Daily Arizona silver belt., 1908-08-13

in spite of the adverse action of his convention, he should succeed in seeur- ing the enactment of the very law which he favors, it would give but par tial relief. He has read the democratic platform; not only his language, but his evident alarm, indicates that he has read it carefully. He even had before him the action>of the democratic nation. al committee in interpreting and ap- plying that platform; and yet, he fails to say that he favors the publication of the contributions before the election. Of course, 1t satisfies natural curi. osity to find out how an election has been purchased, evon when the knowl- edge comes too late to be of service, but why should the people be kept in darkness until the election is pasti Why should the locking of the door be de. layed until the horse is gonei
 An Election Popular Affair.
 An election is a popular affair. The people, exercising the right to select their officials and to decide upon the policies to be pursued proceed to their several polling places on election day and register their will. What excuse can be given for secrecy as to the in- fiuences at worki If man, pecuniarily interested in concentrating the con trol of the railroads in one manage ment,' subscribes a large sum to aid in carrying the election, why should his part in the campaign be concealed until he mas put the officials under oh. ligation to him9 If trust magnate contributes $l00.000 to elect political friends to office, with view to prevent. ing hostile legislation, why should that fact be concealed until his friends are securely seated in their official posi-. tionsi
 This is not new question; it is a question which has been agitated--a question which the republican leaders fully understand-a question which the republican candidate has studied, and yet he refuses to declare himself in favor of the legislation absolutely necessary, namely, legislation requiring publication before the election.
 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 courageous. ly It says:
 "We pledge the democratic party to the enactment of a law prohibiting any corporation from contributing to campaign fund, and any individual from contributing to 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 Sl0,000, and that all contributions above Sl00 would be made public before the elec tion--these received before October l5 to be made public on or before that day, those received afterward to be made public on the day when received, and no such contributions to be accept. cd within three days of the election. The expenditures are to be published after the election. Here is plan which is complete and effective.
 Popular Election of Senators.
 Next to the corrupt use of money, the present method of eleeting 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 popu- lar election of senators, 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 discussed in a few of the states, but the movement had not reached a point where it manifested itself through congressional action. In the Fifty-see- ond congress. however, resolution was reported from house committee pro