The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1908-08-14
BRYAN
ACCEPTS
In Hearty Accord
With Platform.
SHALL THE PEOPLE RULE
That Is the 0yershadOwing
Question.
REPUBLICANS RESPONSIBLE.
REPUBLICANS RESPONSIBLE.
All Present Abuses a Result Of
Their Acts. and They Are I'm.
potent TO Correct Them.
Continued from page A.

I'VE pledge the Democratic party to
the enactment of a 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
all such contributions above a reason
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
$4,000, and that all contributions
above 500 would be made public be-
fore the election-those received before
October - 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-
lions to be accepted within three days
Of the election. The expenditures are
to be published after election. Here
Is q 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 senator's Is most responsible for
the obstruction of reforms. For one
hundred years after the adoption Of
the constitution, tie demand for the
popular election OF senator's, while find
ing increased expression, did not be-
come dominant sentiment. A con-
stitutional amendment he'd 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 point where II mani
tested itself through congressional &C.
ton. In the Fifty-second congress.
however. resolution was reported
from a 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. Roth
the FYfty-second and Fifty-third con-
crosses we're Democratic. The Cepub-
iicans gained control OF the house as
result Of the election Of 1894 and In
the Fifty fourth congress the PROPOSE
ton died I'm committee. AS time went
on, however. the sentiment grew among
the people, until II forced a Republican
congress TO follow the example set by
no nj
another Republican congress acted IA
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-
whelming majority. demand 1t. And
this refusal Is the more significant
when IL Is remembered that a number
% senators owe their election 10 great
corporate interests. Three Democratic
national platforms the platforms of
1900, 1904 and specifically call
for n change in the constitution which
hands OF the voters. and the PROPOSE
ton has been endorsed by a number
OF the smaller parties. but no Repub-
lean national convention has been
willing TO champion the cause OF the
people on this subject The subject
was ignored by the Republican national
convention in 1900; II was ignored in
1904 and the proposition was explicit
~ repudiated In 1908 for the recent
Republican national convention. by a
vote Of SG6 10 Ia, rejected the plank
endorsing the popular election of sena-
tors-and this was done In the conven-
ton which nominated Mr.. Taft, few
delegates from his own state voting for
the plank.
Personal inclination Not Sufficient.
In his notification speech. the Repub-
iican candidate. speaking OF the cleo
ton OF senators by the people, says:
In. - q