The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-08-12

3QueSIlOn WHICH the 5hepuOllcdu 5ledueIS
fully understand "a question which the
Republican candidate has studied, and
yet he refuses to declare himself In IA
,vor Of the legislation absolutely neces-
sary, namely, legislat ton requiring pub
lication before the election.
Democratic Party Promises Publicity.
How can the people hope to rule, II
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: s.
"We pledge the Democratic party to
the enactment Of law prohibiting any
corporation sfrom contributing to a
campaign fund, and any Individual
from contributing an amount above a
reasonable maximum, and providing
for the publication, before election, Of
all such contributions above reason
able minimum" t#
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 plan which is complete and effec-
tive. So Ks 5Ss =:~sz-s
Popular Election Of Senator's.
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 senators, while find
ing increased expression, did not be-
come dominant sentiment. A con-
stitutional amendment had from time
to time been suggested and the matter
had been more or less discussed in a
few Of the states, but the movement
had not reached point where 1t mani
tested itself through congressional ac-
ton. In the Fifty-second congress,
however, resolution was reported
from house committee proposing the
necessary constitutional /. amendment,
and this resolution passed the house
Of representatives by a vote which
was practically unanimous. In the
Fifty-third congress 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-
licans gained control of the house as
result Of the election Of 1894 and in
the Fifty-fourth congress the PROPOSE.
ton died in committee. AS time went
on, however. the sentiment grew among
the people, until It forced a Republic
congress to follow the example set by
the Democrats and then another and
another Republican congress acted fa.
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 it. And
this refusal is the more significant
NH {o ~or hot
Of senators owe their election to grea,
corporate interests Three Democratic
national platforms-th platforms of
1900, 1904 and 1908 specifically call
for change in the constitution which
will put the election Of senators in the
hands Of the voters, and the PROPOSE
ton has been endorsed by number
of the smaller parties, but no Repub-
lican national convention has been
willing to champion the cause Of the
people on this subject. The subject
was ignored by the Republican national
convention in 1900; it was ignored in
1904, and the proposition was explicit
" repudiated in 1908, for the recent
Republican national convention, by a !
vote of s66 to ia, rejected the plank
endorsing the popular election Of sena-
tors-and this was done in the conven-
ton which nominated Mr.. Taft, few
delegates from his own state voting for
the plank.
Personal Inclination Not Sufficient.
In his notification speech, the Repub-
lican candidate, speaking Of the cleo
ton Of senators by the people, says:
PERSONALLY. am inclined to favor It,
but It is hardly party question"
What is necessary to make. this party |
question? When the Democratic con-
venti0n endorses proposition by |
unanimous vote, and the Republican
convention rejects the proposition by a
vote Of seven to one, does it not be-
come an issue between the parties? !
Mr.. Taft can not remove the question
from the arena Of politics by express
ing a personal inclination toward the |
Democratic position. For several |
years he has been connected with |
the administration What has he ever
said or done to bring this question be-
fore the public? What enthusiasm
has he shown in the reformation OF |
the senate? What influence could he |
exert In behalf Of reform which his |
party has openly and notoriously con-
demned in its convention, and to which |
he is attached only by a belated ex-
preston Of personal inclination7
Tho Gateway to- Other Reforms.