The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-08-29
The People Do Not Rule.

ACCEPTED the challenges of Mr. Taft and Mr. Sher-
man, who in reply to Mr. Bryans question, shall
the people ruler? replied that the people had ruled
under the republican party He said that IF the
will of the people, once known is not given effect,
then the people do not rule"
Mr. Kern proceeded to elaborate his theme saying:
Will any intelligent man claim that there is
has been any substantial diversity Of opinion in
this country the question as to whether the
tariff duty wood pulp used in the manufacture of
paper should be reduced removed? In this case
the tariff tax operated for the benefit of the paper
trust alone, allowing this combine to levy millions
Of tribute each year upon the newspapers OF the
country and their readers The press of the country
without regard to party united in demanding relief.
The people of the republic unanimously seconded
the demand. The president of the United States
threw the influence of his great office in favor OF
the demand of the press, but without avail The
dominant forces within the republican party had
established in the lower house of congress parlia-
mentary condition, In the interest of monopoly,
der which the sole power to determine whether a
measure should be allowed to become law
was lodged in the speaker of that body and his
committee rules, and by the fiat of that
the will of the press, the people and the president
set at naught Behold the spectacle! On one
side eighty millions of free people demanding legis-
lat1On to right admitted wrong. off the other
side, few men engaged in public plumber, aided by
the dominating power within the republican party
represented the presiding officer of the popular
branch of congress- And the plunderers and these
unfathfu public servants prevail the people of
this great republic In this instance did the people
rule?
On February f. 1902. Congressman Babcock of
Wisconsin, then chairman of the republican con-
gressonal committee, in speaking of a bill he had
introduced to reduce the tariff iron and steel,
and after showing conclusive1y that the interests of
farmers, laborers builders and other classes would
be conserved by the passage of the bill, said:
81 going to push the bill to revise the tariff
at every possible opportunity If it goes before the
house it will pass to l."
But under the rules of the house, the friends of
this bill were unable to get it before that body.
Three fourths of the representatives of the people
in that branch of congress were even without power
to free themselves from the "strangleho1d" which
under this modernized system of popular govern
ment, devised by the present republican leadership,
the speaker has upon the American public. This
power to Subvert the popular will is exerted by
this republican leadership in many ways notably in
committees which are in many instances SO const-
tued as to quietly kill in the committee room meas
ures designed for the relief of the people
Time forbids the multiplication of instances where
the popular will has been defed by the real repub-
hcan man power of the house-and some times by
the few representatives of monopoly who dominate
the senate.
Measure after measure-scores of them-favored
by the people of all parties-n many instances adj
Vocated strenuousy by the president, either failed
OF passage, or were SO emasculated by amendment
to utterly fail to register the popular will.
The question, shall the people rule" is one which
demands the serious and earnest consideration of
all men who are interested in the perpetuation of
our institutions 1t must be apparent to all who have
followed the course Of legislation during the past
few years that there is power within the republican
party determined that the people shall not rule That
power has. manifested itself whenever effort has
made to check the destructive work of unlawful
combination, reduce the oppressive tariff tax or
enact any legislation looking towards the equalization
or tightening of the burdens resting upon the people.
Mr.. Kern might have mentioned many other in
stances wherein the right of the people rule has
been denied by the law making body of the nation.
He might have said that during many years, the
people have been demanding an amendment to the
constitution nrOYidino for the election of limited