The Washington times., 1908-08-12
BRYAN CHALLENGES REPUBLICANS
IN HIS SPEECH OF ACCEPTANCE

is the more significant when it is re.
IileHlDefed that a number Of Senators
| interests
Three Democratic national plat.
| Iorms-the platforms of 1900, 1904
anu lSOo-speclncaly call for a
chdHSe IN the constitution which will
pat the election Of Senators In the
ndnds OF the voters, and the PROPOSE
tioh mas been Endorsed by a number OF
me smaller parties but no Republican
national convention has been willing II
champion The cause of me people on
tuls SUBJECT. The subject was ignored
ny Jne Republican national convention
IN IJV0i II was ignored in 1904, and the
pLCopositlon was explicitly repudiated in
lSOo, Tor the recent Republican national
convention, by a vote OF $50 10 ia re-
JecIeu the plank indorsing the popular
eiecllon OF Senators-and this was done
~ the convention which nominated Mr..
voting for the plank
Personal Inclination.
In his notification speech, the Repub-
llcan candidate, speaking Of the cleo
tlon OF Senators by the people, says:
personally I am inclined to favor it.
but II Is hardly party question" What
Is necessary TO make this a party ques-
uon? When the Democratic convention
indorses proposition by a vote OF
seven 10 one, does It not become an Is
sue between the parties?
MI. art cannot remove the question
rom the arena OF politics by express
ing a personal inclination toward tie
DSmoc-atlc position. For several years
ne mas deem connected with the Adm{Di-
sur -uon What has he ever. said or done
70 10 DFlhB this question before the pub
what enthusiasm has he shown IN the
LeLOrlhduon or the Senate? Whar in
Huence could he exert in behalf Of a
LStoLH when his party has openly and
ENORMOUSLY condemned in its conven-
tloH. ana 10 which he Is attached only
clination2 80
Gateway to Reforms.
Shall the people ruleY' Every re-
medal measure Of a national character
must run the gantlet of the Senste-
Inc President may personally incline
toward reform; the House NAV con-
sent 10 II; but as long as the Senate OBJ
s'Fucts the reform, the people must
wait The President may heed a popu-
lar demand; the House may Weld 10
public oDintOni bat as long as the SEN
ate = defiant. the rule Of the people is
defeated.
The Democratic platform very prop
erly describes the popular election Of
Senators as the gateway to other ma
uODal reform s." Shall we omen The eafe
OF Shau we allow the exploiting inter
ests 20 bar the way by the COntrO! OF
lis bfaHch or the FelcdaI Legislators?
Through Democratic victory and
through q Democratic victory only can
tle people secure tho popular ele ton
o. Senators. Tho smaller Darttes are
unaDle 10 secure this reform; tbs Re
publican party under its present leader
ship, IS re5Olutely opposed TO A.. the
democratic party stands for It and has
Dul'ly demanded II, If / am elected 10
the Presidency, JhOas who are elected
upon ne ticket with me will be like
myself pledged TO this reform. and /
shall convene Congress la extraordinary
session Immediately after inauguration
ana ask, among other things. for the
iulnliment OF this platform pledge.
House Rules Despotic.
The third fundamentally employed to
defeat the will Of the people is found
in the rules Of the House Of Represen-
tatives- Our platform points out ihat
''tae House OF Representatives was Dc
signed by the fathers OF the Conststu-
tion, 20 be the popular branch OF our
Government, responsive TO the pubic
will" and adds.
The House Of Representatives, as
controlled In recent years by the Re
publican party, has ceased to be a
delberaJive and legislative body. respon-
siVe 10 the will OF a majority of The
members. but mas come under the an
solute domination Of the Speaker Who
has entire control OF its deliberations
and powers OF legislation.
we have observes with amazement
the popular branch of our Federal Gov
eminent helpless 10 obtain either the
consideration or enactment of measures
desired by majority OF its members"
RMS arraiSnment is fully justified
The reform Republicans in the House
OF REPRESENTATIVES. when in the minor
NY ia their own party, are as helpless
70 obtain hearing OF 10 secure a vote
upon measure as are the Democrats
In the recent session Of the present
Congress, there was a considerable eie-
ment In the Republican party favorable
10 remedial legislation. but a few lead
ers' IN control OF the organization. de-
specifically suppressed these members.
and thus forced a real majority in the
House 70 submit TO a wei organized
minority.
The Republican national convention
instead Of rebuking this attack upon
popular government, eulogized Con-
gress and nominated as the Republican
candidate Tor Vice President one OF the
men who shared in the responsibility
for the coercion of the House Our NJ rrv
demands that 1.-THE House of Repre-
sentatiVes shall again become a DELHI
eratIVe bod, controlled by a ma iority of
the peoples Representatives. and not
by tie Speaker" and is pledged TO adopt
such rules and regulations to govern
the House OF Representatives as will
enable a majority Of its members to
direct its deliberations and control leg
islatiOn.'
"Shall the people ruler" They can not
do so unless they can control the House
of Representative and through their
Representatives IN the House. give ex-
preston 70 their purposes and their de-
sires- The Republican party is COM
mltted to the methods now IN vogue in
the House Of Representatives; the
Democratic party is pledged to such a
revision Of the rules as will bring the
popular branch Of the Federal Govern
ment into harmony with the ideas OF
those who framed our Constitution and
founded our Government.