Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-08-12

fully understands question which the
| Republican candidate has studied. and
vet he refuses to declare himself in ia.
vor Of the legislation absolutely neces.
sary, namely, legislation requiring pub
LEGATION before the election.
Democratic Party Promises Publicity.
How can the people hope to rule. If
they are not able to learn until after
the election what the predatory Inter
ests are doing? The Democratic party
meets the issue honestly and coura
geously. 1t says:
I'VE pledge the Democratic party to
the enactment OF a law prohibiting any
corporation from contributing to a
campaign fund, and any individual
/ from contributing an amount above a
reasonable maximum, and providing
for the publication. before election, OF
all such contributions above reason
able minimum"
The Democratic national committee
Immediately proceeded to interpret and
apply this plank. announcing that no
contributions would be received from
corporations. that no individual would
be allowed to contribute more than
$4,000. and that all contributions
above 500 would be made public be-
fore the election-those received before
October Is to be made public on or
before that day, those received after.
ward to be made public on the day
when received, and no such contribu.
lions to be accepted within three days
of the election The expenditures are
to be published after election. Here
Is plan which is complete and effec-
tive.
Popular Election Of Senators.
Next to the corrupt use of money.
the present method Of electing United
States senators Is most responsible for
the obstruction OF reforms. For one
hundred years after the adoption OF
the constitution. the demand for the
popular election Of senators, while End.
ing increased expression. did not be.
come dominant sentiment. A con.
stitutional 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 mani
tested itself through congressional! ac-
ltion. In the Fifty-second congress.
however, resolution was reported
from house committee proposing the
necessary constitutional! amendment,
and this resolution passed the house
of representatives by a vote which
was practically unanimous. In the
| Fifty-third congress similar resolu-
/ ton was reported to, and adopted by.
| the house Of representatives. Both
the Fifty-second and Fifty-third con-
crosses were Democratic. The Repub-
| licans gained control Of the house as
result of the election OF 1894 and In
the Tifty-fourth congress the PROPOSE.
ton died in committee. As time went
on, however, the sentiment grew among
4 the people. until 1t forced Republican
congress to follow the example set by
the Democrats. and then another and
another Republican congress acted IN.
/ vorab.y. State after state has endorsed
this reform. unit! nearly two-thirds OF
| the states have recorded themselves in
| It's favor. The United States senate.
! however, impudent.y and arrogantly
obstructs the passage Of the resolution,
notwithstanding the fact that the vot.
ers Of the United States by an over.
| whe!m;ng majority, demand it. And
! this refusal Is the more significant
| when 1t is remembered that number
of senators owe their election to great
corporate interests Three Democratic
national platforms-the platforms of
1900. 1904 and 190S-speciica,!y cal
for change in the constitution which
will put the election of senators in the
hands Of the voters, and the PROPOSE
! tlon has been endorsed by number
! OF the smaller parties, but no Repub.
Ilican national convention has been
willing to champion the cause OF the
people ou this subject. The subject
was ignored by the Republican nationa!
convention In 1900: 1t was ignored in
1904. and the proposition was explicit
~ repudiated in 1908. for the recent
4 Republican national convention. by q
vote Of 500 to ia. rejected the plank
endorsing the popular election Of sena.
tors-and this was done in the conven.
ton 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. says:
Personally, am inclined to favor it.
but it is hardly party question"
1 What is necessary to make this a party
question? When the Democratic coll
vention endorses proposition by a
| unanimous vote, and the Republican
convention rejects the proposition BY q
vote Of seven to one, does it not be-
come an issue between the parties?
Mr.. Taft can not remove the question
4 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