Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1908-07-09
THEODORE BELL, CALIFORNIA, TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN
THE DEMOCRAT CONVENTION.

in the conduct of It's campaigns. Let the
voters of this country seriously consider
whether the refusal of the republican
party to disclose the sources and amounts
of its election finances Is not confession
in its campaigns.
1t is eminently proper that this conven-
ton should define The democratic a.tltude
companies and call the attention OF the
country to the indisputable fact that 1t
was only after years OF democratic enort
that an amendment was made 10 the In
terstate commerce law authorizing the
commission to establish reasonable rates
whenever it appeared that an existing
schedule was unjust and unreasonable.
The national platforms of the republican
party remained silent upon this great
necessary change was advocated by a
republican president who succeeded only
through the aid OF the democrats in both
branches of congress in placing the
amendment upon our statute books, does
not affect the credit to which our party
is entitled for having worked persistently
for such enactment.
Further amendment to our laws giving
the federal government supervision over
the issuance of railroad stocks and bonds
| Is demanded.
The fixing of transportation charges and
the control of issuances of railroad Sc
curties are inseparably. connected with
4 democratic party believes that the first
thing TO do is to secure physical valua-
ton of the roads, that is a valuation of
the solid rather than the liquid assets of
railroad companies. While in other hand.
the republican party. ON a roll call in the
convention, by an overwhelming vote, took
4 an unequivocal stand in favor of system
of water rates without giving the people
4 the benefit of meter.
4 We search in vain for one syllable in
the Chicago platform pledging the repub-
lican party to retrenchment and reforms:
4 and it is no mere coincidence that has Civ
en- us a billion dollar session of congress
on the of d national election and the
! possible revision of the tariff.
SO long as we maintain the present
, method Of electing United States senator's
, we cannot hope that the upper chamber
of congress will reflect the popular will. !.
On five different occasions the House of
Representatives has passed constitu-
tonal amendment providing for the cleo
ton of United States senators by the d.
rect vote of the people, but these measures
have been sandbagged in the Senate by
these who are determined that the Senate
shall not become integral part OF our
free, representative institutions
Direct Election Of Senators.
The democratic party will continue to
labor for the direct election of United
States senators and 1t appeals to the Vot-
ers of all America to elect members of the
different states legislatures who Will
pledge themselves to vote for no candidate
for the United States Senate that Is not
in favor of this reform.
The affirmative position of the demo-
cratic party upon these great questions
will be made clear during the impending
campaign, and dsdaning all subterfuges
1T will speak in language that cannot
be misunderstood Its voice will ring
with genuine love for humanity and the
charge of insincerity VIII never be brought
to its doors Let our party declaration III
!. this convention present the strong con-
b trast between that which we here pro
"a pose and that which was declared at Chi
& cago. Let any man take the temperature
y of the Chicago platform and discover. II
u he can any sign of human warmth. NO
81 a single sentiment is there to redeem y
81 from the materialism permeatlng y
81 through and through
So This national convention meets at time
$# when the angel of peace Is lowering owe
So the entire world and the nations OF TN
$# world each day are strengthening thos'
IA ties of friendship and common 1nteres
a# that will render war less frequent and per
81 NIT mankind to turn their hands to tn
"a peaceable pursuits of life rather than t
#s the destruction of one another.
$# The democratic party realizes the par
~ that America must inevitably play In tn
affairs of the world, and that we canno
IL escape participation in the settlement 0
~ every world problem that arises: but Am
erica's weight and influence must ever
on the side of peace. on the side OF JUS
tice, on the side of the oppressed: and
the will of the people shall commit
our hands the scepter of power. IT Will Q
So used for the realization of the high Amer
o. lean ideals that raise our own people
of loftier and better things and through on
ri precepts and examples contribute TO IA
ge we'll being and happines of all mankind