The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1908-08-12

proposition by a vote OF seven to one,
does it not become an issue between
the parties? Mr.. Taft can not remove
the question from the arena of poll
tics by expressing a personal incl1na-
ton toward the Democratic position.
For several years he has been con-
nected with the administration. What
has he ever said or done to bring
this question before the public? What
enthusiasm has he shown in h ref
ormation of the senate? What infiu-
ence could he exert in behalf of a
reform which his party has openly
and VIGOROUSLY condemned In its
convention, and to which he Is attach
ed only by a belated expression OF
personal inclination?
Gateway to other Reforms.
Shall the people rule?" Every re-
medal measure of a national charac-
ter must run the gauntlet of the SEN
ate. The President may personally
incline toward a reform; the house
may consent to it; but as long as the
senate obstructs the reform, the peo-
pie must wait. The President 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 Demo
II Z ! AoH0
cribes the popular election Of sena-
tors as "the gateway to other nation
al reforms" Shall we open the gate,
or shall we allow the exploiting int
erests to bar the way by the control
of this branch of the federal legisla-
ture? Through a Democratic victory,
and through a Democratic victory on
ly, can the people secure the popular
election of senators. The smaller par
ties are unable to secure this reform;
the Republican party, under its pres
.ent leadership, is resolutely opposed
to It.; the Democratic party stands
for it and has boldly demanded 1t. II
I am elected to the presidency, those
who are elected upon h ticket with
me will be, like myself, pledged to
this reform, and I shall convene con-
gress in extraordinary session immed
lately after Inauguration, and ask,
among other things, for the fulfill
ment 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
that "the house of representa-
tives was designed by the fathers OF
the constitution, to be the popular
branch of our government, responsive
to the public WILL" and adds:
1.-The house OF representatives, as
controlled in recent years by the Re-
publican party, has ceased to be q
de~liberative and Legislative body, re-
sponsive to the will of a majority of |
the members, but has come under
the absolute domination of the speak
er, who has entire control of its de-
liberations, and powers of legtsla-
I'VE have observed with amaze
the popular branch of our feder-
al government helpless to obtain eth
er the consideration or enactment OF
desired by a majority of
it's members" |
This arraignment is fully justified.
The reform Republicans in the house
of representatives, when in the mi
in their own party, are as
helpless to obtain a hearing or to /
secure a vote upon a measure az are
the Democrats. In the recent session
Of the present congress, there was a
element in the Republi-
can party favorable to remedial leg
islation; but a few leaders, In control
Of the organization, despotiea1ly sup
pressed these members, and thus fore
ed a real majority IA the rouse to
submit to q well organized minority |
The Republican national convention,
OF rebuking this attaek@upon
popular government, eu1ogized o
gress and nominated as the Republi-
can candidate for vice president one
II the men Who shared In the respon-I