Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-08-13

lfdOrulnhfN session immediately afttI
Inauguration, and ask. among other
things, for the fulfillment of this plat
form pledge
The third fundamentally employed
to defeat the will of the people is found
in the rules of the House of Represen-
tatives. Our platform points out that
"the House of Representatives was
designed by the fathers of the Consti-
tuition. to be the popular branch Of our
government, responsive to the public
will" and adds:
The House of Representatives. as
controlled in recent years by the Re-
publican party, has ceased Ia be Il
deliberative and legislative body, re-
sponsive 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 delihcra-
ton. and powers of legislation.
Eve have observed with amaZemcnt
the popular branch of our federal gov
eminent helpless to obtain either the
consideration or enactment of meas
ures desired by a majority of its MEN,
berS."
This arraignment is fully justified.
The reform Republicans in the House
of Representatives, when in the mi
ncrity in their own party, are as help
less to obtain a hearing or to secure q
vote upon measure as are the Demo-
Gratis. In the recent session of the
present Congress, there was consid-
cradle element in the Republican party
favorable to remedial legiSlation: but
g few leaders, in control of the organic
atiCn, despotically suppressed these
members, and thus forced real ma
jorty in the House to submit to a we'll
organized minority The Republican
national convention, instead of rebuk-
ing this attack upon popular govern
nlcnt. eulogized Congress and nominat-
ed as the Republican candidate for
Vice President one of the men who
shared in the responsibility for the
coercion of the House Our party de-
nIands that 'the House of Representa-
tves shall again become a delbera-
tive body. controlled by majority Of
the peoples representatives, and not
by the Speaker and is pledged to
adopt "such rules and regulations to
govern the House of Representatives
as will enable a majority of its mem
bers to direct its deliberations and
control legislation"
"Shall the people rule?" They can
not do so unless they can control the
House of Representatives, and through
their representatives in the House,
give expression to their purposes and
their desires. The Republican party
is committed to the methods now in
vogue in the House Of Representa-
tives; the Democratic party is pledged
to such a revision of the rules as will
bring the popular branch of the fed
eral government into harmony with
the IDEAS of those who framed our
constitution and founded our govern
nient.
"Shlll the people rule?' I repeat, is
declared by our platform to be the
overshadoWing question, and as the
campaign progresses. I shall take oc-
casion to discuss this question as it
manifests itself in other issues; for
whether we consider the tariff ques-
ton. the trust question, the railroad
question. the banking question, the
labor question, the question of i'm
perialism, the development of our
waterways. or any other of the numer
Gus problems which press for solution
We shall find that the real question in
volved in each is, whether the govern
ment shall remain mere business as
set of favor seeking corporations or be
an instrument in the hands Of the peo-
pie for the advancement of the COM
mon veal
If the voters are satisfied with the
record of the Republican party and
with its management of public affairs
we can not reasonably ask for Il
change in administration; if, however.
the voters feel that the people, as
whole have too little influence in shap-
ing the policies of the government; If
they feel that great combinations of
capital have encroached upon the
rights of the masses, and employed the
instrumentalities of government to Sc
cure an unfair share Of the total
wealth produced, then we have a right
to expect verdict against the Repub-
lican party and in favor of the Demo-
cratic party; for our party has rsked
defeat-eye, suffered defeat-in its eff
fort to arouse the conscience of the
public and to bring about that very
awakening to which Mr.. Taft has re-
ferred.
Only those are worthy to be entrust-
cd with leadership in great cause
who are willing to die for it, and the
Democratic party has proven its
worthiness by its refusal to purchase
victory by delivering the people into
the hands of those who have despoiled
them. In this contest between De-
mocracy on the one side and plutocra-
Cy on the other, the Democratic party
has taken its position on the side of
equal rights. and invites the opposition
of those who use politics to secure spe-
cial privileges and governmental ia
voritism. Gauging the progress Of the
nation, not by the happiness or wealth
or refinement of few, but "by the
prosperity and advancement of the
average man." the Democratic party
charges the Republican party with be-
ing the promoter of present abuses, the
opponent of necessary remedies and
the only bulwark of private monopoly.
The Democratic party affirms that IN
this campaign it is the only party,