The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-08-22
THE IDAHO SCIMITAR.

in the house of representatives or a speaker with
more unlimited authority?
And then Mr.. Bryan answered some of his own
questions in his way and every one who reads
will admit that the people are not to rule as long
as the party of Mr. Roosevelt and Mr.. Taft is in
power. These are his answers:
There is no doubt whatever that a large majority
of the voters of the republican party recognize the
deporable situation which Mr.. Taft describes; they
recognize that the have had but little 1nfiu-
upon legislation or upon the administration OF
the government, and they are beginning to under
stand the cause For generation, the republican
party has drawn its campaign funds from the bene-
hciares of special legislation Privileges have been
pledged and granted in return for money contributed
to debauch elections. What can be expected when
official authority is turned to the representa-
tves of those who first furnish the slnews OF war
and then reimburse themselves out of the pockets
of the taxpayers?
So long as the republican party remains in power,
it is poweress to regenerate itself. 1t can not at
tack wrongdOing in high places without d1sgrac1ng
many of its prominent members, and it, therefore,
uses opiates instead of the surgeons knife It's male
factors construe each republican victory as an in
dorsement of their conduct and threaten the party
with defeat if they are intertered with Not until
that party passes through period of fasting in the
Wilderness will the republican leaders learn to study
public questions from the standpoint OF the masses
Just with individuals, the cares of this world
and the deceitfulness of riches choke the TRUTH so
in politics, when party leaders serve far away from
home and not in constant contact with the voters,
continued party blinds their eyes to the needs
of the people and makes them deaf to the cry OF
distress.
Publicity of campaign contributions dealt with
at length and this, too, Mr. Taft had declared for
as an ater-e1ection disclosure, after his party
vention had voted it down by vote of $50 to "a
and the democratic convention had unanimously
adopted the principle of publicity before election day.
Said Mr.. Bryan:
This not new question; it is a question which
has been agitated-a question which the republican
leaders fully understand question which the re-
publican candidate has studied and yet he refuses to
declare himself in favor of the legislation absolutely
necessary, namely, legislation requiring publication
before election.
How can the people hope to rule, if they not
able to learn until after the election what the preda
tory interests doing?
The popular election of senator's was another
avenue through which the people could establish
their own rule and the democratic candidate was in
favor of constitutional amendment bestowing that
privilege on the nation. Mr. Taft had declared that
it not party question, yet the republican
convention that nominated Mr.. Taft had rejected
it by vote of seven to one and the democratic
vention that nominated Mr.. Bryan had adopted it by
unanimous vote.
The democratic convention declared further that
the popular election Of senator's was the gateway
to other reforms meaning that senator's elected by
the people WOuld OBEY Tic WISHES VI TIC people, Willie
delegated power made senators responsible to Oft
corrupted middle of the perniciouS class of pol
iticians.
Under this topical heading, Mr.. Bryan added
promise to his logic:
Shall we open the gate, shall we allow the ex
plotting interests to bar the way by the control of
this branch of the federal legislature? Through a
democratic victory, and through democratic vic
tory only can the people the popular election
of senator's The smaller parties unable to
present leadership, is resolutey opposed to it; the
democratic party stands for it and has boldly, de-
manded it. If am elected to the presidency those