Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-08-12

party has openly and VIGOROUSLY con-
demned In its convention. aud TO which
he rs attached only by a belated ex-
preston OF personal inclination2
The Gateway to Other Reforms.
"Shall the people ruler" Every
remedial measure OF national char
acter must run the gauntlet OF the
senate. The president may personally
incline toward a reform; the house
may consent to II; but as long as the
senate obstructs the reform. the PEG
pie must wait The president may
heed popular demand; the house may
yield to public opinion: but as long as
tho senate Is defiant. the rule OF the
people Is defeated The Democratic
platform very properly describes tho
popular election OF senator's as "the
gateway TO other national reforms"
Shall we open the gate. or shall we
allow the exploiting interests TO bar
the way by the control OF this branch
OF the federal legislature? Through
Democratic victory. and through n
Democratic victory only. can the PEG
pie secure the popular election OF SEN
ators- The smaller parties are unable
TO secure this reform; the Republican
party, under its present leadership. Is
resolutely opposed to Il: the Democratic
party stands fer II and has boldly de-
handed It. IL ! am elected to the
a
tho ticket with mo will be. like my.
self. pledged to this reform. and
shall convene congress I'm extraordi-
nary session Immediately after innu-
guration, and ask. among other things.
for the fulhliment OF this platform
pledge.
House Rules Despotie.
The third iustrumentasity employed
TO defeat tho Will OF the people Is
found I'm the rules ef the house OF rep
rcsentatives. Our platform points out
that ''the house OF representatives was
designed by the fathers OF the constl-
tuition, to be the popular branch or our
government, responsive to the public
WILL" and adds:
1.-The house OF representatives, us
controlled In recent years by the Re
publican party, has ceased to be de-
Lucrative and legislative body, respon-
sive to the Will of majority OF the
members. but has come under the alb
solute domination of the speaker who
has entire control OF its deliberations,
and powers OF Legislation.
I'VE have observed with amazement
the popular branch OF our federal gov
eminent helpless to obtain either the
consideration or enactment OF meas
ures desired by a majority OF Its men,
bers."
The reform Republicans In the house
or representatives. when In the minor
ity In their own party, are as helpless
to obtain hearing or to secure n vote
upon measure as are the Democrats
In the recent session OF the present
congress, there was considerable ele-
ment In the Republican party favorable
to remedial legislation; but few lead
ers. In control OF the organization,
despotically suppressed these mem
bers. and thus forced real majority
In the house to submit TO well organ
lied minority. The Republican national
convention, instead of rebuklng this
attack upon popular government, culo-
gized congress and nominated as the
Republican candidate for vice president
ono of the men who shared In the re-
sponsibility for the coercion OF the
house. Our party demands that "the
house Of representatives shall again
become n delIberative body. controlled
by majority Of the peoples repre-
sentatives. and not by the speaker"
and Is pledged TO adopt "such rules
and regulations TO govern the house
OF representatives as Will enable ma
jerity Of It's members to direct Its de.
alterations and control Legislation"
Shall the people ruler They can
not do so unless they can control the
house of representatives. and through
their representatives I'm the house, give
expression to their purposes and their
desires. The Republican party IL
committed to the methods now IN
vogue In the house OF representatives:
the Democratic party Is pledged to
such revision Of the rules as will
bring the popular branch OF the federal
government into harmony with the
ideas OF those who framed our consti.
tuition and founded our government.
othGr Issues Will Be Discussed Later.
"Shall the people ruler" / repeat, Is
declared by our platform TO be the
Overshadowing question, and as the
campaign progresses, shall take occa-
zion to discuss this question as II man
TESTS itself IN other issues; for whether
we consider tho tariff question, the
trust question, the railroad question.
the banking question. the labor ques-
lion. the question OF Imperialism, the
development Of our waterways, or any
other OF the numerous problems which
press for solution, we shall find that
the real question involved I'm each Is,
whether the government shall remain
n mere business asset Of favor seeking
corporations or be an instrument In
the hands Of the people for the adj
vancement OF the common veal.
Democratic Party Has Earned Con.
fidenee.
If the voters are satisfied with the
record Of the Republican party md
with its management Of public affairs
We can not reasonably ask for n