The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-08-12

! publican party, has ceased to be q de-
Lucrative and legislative body, respon-
sive to the will Of a majority Of the
members, but has come under the alb
solute domination Of the speaker, who
has entire control of 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 mem
bers."
This arraignment Is fully justified.
The reform Republicans in the house
OF representa- tiYes. when in the minor,
ity IN their own party, are as helpless:
to obtain hearing or to secure vote
upon measure as are the Democrats.
In the recent session Of the present
congress, there was considerable ele-
ment in the Republican party favorable
to remedial legisla ton; but a few lead
ers, in control Of the organization,
despotically suppressed these mem
bers> and thus forced real majority.
In the house to submit to a well organ
lied minority. The Republican national
convention, instead of rebuking this
attack upon popular government, eulo-
gized congress and nominated as the
Republican candidate for vice president
one Of the men who shared in the re-
sponsibility for the coercion of the
house. Our party demands that 'the
house Of representa- lives shall again
become deliberative body, controlled
by majority of the peoples repre-
sentatiyes, and not by the speaker
and is pledged to adopt such rules
and regulations to govern the house
Of representa- iyes as will enable ma
jority Of its members to direct its de-
alterations and control legislation
Shall the people rule p They can
not do so unless they can control the
house Of representatives, and through
their representatives in the house, give
expression to their purposes and their
desires. The Republican party Is
committed to the methods now in
vogue in the house of representa- ives;
the Democratic party Is pledged to-
such revision Of the rules as will
bring the popular branch of the federal
government into harmony with the
Ideas Of those who framed our consh
tuition and founded our government.
Other Issues Will Be Discussed Later.
"Shall the people ruleY' repeat, is
declared by our platform to be the
overshadowing question, and as the
campaign progresses, shall take occa-
sion to discuss this question as it man.
TESTS itself In other issues; for whether
we consider the tariff question, the
trust question, the railroad question,
the banking question: the labor ques-
ton, the question of imperialism, the J.
development Of our waterways, or any
other of the numerous problems which
press for solution, we shall find that
the real question involved In each Is,
whether the government shall remain
q mere business asset Of favor seeking
corporations or be an instrument in
the hands of the people for the adj
vancement Of the common veal.
Democratic Party Has Earned Con-
fidence.
II the voters are satisfied with the
record Of the Republican party and
with its management Of public affairs
We can not reasonably ask for a
lhange in administration; If, however,
the voters feel that the people, as a
whole, have too little influence in shap-
ing the policies of the government; II
they feel that great combinations of
capital have encroached upon the
rights Of the masses, and employed the
tnstrumentalities Of government to Sc
cure an unfair share Of the total wealth
produced, then we have right to ex-
pect verdict against the Republican
party and in favor Of the DemocraticI
party; for our party has rlsked defeat
aye. suffered defeat in its effort to
arouse the conscience Of the public and
to bring about that very awakening to
which Mr.. Taft has referred.
Only those are worthy to be entrust-
ed with leadership in a great cause
who are willing to die for it, and the
Democratic party has proven its worth I
ness by Its refusal to purchase victory
by delivering the people into the hands
of those who have despoiled them. In
this contest between Democracy on the i
one side and plutocracy on the other,
the Democratic party has taken its po.
sidon on the side Of equal rights, and
invites the opposition Of those who use
politics to secure special privileges and
:nnvorn norfaf 20 1,,ri+ Is ~ ~,