Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-15

| SARATOGA. n. Y. September 15.-As
temporary chairman of the republican
stat. convention. which assembled here
yesterday, Elihu Root made an extensive
address. in which ne defended the official
acts of Gov. Hughes and debated in de-
tail the arguments advanced by William
Jennings Bryan in the present presidential
campaign.
Mr.. Root devoted almost his entire ad-
dress to the consideration of national is
sues. He recited the panegyric of the
present administration, giving q history
| of it's proceedings and claiming credit for
| prosperity
Then taking up the arguments of the
| democratic nominee as to why he should
be elected to be President and the demo-
| cratic party returned to administrative
power, he answered them at great length.
Mr.. Roots Address.
Mr.. Root said. in part:
The democratic party announces as the
issue of this campaign upon which they
| ask the voters of the country to take the
powers of administration and legislation
| away from the party that has thus proved
its competency. and to embark upon the
experiment of democratic cOntrol-as 1.-The
overshadowing issue the question Shall
the people rule
Do not the people rule? This is rep
resentatfve government. 1t surely is not
proposed to do away with repres antation
and have eighty-tve millions of people
make and execute their laws directly,
without the Intervention of legislative and
executive agents. Are not the laws being
made and executed by the agents whom
the people have selected for that purpose?
Bryan's Reasons Answered.
But Mr.. Bryan gives specifications. He
says there are three reasons why the peo-
pie do not rule.
First, because there is corrupt use OF
money at elections. Does he mean to say
that the two millions and half of votes
which constituted Mr.. Roosevets major
ity were bought: that to such a frightful
extent the American electorate Is venal?
Does he produce any evidence of such
charge? Not the slightest
Does he produce any facts tending to
sustain even suspicion of the justice of
such a charge? None whatever. For
one. ] deny its truth. and l assert that
American elections are fair and honest
elections, and that the government In
Washington has been welding the powers
vested in 1t under the Constitution by the
clear and unquestionable will of the peo-
pie of the United States.
Campaign funds were raised and used
in the last election by both parties. as
they ought 10 nave Deen raised ana uSeu
Mr.. Bryan's managers are appealing for
contributions of campaign funds today.
The second reason why Mr.. Bryan says
the people do not rule is that We have
not direct election of senator's. and he
holds the republican party responsible
for not having procured an amendment
to the Constitution of the United States
to provide for that. There is no more
necessity for an amendment to the Con-
stitution providing for the direct cleo
ton OF senators than there Is for an
amendment to the Constitution providing
for the direct election of President.
If the people of any state wish any
particular man to be chosen as senator
they have only to instruct their legisla-
| ture, as the people of d considerable num-
Der of states make 1t their practice to do
now, and no legislature will ever for
moment think of disobeying the instruc-
tons any more than presidential electors
violate their obligations.
The third reason why the people do not
rule. SAYS Mr.. Bryan, is TO be found in
the rules of the House Of Representatives
Who makes the rules of the House Of
Representatives? Why. a majority Of It's
members. and a majority can change
them at will.
Manifestly. there must be rules to con-
troll the conduct of the business of the
House or no business could be done All
legislative bodies have to adopt such
rules. and the larger the body the more
necessary are the rules and the more
stringent they have to be.