The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1908-08-13

|
vention endorses proposition by a
unanimous vote, and the Republican
convention rejects the proposition by a
vote Of seven to one, does it not be-
come an issue between the parties?
Mr.. Taft can not remove the question
from the arena of politics by express
ing personal inclination toward the
| Democratic position. For several
years he has been connected with
the administration. What has he ever
said or done to bring this question be-
/ fore the public? What enthusiasm
has he shown in the reformation of
the senate? What influence could he
exert in behalf Of reform which his
party has openly and VIGOROUSLY con.
demned in its convention. and to which
he is attached only by a belated ex-
preston of personal inclination?
The Gateway to Other Reforms.
shall the people ruler" Every
remedial measure Of a national char
acter must run the gauntlet of the
senate. 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 Elust 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 Democratic
platform very properly describes the
popular election Of senators as 1.-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
a Democratic victory, and through
Democratic victory only. can the peo-
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 it; the Democratic
party stands for it and has boldly de-
manded it. If I am elected to the
presidency, those who are elected upon
the ticket with me will be, like my
self. pledged to this reform. and I
shall convene congress in eXtraordi-
nary session Immediately after inau-
guration, and ask, among other things,
for the fuifillment 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 rep
resentatives. Our platform points out
that 1.-The house of Representatives was
designed by the fathers of the consti-
tuition to be the popular branch of our
government, responsive to the public
will" and adds:
The house of representatives, as
controlled in recent years by the Re-
publican party, has ceased to be a 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"
This arraignment is fully justified.
The reform Republicans in the house
Of representatives. when in the minor
ity in their own party, are as helpless
to obtain hearing or to secure vote
upon measure as are the Democrats.
In ho 0P ha ~
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 q real majority
in the house to submit to we'll organ
lied minority. The Republican national
convention, instead of rebuking this
attack upon popular government eulo-
giZed congress and nominated as the
Republican candidate for vice president
one of the men who shared in the re-
sponsibility for the coercion of the
house. Our party demands that 1.-The
house Of representatives shall again
become deliberative body, controlled
by a 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
jority of its members to direct it's de-
alterations and control legislation"
"Shal. the people rule?" They can
not do SO unless they can contro! the
house OF representatives, and through
their representatives in the house, give
expression to their purposes and their
desires. The Republican party is
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
Other Issues Will Be Discussed Later.
"Shall the people rule?" repeat. is
declared by our platform to be the