The Washington herald., 1908-08-13

ever. fmpudentIy and arrogantly obstructs
the passage Of the resolution. notwlth
standing the fact that the voters Of the
United States. by an overwhelming ma
jority. demand f. And this refusal is the
more significant when Il is remembered
that a number oS Senators owe their cleo
tiOn 10 great corporate interests. Three
Democratic national platforms-tEe plat
forms OF 1870. 1894. and specifically
can for a change in the Constitution
which will put she election Of Senator's
in the hands OF the voters. and the pr0po-
sitiOn has been indorsed by a number Of
the smaller parties. but no Republican
national convention has been willing 70
champion the cause Of the people on this
subject The subject was ignored by the
Republican national convention IN 1880. IL
was ignored IN 1514. and the proposition
was explicitly repudlated in lss. for the
recent Republican national convention.
by a vote of - 20 Ia. rejected the plank
indIrs!ng the popular election o. Senators,
and this was done IN the convention
which nominated M Taft. few delegates
from his own state voting for the plank.
Personal Inclination Not Sufficient.
IN his notification speech. the RepUbli-
can candidate, speaking Of the election Of
Senators by the people. says "Personsl-
l1 a---A l-------t-.A 70 AH--'- a. la-- Il =
hardly a party question What IS nee
essarv 20 make this 2 party question:
When the Democrats convention irdorses
a proposition by unanimous vote. ard
the Republican convention rejects tn
proposition by a vote cf seven 20 one.
does Il not become an issue between the
par-les2 M TAFT cannot remove the
question from the arena Of politics By eX-
pressing a personal inclination toward the
Democratic position For several years
he has been connected with the admins
tration- What has ne ever said or done
20 bring this question before the puhlic2
What enthusiasm has he shown in The
reformation OF the Senate What infu-
ence could he exert in behalf OF reform
which his party has openly and n0tori-
ously condemned IN its convention. and
10 which he IS attached only by helat-
ed expression of personal ircliuation2
The Gateway to Other Reforms.
shall the people ruleg- Every rene
dial measure Of national character
must run the sLntIet CT the Senate. The
President may personally incline toward
a reform. the House may consent 70 IL,
but as long as the Senate obstructs the
reform the people must wait The Presi-
dent may heed a popular demand. the
House may yield 70 public opinion. but as
I long as the Senate s defiant the rule OF
] the people IS defeated The Democratic
Z platform very properly describes the pop
ular election Of Senators as the gateway
/ 70 other national reforms ShaI we open
/ the gate, or shall We allow the exploiting g
| interests 20 bar the way by the control OF
1 this branch Of the Federal legislature
Through a Democratic victory. and
I through a Democratic victory only -can
I the people secure the popular election OF
/ Senator's The smaller parties are unable
{ 10 secure this reform, the Republican
I party. under its present leadership. IS
I resOlutely opposed 10 it, the Democratic
[ party stands for it and has boldly de-
| rlahded it. If I am elected 10 the Presi-
| deacy. those who are elected upon The
/ ticket with ne viii be, like myself,
/ pledged 20 this reform. and I shall con-
/ ve1e Congress in extraordinary session
/ Immediately after Inauguration and ask
/ among other things. for the fGlflluent OF
! this platform pledge
House Rules Despotfc.
/ The third instrumentaIty employed 70
| defeat the viii Of the people IS found in
the rules OF the House Of Representa-
| tives. Our platform points out that the
l House OF Representatives was designed
| by the fathers Of the Constitution 10 1e
| the popular branch OF cur government,
/ responsive to the public will" and adds:
! The House Of Representatives. as con-
4 trolIed in recent years by the Republican
! party. has ceased TO be q deliberative and
/ legislative body. responsive 10 the will C.
1 a majority of the members. but has come
| under the absolute domination OF tho
Speaker. who has entire control of its de-
/ iberations. and power OF legislation
| We have observed with auazement The
/ popular branch Of our Federal govern
ment helpless 10 obtain either the con
/ sideration Of enactment OF measures de
/ sired by majority Of its members"
/ This ARA ignment is fully justified The
| reform Republicans in the House Of Rep.
| resentatives when in the minority in tEeil
! o---, ,,e~+r- ba1r71azz n of,+osv q