The new era. (Walden, Colo.) 1906-19??, 1908-08-27

VIII be so obligated by campaign CON
tributions from the benehciaries OF pro-
lection. as TO make that party powerless
TO bring to the country any material re-
lief from the present tariff burdens.
Why No Railroad Legislation?
For ten years the Interstate Commerce
Commission has been asking for an en-
larEement OF Its powers. that 1t might
prevent rebates and determinations, but
Republican senate and a Republican
house OF representatives were unmoved
by its entreatles. In 1900 the Republican
national convention was urged to indorse
the demand for railway legislation. hut
Its platform was silent on the subject
Even in 1901. the convention gave no
pledge to remedy these abuses. When
the president finally asked for legislation,
he drew his inspiration from three Demo-
cratic national platforms and he received
more cordial support from the Democrats
than from the Republicans, The Republic
cans in the senate deliberately defeated
several amendments offered by Senator
LaFollette and supported by the Demo-
observation-disclosures embodying legislation
asked by the Interstate Commerce Com
mission One of these amendments au-
thorized the ascertainment of the val
ue of railroads. This amendment was not
only defeated by the senate, but 1t was
overwhelmingly rejected by the recent
Republican national convention and the
Republican candidate has sought to res
cue his party from the disastrous results
of this act by expressing himself. In
qualified way, In favor of asccrtaining
the value of the railroads
Mr.. Taft complains of the over-issue
of stocks and bonds of railroads, for
the unlawful enriching of directors and
for the purpose of concentrating the
control of the railroads under one man
agement," and the complaint Is well
founded But, with n president to point
out the evil, and a Republican congress
done
the protection of the public. Why? My
honorable opponent has. by his confess
sion. relieved me of the necessity of fur
nishing proof. he admits the condition and
he can not avoid the logical conclusion
that must be drawn from the admission.
Publicity as to Campaign contribu-
tions.
An effort has been made to secure leEis-
lation requiring publicity as to campaign
contributions and expenditures; but the
Republican leaders, even In the face OF
an Indignant public. refused to consent
to law which would compel honesty in
elections. When the matter was brought
up in the recent Republican national
convention. the plank was repudiated by
vote of $50 to 81 Here, too Mr. Tart
has been driven to apologize for MS con-
vention and TO declare himself In favor
of publicity law; and yet If you Will
read what he says upon this subject you
will find that his promise falls far short
of the requirements of the situation. He
says:
"If I am elected president shall urge
upon congress. with every hope OF sue
cess, that a law be passed requiring the
fling in a federal office. of a statement
of the contributions received by COM
mittees and candidates in elections for
members OF congress, and in such other
elections as are constftutionally within
the control of congress-.
How can the DeODle hope to rule, If they
are not able to learn until after the cleo
ton what the predatory interests are do
ing? The Democratic party meets the
issue honestly and courageously. 1t says:
I'VE pledge the Democratic party to
the enactment Of a law prohibiting any
corporation from contributing to Il cam
paign fund, and any individual from con-
tributing an amount above reasonable
maximum. and providing for the publ
cation, before election. of all such con-
tributions above a reasonable minimum.
The Democratic national committee I'm
mediately proceeded to interpret and ap-
ply this plank. announcing that no con-
tributions would be received from cor
porations. that no individual would be al
lowed to contribute more than $4,000. and
that all contributions above 800 would
be made public before the election-those
received before October 1b to be made
public on or before that day those re-
ceived afterward to be made public on
tributions to be accepted within three
days of the election. The expenditures
are to be published after the election.
Here is a plan which is complete and
effective.
Popular Election Of Senators.
Next to the corrupt use of money, the
present method of electing United States
senator's is most responsible for the OBJ
struction of reforms. For 100 years after
tla of be q
mand for the popular election of senator's.
while finding Increased expression, did
not become dominant sentiment.
constitutional 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 manifested II
self through congressional action In the
Fifty-second congress. however, reso-
luton was reported from a house COM
mittee proposing the necessary constitu-
tional amendment, and this resolution
passed the house of representatives by
vote which was practically unanimous.
In the Fifty-third congress a similar res
olution was reported to. and adopted by
the house of representatives Both the
Fifty-second and Fifty-third congresses
were Democratic. The Republicans gained
control of the house as result Of the
election of 1894 and in the Fifty-fourth
congress the proposition died in commit
tee. AS time went on, however, the SEN
timent grew among the people, until 1t
forced a Republican congress to follow
the example set by the Democrats, and
then another and another Republican
congress acted favorably. State after
state has Endorsed this reform. until near
ly two-t 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 voters of the United States by an
overwhelming majority, demand 1t. And
this refusal is the more significant when
1t is remembered that n number of sem
ators owe their elections to great corpor-
ate interests. Three Democratic nation
al platforms-the platforms of 1900. 1904
and 19oS-specifcally call for a change in
the constitution which will put the cleo
ton of senators in the hands OF the vo-
ters and the proposition has been in