The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-08-12

ing publication before election.
Democrats Promise Publicity.
How can the people hope to rule,
If they are not able to learn until af-
ter the election what the predatory
interests are doing? The Democratic
party meets the issue honestly and
courageously. 1t says:
I'VE pledge the Democratic party to
the enactment of law prohibiting
any corporation from contributing to
a campaign fund. and any individual
from contributing an amount above
reasonable maximum, and providing
for the publication; before election. of
all such contributions above a 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 contribu-
tions above 800 would be made pub
lie before the election-those re-
ceived before October Is to be made
public on or before that day. those re-
ceived afterward to be made public on
the day when received, and no such
contributions to be accepted within
three days of the election. The
the election. Here is a plan which is
complete and effective.
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
the popular election of senator's.
while finding increased expression.
did not become a dominant sentiment.
A constitutional amendment had from
time to time been suggested and the
matter had been more or less dis
cussed in a few of the states, but the
movement had not reached a point
where it manifested itself through
congressional action In the Fifty
second congress, however a resolution
was reported from house committee
proposing the necessary constitutional
amendment and this resolution
passed the house of Representatives by
vote which was practically
unanimous. In the -Fifty-third con-
gress similar resolution was reported
to. and adopted by. the house of
representatives. Both the F'ifty-sec-
ond and Fifty-third congresses were
Democratic. The Republicans gained
control of the house as result of the
election Of 1894 and in the Fifty
fourth congress the proposition died
in committee. AS time went on, how
ever, the sentiment grew among the
people, until it forced a Republican
congress to follow the example set by
the Democrats, and then another and
another Republican congress acted
favorably. State after state has en-
dorsed this reform, until nearly two
thirds of the states have recorded
themselves in its favor. The United
States senate, however, impudently
and arrogantly obstructs the passage
of the resolutions, notwithstanding
the fact that the voters of the United
nv al inc in itx-
demand it. And this refusal is the
more significant when it is remem-
bered that a number of senators owe
their election to great corporate in
terests. Three Democratic national
platforms-the platforms of 1900,
1904 and 190s-specifically call for a
change in the constitution which will
put the election of senators in the
hands of the voters. and the PROPOSE
ton has been endorsed by a number
of the smaller parties, but no Republi-
can national convention has been
willing to champion the cause of the
people on this subject. The subject
was ignored by the Republican ma
tional convention in 1900; it was
ignored in 1904. and the proposition
was explicitly repudiated in 1905. for
the recent Republican national con-
vention, by a vote of S66 to ia, re-
jected the plank endorsing the popu-
lar election of senators-and this was
done in the convention which nomi-
mated Mr.. Taft, few delegates from his
own state voting for the plank.
Personal Inclination Not Sufficient.
In his notification speech, the Re-
publican candidate. speaking of the
election of senators by the people.
says: Personally. 1 am inclined to
favor it, but it is hardly party ques
ton" What is necessary to make this
a party question? When the Demo-
cratic convention endorses PROPOSE
ton by unanimous vote, and the
Republican convention rejects the
proposition by vote of seven to one,
does it not become an issue between
the parties? Mr.. Taft can not re-
move the question from the arena of
clination toward the Democratic posi-
ton. 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 senate? What in
f1uence could he exerr IN behalf of
reform which his party has openly and
notoriously condemned in it's conven-
ton, and to which he is attached only
by belated expression of personal in
clination?
The Gateway of Other Reforms.
Shall the people rule?" Every rene
dial measure OF a national character
must run the gauntlet of the senate.
The president may personally incline
toward a reform: the house may con-
sent to it; but as long as the senate
obstructs the reform, the people must
wait. The president may heed a popu-
lar demand: the house may yield to
public opinion; but as long as the SEN
ate is defiant, the rule of the people is
defeated. The Democratic platform
very properly describes the popular
election of senators as the gateway 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 fed
eral legislature? Through a Democrat
ic victory. and through a Democratic
victory only, can the people secure
the popular election of senators. The
smaller parties are unable to secure
this reform: the Republican party, I'M
dor It's pEaSart laadarShiIa is