West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1908-08-13


Republican candidate has udlod. and
yet he refuses TO declare h lsclf in ia
vor OF the legislation abso ,tcly neces-
sary. namely, legislation requiring pub
lication before the election.
Democratic Party Promises Publicity.
How can the people hope 10 rule. ie
they are not able 10 learn until after
the election what the predatory inter
ests are doingf Tls Democratic party
meets the issue honestly and courn-
gcously. IL say
I'VE pledge thc Democratic party TO
the enactment OF a law prohibiting any
corporation from contributing to
campaign fund. and any individual
from contributing an amount above n
reasonable maximum. and providing
for the publication. before election. OF
all such contributions above n 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-thosc received before
October IL 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-
tlons TO be accepted within three days
of the election. The expenditures are
20 be published after election. Here
is n plan which Is complete and cfrec-
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 ono
hundred years after the adoption OF
the constitution, the demand for the
popular election OF senators, while find
ing increased expression. did not be-
come dominant sentiment. A con
stitutional amendment had from time
to time been suggested and the matter
had been more or less discussed I'm n
few OF the states, but the movement
had not reached n point where Il mani
Tested itself through congressional ac-
tion. In the Flfty-second congress,
however, resolution was reported
from house committee proposing the
necessary constitutional amendment.
and this resolution passed the house
or representatives by vote which
was practically unanimous In the
Flfty-third congress n similar resolu-
lion was reported TO. and adopted by.
the house OF representatives. Both
the Fifty-second and Flfty-thlrd con
crosses were Democratic. The Repub-
licans gained control OF the house ns
n result OF the election Of 1894 and I'm
the Fifty-fourth congress the pfoposi-
tion died I'm committee. AS time went
on, however, the sentiment grew among
the people. until Il forced n Republican
congress TO follow the example set by
the Democrats, and then another and
another Republican congress acted ia
vorabiy. State after state has endorsed
this reform, until nearly two-thirds OF
the states have recorded themselves I'm
Its favor. The United States senate.
however, impudently and arrogantly
obstructs the passage OF the resolution
Notwithstanding the fact that the vot-
ers OF the United States, by an over
whelming majority, demand It. And
this refusal is the more significant
when 1t Is remembered that n number
OF senators owe their election TO great
corporate interests. Three Democratic
national platforms-the platforms OF
1900. 1904 and 190S-speciflcally call
for change In the constitution which
Will put the election Of senators I'm the
hands Of the voters, and the PROPOSE
tion has been endorsed by number
or the smaller parties, but no Repub-
llcan national convention has been
willing to champion the cause OF the
people on this subject. The subject
was ignored by the Republican national
convention I'm 1900 it was ignored I'm
1904, and the proposition was explicit
iy repudiated I'm 1908. for the recent
Republican national convention. by
vote or SGG TO III, rejected the plank
endorsing the popular election OF sena.
tors-nnd this was done I'm the conven-
tion which nominated Mr.. Taft few
delegates from his own state voting for
the plank
Personal Inclination Not Sufficient.
In his notification speech, the Repub-
llcan candidate, speaking OF tho cleo
tlon or senators by the people. SAYS:
Personally, I am inclined to favor it,
but II is hardly party question"
What Is necessary 60 make this n party
question: when the Democratic con
vention endorses n proposition by a
unanimous vote, and the Republican
convention rejects the proposition by
vote OF seven to one, does 20 not be.
come an Issue between the parties?
Mr.. Taft can not remove the question
from the arena OF politics by express.
Ing a 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 I'm the reformation OF
the senate1 What influence could be
exert I'm behalf Of reform which his
party has openly and notorlously con.
deuned IN its convention. and to which
he Is attached only by n belatcd ex-
preston Of personal incllnatlong
The Gateway 20 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 reform; the house
may consent TO u. but as long as the
senate obstructs the reform. the peo-
pie must wait. The president may
heed n 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 "the
gateway 20 other national reforms"
Shntl yyo Ouon tho gofc or .h.u 80,