The Grenada sentinel., 1908-08-15

the cause of the people on this subject.
The subject was ignored by the Republic
can national convention in 1900 1t was g-
nored in 1904 and the proposition was
explicitly repudiated In 1908, for the re-
cent Republican national convention. by
a vote of S66 to ia, rejected the plank
indorsing the popular election Of SEN
ators-and this was done in the conven-
ton which nominated Mr.. Taft. few dele
gates 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 p ople. says:
Personally, l am inclined to favor 1t,
but it Is hardly a party question" What
is necessary to make this a party ques-
ton? When the Democratic convention
vote. and the Republican convention re-
jects the proposition by a vote of seven
indorses a proposition by a unanimous
to one, does II not become an issue be-
tween the parties? Mr.. Taft can not re-
move the question from the arena of pol
itics by expressing 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 before
the public? What enthusiasm has he
shown in the reformation of the SEN
ate? What influence could he exert in
behalf Of a reform which his party has
openly and notoriously condemned in it's
convention, and to which he is attached
only by belated expression Of personal
inclination?
The Gateway to Other Reforms.
shall the people rule?" Every remedial
measure Of a national character must run
the gauntlet of the senate. The presi-
dent may personally incline toward
reform: the house may consent to 1t;
but as long as the senate Obstructs the
reform, the people must wait. The pres
ident may heed a popular demand; the
house may yield to public opinion: but as
long as the senate Is defiant, the rule of
the people Is defeated. The Democratic
platform very properly describes the pop
ular election Of senators as ''the gate
way to other national reforms" Shall we
open the gate, or shall we allow the ex-
plotting interests to bar the way by the
control Of this branch of the federal leg
islature Through a Democratic victory
and through a Democratic victory only,
can the people secure the popular cleo
ton of senators. The smaller parties are
unable to secure this reform; the Repub-
lican party, under its present leadership,
IS resolutely opposed to it: the Democrat
ic party stands for it and has boldly de-
manded it. If 1 am elected to the presi-
dency, those who are elected upon the
ticket with me will be, like myself.
pledged to this reform, and l shall con-
vene congress in extraordinary session
Immediately after inauguration. and ask.
among other things. for the fulfllment
OF this platform pledge.
House Rules Despotic.
The third instrumentality employed to
defeat the will Of the people is found in
the rules of the house of representatives.
Our platform points out that the house
of representatives was designed by the
fathers of the constitution. to be the pop
ular branch of our government. reSpon-
sive to the public WILL" and adds:
The house of representatives. as con-
trolled in recent years by the Republican
party, has ceased to be a deliberative
and legislative body, responsive to the
will of a majority of the members, but
has come under the absolute domination
of the speaker, who has entire control of
its deliberations, and powers Of legis-
lation.
I'VE have observed with amazement
the popular branch of our federal gov
ernment helpless to obtain either the
or enactment of measures
desired By majority of its members
This arraignment is fully justified The
reform Republicans in the Rouse of rep
reSentatives, when in the minority in
their own party, are as helpless to OBJ
tain hearing or to secure a vote upon
a measure as are the Democrats In the
recent session of the present congress,
there was a considerable element in the
Republican party favorable to remedial
legislation; but a few leaders, in con-
troll OF the organization, despOtically sup
pressed these members, and thus forced
A real majority in the house to submit
to well organized minority. The Re-
publican national convention, instead Of
this attack upon popular gov
eulogized congress and nomin-
ated as the Republican candidate for
Vice-presdent one of the men who
shared in the responsibility for the
coercion Of the house. Our party de-
nands that the house of representatives
shall again become a deliberative body, |
by a majority of the peoples |
representatives, and not by the speaker"
md is pledged to adopt such rules and |
regulations to govern the house of rep |
'esentatives as will enable a majority |
If its members to direct its deliberations |
md control legislation"
Shall the people rule?" They can not
10 so unless they can control the house
# representatives, and through their
representatives in the house give
oppression to their purposes and |
heir desires. The Republican party is
ommitted to the methods now in vogue
n the house of representatives; the Dem
cratic party is pledged to such a re-
ision of the rules will bring the pop
lar branch of the federal government
nto harmony with the ideas of those
Who framed our constitution and found
d our government.
)ther Issues Will Be Discussed Later.
Shall the people rule?" repeat is de-
Jared by our platform to be the over
hadowing question, and as the campaign
rogresses, 1 shall take occasion to dis
uss this question as it manifests itself
4 other issues; for whether we consider
he tariff question. the trust question, the
abroad question. the banking question,
he labor question, the question of i'm
erialism, the development of our water
Fays, or any other of the numerous prob
Ems which press for solution shall |