Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-08-12
Pile secure the popular election Of

The third fundamentally en-
ployed to defeat the will OF the peo-
pie is found In the rules Of the
house Of representatives. Our plat
form point out that THE house OF
representatives was designed by the
fathers Of the constitution, to be
the popular branch Of our govern
ment, responsive to the public WILL"
and adds:
The house of representatives, as
controlled in recent years by the
republican party, has ceased to be
deliberatiye and legislative body,
responsive to the will OF a majority
of the members, but has come under
the absolute domination OF the
speaker, who has entire control OF
its deliberations, and powers OF legis-
latlon.
This arraignment is fully justified.
The reform republicans In the house
OF representatives when In the mi
nority In their own party are as
helpless to obtain a hearing or to
secure vote upon a measure as are
the democrats.
Shall the people ruler" They
can not do so unless they can, CON
troll the house OF Representatives, and
through their Representatives In the
house. given expression to their
purposes and their desires. The re-
publican party is committed to the
methods now In vogue In the house
OF representatives; the democratic
party is pledged to such revision OF
the rules as will bring the popular
branch OF the federal government
into harmony with the ideas OF those
who framed our constitution and
founded our government.
Other Issues Discussed Later.
Shall the people ruler" re-
peat. Is declared by our platform to
be the overshadowing question and as
II manifests itself in other issues;
for whether we consider the tariff
question, the trust question, the rail-
road question, the banking question,
the labor question. the question OF
Imperialism, the development OF our
waterways. or any other OF the
numerous problems which press us
for solution, we shall find that the
real question involved In each is
whether the government shall re-
main mere business asset OF favor
seeking corporations or be an instru-
ment In the hands of the people for
the advancement of the common
veal
Democratic Party Defender OF Honest
Wealth.
We may expect those who have
committed larceny by law and pur-
chased immunity with their political
influence. TO attempt to raise false
issues and to employ "the livery of
heaven" to conceal their purposes.
but they can no longer deceive. The
democratic party Is not the enemy of
any Legitimate industry or of honest
accumulatlons. 1t Is, on the con-
trary, friend of industry and the
steadfast protector OF that wealth
which represents services to society.
The democratic party does not seek
to annihilate all corporations. II
must retain the power to regulate
and to control them and that 1t
should not permit any corporation
TO convert itself into a monopoly
Not Revolution. but Reformation.
The democratic party seeks not
revolution, but reformation. and |
need hardly remind the student of
history that cures are mildest when
applied at once; that remedies in
crease In severity as their application
Is postponed. Blood poisoning may
be stopped by the loss OF finger
today; II may cost an arm tomorrow
or life the next day So poison In
the body polite can not be removed
too soon, for the evils produced by
II increase with the lapse of time.
Our Party's Ideal.
The platform of our party closes
with brief statement of the party's
ideal IL favors such an administra-
tion Of the government as viii In
sure, as far as human wisdom can,
that each citizen shall draw from
society a reward commensurate with
his contribution to the welfare Of
society"
Governments are good in proper
ton as they assure to each member
OF society. so far as governments can.
a return commensurate with indlvidu-
al merit.
The Divine Law Of Rewards.