The Prescott daily news., 1908-08-12

| several polling places on election day and register their will. What excuse can be given for secrecy as to the in- fuences at work? If man, pecun- iarily interested in concentrating the control of the railroads In one manage ment." subscrbes large sum to aid in carrying the election, why should his part In the campaign be concealed un- til he has put the officials under obli- gation to him? If a trust magnate contributes $100.O00 to elect political friends to office. with view to pre- venting hostile legislation, why should that fact be concealed until his friends are securely seated in their official po- sitions?
 This Is not a new question; 1t Is a question which has been agitated-a question which the Republican leaders fully understands question which the Republican candidate has studied. and yet he refuses to declare himself in fla vor of the Legislation absolutely neces- sary, namely. Legislation requiring pub lication before the election.
 Democratic Party Promises Publicity. | 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 coura .geously. It says:
 "Ne pledge the Democratic party to the enactment of law prohibiting any corporation from contributing to campaign fund. and any individual from contributing an amount above reasonable maximum. and providing for the publication, before election, of 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 S10.0O0, and that all contributions fore the election-those received before October 15 to be made public on or before that day, those received after ward to be made public on the day when received, and no such contribu- tions to be accepted within three days of the election. The expenditures are to be published after election. Here is a plan which is complete and effec- tive.
 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 of the constitution. the demand for the popular election of senators, while find ing increased expression, did not be- come a dominant sentiment A con- stitutional 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 q point where 1t mani fested itself through congressional ac- ton. 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 congress similar resolu- tion was reported to. and adopted by, the house of representatives. Both the Fifty-second and Fifty-third con- gresses were Democratic. The Repub- licans gained control of the house as a result of the election of 1894 and in the Fifty-fourth congress the proposi- tfon died in committee. As time went on. however, the sentiment grew among the people, until 1t forced a Republican congress to follow the example set by the Democrats, and then another and another Republican congress acted fla vorably. State after state has endorsed 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 resolution, notwithstanding the fact that the vot- CTS of the United States, by an over whelming majority, demand 1t. And i this refusal Is the more significant when 1t is remembered that number of senators owe their election to great corporate interests. Three Democratic national platforms-the platforms of 1900. 1904 and 190S-specifically call for change in the constitution which will put the election of senators in the hands of the voters, and the proposI- ton has been endorsed by a number of the smaller parties, but no Repub- lican national convention has been