Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1908-08-14

nN"Sets teSoiutiOn was reported
from boise committee proposing the
necessary constitutional amendment.
ari this resolution passed the house
or representatives by vote which
was practically. unanimous. In the
Ffftythird congress u similar resolu-
ton was reported to, and adopted by.
the house Of representatives. Both
the Flfty-secopd and Fifty-third con.
crosses were Democratic. The Repub-
licans gained control OF the house as
q result OF the election OF 1894 and In
the Fifty-fourth congress- the PROPOSE
ZION died In committee As time went
on. however, the sentiment grew among
the people. until 1t forced n Republican
congress to follow the example set nv
the Democrats. and then mother and
another Republican congress acted IN.
vorably. State after state has endorsed
this reform. until nearly two-thiris OF
tue stntes have recorded themselves I'm
Its favor. The United States senate
however. impudently and <urrosantly
obstrucfs the passage OF the resolution
Notwithstanding the fact that the yot.
ers OF the United States. by an over
wheiming majority. demand II. ApdI
this rerusai Is the more Significant
when IL Is remembered that a number
OF senator's owe their election to great
corporate interests. Three Democratic
national platforms-the platforms of
lSoO. 1904 and 19OS-specihcally CALL
Tor change In the constitution which,
VIII put the election of senators In the
hands or the voters, and the PROPOSE.
ton has been endorsed by a number
or the smaller parties, but no Repub
ilcan national convention has beeuI
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 mi
1904. and the proposition was explicit
~ repudiated in 1908. for the recent
Republican national convention. by nj
vote OF SG6 to ia. rejected the nlank
endorsing the popular election of sena.
tors-and this was done In the conyen
aon 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. saws:
Personally. I am inclined to favor n.
but 1t is hardly party question"
What Is necessary TO make this party
question? When the Democratic con-
vention endorses a proposition by a
unanimous vote, aud the Republican
convention rejects the proposition by a
vote OF seven to one does IL not be.
come an issue between the parties
Mr.. Taft can not remove the question
from the arena OF politics by express
Ing 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 VIGOROUSLY con.
demned In its convention, and a. which
he Is attached only by a belated ex-
preston OF personal inclination?
The Gateway to Other Reforms.
"Shall the people ruler" Every
remedial measure OF national char
acter must run the gauntlet OF the
senate. The president may personally
incline toward a reform; the house
may consent TO 1t; but as long as the
senate obstructs the reform, the peo-
pie must wait The president may
heed a popular demand; the house may
yield to public opinion; but as long us
the senate is defiant, the rule OF the
people Is defeated. The Democratic
platform very properly describes the
popular election or senators as "the
gateway TO other national reforms"
Shall We open the gate, or shall we
allow the exploiting interests TO bar
the way by the control or this branch
OF the federal legislature? Through
Democratic victory, and through a
Democratic victory only, can the peo-
pie secure the popular election OF SEN
ators. The smaller parties are unable
to secure this reform; the Republican
party, under Its present leadership. Is
resolutely opposed to IL; the Democratic
party stands for IL and has boldly de-
manded It, IL l am elected TO the
presidency, those who are elected upon
the ticket with me viii be, like my
self. pledged to this reform, and
shall convene congress in extraordi-
nary session Immediately after inau-
guration, and ask. among other things,
for the fulfillment OF this platform
pledge. -
House Rules Despetie.
The third fundamentally employed
TO defeat the will Of the people Is
found In the rules OF the house OF rep
| resentatlyes. Our platform points out
that 1.-The house OF representatives was
designed by the fathers OF the consti.
tuition, to be the popular branch OF our
government, responsive TO the public
WILL" and adds:
1.-The house or representatives, as
controlled in recent years by the Re
publican party, has ceased to be de-
Lucrative and legislative body. respon-
siye to the will OF a majority OF the
members, but has come under the alb
solute domination OF the speaker, who
has entire control or its deliberations,
and powers Of legislation.
I'VE have observed with amazement
the popular branch OF our federal gov
eminent helpless to obtain either the
consideration or enactment OF meas
ures desired by q majority OF its men,
bers." -
This arraignment is fully justified.
The reform Republicans In the house
OF representatives. when in the minor
ity In their own party. are rs helpless
TO obtain a hearing or to secure a vote |