Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-08-14

to defeat the VIII OF the people Is
found In the rules of the house of rep
resentattves. Our platform points out
that 1.-The house of representatives was
designed by the fathers of the constt-
tuition. to be the popular branch of our
WILL" and adds:
"The house Of representatives, as
controlled In recent years by the Re-
publican party, has ceased to be de-
Lucrative and legislative body. respon-
siye to the will Of a 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 majority Of Its men,
bers."
This arrangement 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 a vote
upon a 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 leads
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
attack upon popular government, eulo-
gtzed 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 the
house Of representatives shall again
become 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 MS will enable ma
jority of Its members to direct Its de-
liberations and control legislation"
"Shall the people rule 7" They can
not do SO unless they can control the
house Of representatives, and through
their representative 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
overshadowing question. and as the
campaign progresses, ! shall take occa-
sion to discuss this question as 1t man
TESTS itself In other issues; for whether
we consider the tariff question. the
trust question, the railroad question
the banking question, the labor ques-
ton, the question of Imperialism. the
development of our waterways. or any
other Of the numerous problems which
press for solution, we shall find that
whether the government shall remain
a 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-
fidence.
If the voters are satisfied with the
record Of the Republican party and
with Its management of public affairs
we can not reasonably ask for a
shange in administration; II. however.
the voters feel that the people. as a
whole, have too little influence In shap.
Ing the policies of the government; IL
they feel that great combinations of
capital haye encroached upon the
rights of the masses. and employed the
instrumentalities Of government to Sc
cure an unfair share of the total wealth
produced, then we have a right to ex-
pect verdict against the Republican
party and In favor Of the Democratic
party; for our party has risked defeat
aye, suffered defeat-in Its effort to
arouse the conscience of the public and
to bring about that very awakening to
which Mr.. Taft has referred.
Only those are worthy to be entrust-
ed with leadership in great cause
who are willing to die for 1t, and the
Democratic party has prevents WORTH
ness by Its refusal to purchase victory
by delivering the people into the hands
Of those who have despoiled them In
this contest between Democracy on the
one side and plutocracy on the other.
the Democratic party has taken Its pc
sitton on the side of equal rights. and
invites the opposition Of those who use
politics to secure special privileges and
governmental fayoritism. Gauging the
progress Of the nation, not by the hap
ptness or wealth or refinement of q
few, but '.by the prosperity and ad-
vancement Of the average man." the
Democratic party charges the Repub
lican party with being the promoter of
present abuses. the opponent Of neces-
sary remedies and the only bulwark Of
private monopoly. The Democratic par
ty afhrms that In this campaign It Is
the only party, having prospect OF
success, which stands for Justice In
government and for equity In the divi-
sion Of the fruits Of industry.
nanonra%ic par%v nefandar ~ Aoneay