The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-08-18

CURED a member of congress to file a
| statement showing to what extent the
lawful voters of his district were re-
stricted in the exercise of their fran
| chise and the methods employed to
| accomplish such results.
| Held Up by Democrats.
As thus amended the measure pass
ed the house. and coming to the sem
| ate was referred to the committee on
| privileges and elections of which i was
| chairman. l have to say that while
| the Republican membership of that
| committee favored the passage of the
| measu as it came from the house
every Democratic committeeman was
| opposed to it and under no circum-
\ stances by reason of the Democratic
| opposition could it have been passed
| through the senate. 1t was then be-
| lieved and is believed now that the
prevention of lawful voters from ex-
ercisng their right of suffrage is quite
| as perncious and as destructive of free
government as the use of money in
elections.
In the second place Mr.. Bryan de-
clares that people do not approve of
the present methods of electing United
States senators. The constitution of
the United States provides for their
election by the legislatures of the
states and the senate is the body in
WHICH lHt Sl1ltS DIS SuSi dlG ICPlC-
scented. But after entering into the
argument touching the matter 1t is
sufficient to say that in many, If not
the majority of the states, the people
are permitted today to indicate their
preference for United States senators
and the preference so expressed is nee
essarily potential with the legislature
in exercising it's constitutional preroga-
tive to make a choice of senators.
Government of the House.
Finally, he asserts that the people
do not rule by reason of the govern
ment of the house of representatives
alleging that the rules of the house
do not permit the people through their
representatives to freely legislate. No
statement can be farther from the
fact Under the old law it was prac-
tically impossible to transact public
business. You, Mr. Sherman, and my
self, have served together in the
house of representatives and have
been held there day after day and
night after night, in an effort to tran
sact the public business, because the
Democratic minority insisted upon the
right, while remaining in their seats,
to refrain from answering roll calls,
thereby destroying a quorum.
When Thomas B. Reed, of Maine,
became speaker of the house he en-
forced what he regarded to be his par
liamentary right to count those present
to determine the question whether the
quorum was in fact present. By this
simple process he put an end to one OF
the most effective means of filibuster-
ing. The rules adopted known as the
Reed rules are enforced today and
under these rules it is possible for the
majority representing the people to
transact the public business with
promptness and dispatch. 1t hardly
lies in the mouth of Mr.. Bryan or the
Democratic party to criticize these
casion of the Democratic majority of
the house of representatives and the
election of Mr.. Crisp, of Georgia, as
speaker these same rules were en-
dorsed and adopted and enforced with
rigor.
These are three things which Mr..
Bryan mentions as evidence that the
people do not rule.
Settled Fifty Years Ago.
Shall the people rule?" This ques-
ton was settled more than half CEN
fury ago, when Abraham Lincoln stood
by the sacrifcial altar at Gettysburg
declaring the purpose of the party then
in power to continue the contest in be-
half of popular government and
against the rule of an armed minority,
lished in this country "a government
of the people, by the people and for
the people"
Shall the people ruler" will be an
swered at the close of the contest in
November next as evidenced by the
triumphant election of the nominees
of the Republican party for the offices
of president and vice president of the
United States.