The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-07-07

The masses great power or gold In
great contests that ought 20 pe deter
mined according to the character OF
nominees and the soundncss ana NOR
ality OF political issues; and there is
a general demand for publicity TO the
collection and use OF campaign funds
so that our citizens may know whether
a political party has purchaser us
way into office or has won its VIC
tories by honest means.
In the Chicago convention minor
fly report Of the committee on resp
buttons. containing declaration In
favor OF campaign publicity. was over
whelulngly defeated upon q roll can
OF the convention and the Repuphcah
party placed itself sQuarC1y upon rec
ord In favor or conCealinR the names
OF contributors. and the amounts OF
their contributions. BY vote or ~
10 | in the committee. and vote OF
more than ten TO one In the body or
the convention. they confessed their
guilt Let the voters of the country
seriously consider whether the REFUSAL
OF the Republican party to disclose the
sources and amounts OF Its election
frances Is not a confession OF the de-
basing and corrupt use OF money In
It's campaigns
II is eminently proper that this con-
vention should define the Democratic
attitude toward the regulation. OF
transportation companies and call the
putable fact that II was only after
years OF Democratic effort that an
amendment was made TO the Interstate
commerce lay authorizing the. commits
whenever II appeared that an existing
schedule was unjust or unreasonable.
No Pledge Platform.
We search in vain for one syllable
In the Chicago platform piedging the
Republican party TO retrcnchment and
reform: and IL is no mere oincidenoe
that has given us a billion dollar ses-
sion OF congress on the eve OF ma
tional election and the possible re-
vision OF the tariff. Reckless extrava-
gance Is to be condemned at all times.
II II be asked how this and other
similar abuses may he overcome, our
TO both branches OF congress who are
absolutely responsible 10 their con-
stituents and governed in their legis-
lative conduct by the consciousness
that they have not been sent TO the
halls OF congress for the purpose NJ
representing selfish interests but as
servants OF the commonwealth
There Is one branch OF congress
that must be Democratized before the
people can hope for the character OF
representation that IL gathered on the
face OF our organic law. So long as
we maintain the present method OF
electing United states senator's we
cannot hope that the upper chamber
OF congress Will reflect the popular
will
The Democratic party Will continue
TO labor for the election OF United
States senators, and II appeals to the
voters or America TO elect members OF
the different state legislatures who
VIII pledge themselves to vote for no
candidate for the United States senate
thet r. not I'm favor OF this reform.
This national convention meets at a
time when the angel OF peace Is hover
Ing over the entire world and the ma
lions OF the world each day are
strengthening those ties OF friendship
and common interests that will render
war less frequent and permit man
Kind 10 turn their hands to the peace
full pursuits OF life rather than TO the
Destruction OF one another
The. Democratic party realizes the
part that America must Inevitably play
In the arairsN OF the world and that
we cannot escape participation In the
settlement or every world problem
that arises; but Americas weight and
influence must ever he on the side
OF the oppressed. and II the will of
the people shall commit TO our hands
the scepter or power. IL Will he used
for the realization Of theh Ugh Amer
lean Ideals that raise our own people
to loftier and better things and
through our precepts and examples
contribute 10 the we'll being and hap.
piness OF ally mankind.