New-York tribune., 1908-09-06

nle II, fre serersiS sta fesvs 1fT Taft also IN
clines to favor this course. And am Siao ie
does. -.
But this can be accomplished only by consu-
tntional amendment and such amendnent can
be had only when ratified by three-fourths o1
the states. This would hardly Seem to oe an
issue upon which 10 select President IN cas-
of Congressional initiative two-thlrds OF potil ,
houses must concur in order TO present tht
amendment for ratification Or, If the states
desire the amendment and there is any suci'
sentiment promises the necessary ratncatlon'
two-thirds of the states may require conVeh-
tion to be called for the purpose. turther any
state may, If il desires, provide Tor diIect Note
which will generally be treated by the Legls-
lature as binding because of its expression Oh
the wish of the people. This is the case IN d
number of states where Senators are practlcaHS
chosen by direct vote now but as long as
threre are twelve states who do not desire the
amendment the constitutional provision Tor ire
election of Senators by the legislatures cahiio'
be changed.
Again Mr. Bryan objects to the present rules
of the House OF Representatives and complains
that il is no longer "deberatiVe pody. HoM a
10 make the procedure OF body OF nearly LouI 90
hundred members more fully deliberatlve WINE
at the same time to make provision ior tle
proper dispatch of business, how TO give greater
freedom and how to escape from the alleged
tyranny of the Speaker without creating new
tyranny Of the minority, is a question WnlCh
pariamentarians may discuss to advantage II
would be we'll to have some definite statement
of the amendments desired and an opportunity
TO judge their effect In any event the mem
bers of the House Will make such rules as they
think best and the general suggestions OF the
Democratic platform on this point can hardly be
regarded as pertinent to the Presidential cam
paign.
ELECTION LAWS.
Mr. Bryan also has much to say with regard
to corrupt practices and campaign expenditures.
But he omits to give due credit to the Repub-
lican party for what it has accomplished with
regard to these important reforms an accom-
plishment the more noteworthy in the light OF
Mr. Bryan's reiterated 'ticisms of cOntribu-
tions to Republican campaign funds In the
State of New York Republican Legislature IN
1906 passed a statute prohibiting corporations
from making any political contributions direct
ly or indirectly and providing that officers, d.
rectors or stockholders participating in or con-
senting to the violation of the law should be
guilty of a criminal offence And know Of no
more dra site statute in this country with regard
to the publicity of campaign contributions and
for the prevention of corrupt practices than
that passed in New York under Republican au
spices. These were not promises Of an opposl-
tion party seeking power, but enactments by a
party in power securing genuine reforms.
Proper recognition must OF course, be given to
the patriotic Democrats who supported these re-
forms but they were enacted by a Republican
administration. Congress has also legislated
against political contributions by corporations
Purity of elections and free opportunity for the
uncorruTded expression of the popular viii lie
the foundation Of every reform and cannot pe
too carefully safeguarded. And there should be
federal legislation securing proper publicity or
and accounting for campaign contributions IN
connection with federal elections But II must
fairly be recognized that the skirts of neither
party have been clean. If we search MI
Bryan's following shall find not d few VINO
have sinned, and also those who, If we may
judge from their local activities. are still un-
repentant. The Democratic party cannot claim
unsuled virtue either with regard TO the source
OF its revenues or its readiness TO receive them.
And when criticism is meted out TO the Repub-
lican party on this score justice requires that II
should also receive credit for the reforms 1t has
achieved.