agitated-a
question which the Republican leaders
fully understand question which the
Republican candidate has studied, and
yet he refuses to declare himself In IA
vor of the legislation absolutely neces-
sary, namely, legislation requiring pub
LEGATION before the election.
Democratic Party Promises Publicity.
How can the people hope to rule, If
they are not able to learn until after
the election what the predatory inter
ests are doing? The Democratic party
meets the issue honestly and coura-
geously. It says:
'sWe pledge the Democratic party to
the enactment of law prohibiting any
corporation from contributing to a
campaign fund, and any individual
from contributing an amount above
reasonable maximum, and providing
for the publication, before election, Of
all such contributions above reason
able minimum"
The Democratic national committee
Immediately proceeded to interpret and
apply this plank. announcing that no
contributions would be received from
corporations, that no individual would
be allowed to contribute more than
$4,000, and that all contributions
above 500 would be made public be-
fore the election those received before
October Is to be. made public on or
before that day, those received after
ward to be made public on the day
when received. and no such contribu-
tons to be accepted within three days
Of the election. The expenditures are
to be published after election. Here
is a plan which is complete and effec-
tive.
Popular Election Of Senators.
Next to the corrupt use Of money,
the present method Of electing United
States senators is most responsible for
the obstruction Of reforms. For one
hundred years after the adoption Of
the constitution, the demand for the
popular election OF senator's, while find
ing Increased expression, did not be-
come a dominant sentiment A con-
stitutional amendment had from time
to time been suggested and the matter
had been more or less discussed In q
few Of the states, but the movement
had not reached a point where it mani
tested itself through congressional ac-
ton. In the Fifty-second congress,
however, resolution was reported
from a house committee proposing the
necessary constitutional amendment,
and this resolution passed the house
Of representatives by vote which
was practically unanimous. In the
Fifty-third congress q similar resolu-
ton was reported to, and adopted by,
the house Of representatives. Both
the Fifty-second and Fifty-third con-
crosses were Democratic. The Repub-
leans gained control OF the house az
result of the election Of 1894 and Ii
the Tifty-fourth congress the PROPOSE
ton died In committee. As time went
on. however, the sentiment grew among
the people, until 1t forced Republican
congress to follow the example set by
the Democrats, and then another and
another Republican congress acted Ia
vorably. State after state has endorsed
this reform, until nearly two-thirds Of
the states have recorded themselves In
its favor. The United States senate,
however. impudently and arrogantly
obstructs the passage Of the resolution
notwithstanding the fact that the vot-
ers OF the United States, by an over
whelming majority, demand 1t. And
this refusal Is the more significant
when 1t Ia remembered that number
of senator's owe their election to great
corporate interests Three Democratic
national platforms platforms OF
1900. 1904 and 1908 specifically cali
for q change In the constitution which
will fas7t ft,a xaJaofsry, n 49,, . 4 u