The Dolores star., 1908-08-14

Repub,ican success. II the past can b
t.msn - . euids. the Rspubficas party
tr1buttons from ths bsnsdciasiss e pro-
tsction. ~ to make that PARTY powerIess
TO bring 10 the country any material re-
hsf fron ths prsssnt tariff burdsns
Why Ne RaIlrssd LsslsiseIsnf
For ten years the Interstate Commerce
Commission has been aslEing for an en-
largemeut Of its powers, that II might
prevent rebates and Determinations. but
Republican senate and q Republican
house OF Representatives were unmoyed
BY its entreaties. In 1900 the Republican
national convention was urged to indorse
the dssnand for railway legislation. but
its platform was silent on the subject
Even In ises. the convention gave no
pledge 70 remedy these abuses When
the president finally asked for IegisIat ion.
he drsw his Inspiration from three Demo-
cratic national platforms and he received
more cordial support from the Democrats
than from the Republicans. The Republi-
cans in the senate deliberately defeated
several amendments offered by Senator
I-aFollette and supported By the Demo-
crnts-amendments embodying LEGISLATION
asked by the Interstate Commerce Com
mission. One of these amendments au-
thorixed the ascertainment of the val
ue OF railroads. This amendment was not
only defeated by the senate, but Il was
overwhelmingly rejected by the recent
Republican national convention and the
Republican candidate has sought to res
of this act by expressing himself, In a
qualified way. in favor Of ascertaining
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
HN~ HAo -
control Of the railroads under one man.
agement." and the complaint is well
founded. But. with a president to point
out tho evil. and q Republican congress
to correct It. we md nothing done for
the protection of the public Why? My
honorable opponent has. by hIa 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 ~ to Campaign contribu-
tlons.
An effort has been made to secure legis-
lation requiring publicity as to campaign
contributions and expenditures: but the
Republican leaders. even in the face of
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
a vote of $50 to ~. Here. too. Mr.. Taft
has been driven to apologize for his con-
vention and to declare himself in favor
Of a publicity law: and yet. II you will
read what he says upon this subject. you
will flnd that his promise falls far short
Of the requirements OF the situation. He
..Esi SnY am .,.o,.a nr..,..,, , ,s.,, urge
upon congress-. with every hope of sue
cess that q law be passed requiring the
filing. 10 a federal ONCE, of q statement
Of the contributions received by COM
mittees and candidates in elections for
members of congress. and in such other
elections as are constitutionally within
the control Of congress-"
How can the people hope to rule. II 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 . law prohibiting any
corporation from contributing to cam
paign fund. and any individual from con-
tributing an amount above q reasonable
maximum. and providing for the publi-
cation. before election. of all such con-
tributlons above q reasonable minimum"
The Democratic national committee i'm
mediately proceeded to interpret and APP
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 IL to be made
public on or before that day. those re-
ceived afterward to be made public on
the day when received, and no such con-
tributions to be accepted within three
days Of the Sseos. , The ,na expenditures aan,ina
Here is a plan which Is complete and
effective.
Popular Election Of Senators.
Next to the corrupt use of money. the
present method Of electinE United States
senators 10 most responsible for the OBJ
struction of reforms. For 100 years after
the adoption OF the constitution. the de-
mand for the popular election of senators.
while finding Increased expression. did
not become dominant sentiment. A
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 It manifested IT.
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-thtrd congress a similar res
OlutlOn was TepOTteu anu adopted Dy
the house of representatives Both the
Fifty-second and Fffty-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
tment grew among the people. until II
| forced Republican congress to follow
| the example set by the Democrats. and
| then another and another Republican
| congress acted favorably. State after
state has indorsed this reform. until near
| ly 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 voters of the United States, by ar
overwhelming majority. demand It, And
| this refusal is the more significant wher
| 1t is remembered that number of sen.
| ators owe, their elections to great corpor.
| ate interests. Three Democratic nation
| al platforms-the platforms of 1900. 190
and 1Scs-specihcally call for change II