Omaha daily bee., 1908-08-19

paramount issue or the campaign in the
question Shall the people rule?'
Taking up the expression Of Mr.. Bryan,
Shall the people rule? Senator Burrows,
continuing. said:
This declaration is a thinly yelled
criticism OF the republican party In that the
impression is sought to be made that under
a republican administration the rule Of the
people Is suppressed. In spite OF this
declaration, Mr.. Bryan charges that
publicity for csmpeisn expenses by politi-
teal parties is generally desired and that
the republican congress refused to enact
such a law Mr.. Bryan does not state the
whole truth. II is true that the republic
can committee of the house Of represen-
tatiNe s reported the measure providing for
the publication Of all campaign expenses
Incurred In the course Of an election, and
such a measure was considered by the
house. In the course of its consideration
an amendment was added, viii h required a
showing TO what extent the lawful voters
of his district were restricted ip the eX-
ercise of their franchise and the methods
employed to accomplish such results.
Democrats Oppose Full Franchise.
AS thus amended the measure passed the
house, and coming to the senate. was re-
ferred to the committed ON privileges and
elections or which l was chairman. l
have to say that while the republicep
membership of that committee favored the
passage OF the measure as Il came from the
house, every democratic committeeman was
opposed to IL and under no circumstances,
by reason Of the Democratic opposition.
could II have been passed through the
senate. II was believed then, and Is be
voters from exercising their right Of
suffrage Is quite as peTnicious and as
destructive of free government as the use
'ot- money In elections.
In the second place Mr.. Bryan declares
mat people disapprovE of the present
method OF eleeting United states senator's
IN constitution of the United States pro-
vides for their election by the legislatures
OF the states and the. senate is the body
IN Which the states. of such are represented.
But, after entering into the argument,
touching the matter. It is sufficient to say
that in many, II not the majority of the
states, the people are permitted today to
indicate their preference for United States
senators and the preference so expressed
Is necessarily potential with the legislature
TO make a choice of senators.
House of. Representatives Rules.
Finally, reasserts that the people do not
rule by reason Of the government OF the
house OF representatives, alleging that the
rules OF the house do not permit the peo-
pie through their representatives freely to
legislate. No statement can be farther
from the fact. Under the old law it was
practically impossible to transact public
business, You, Mr.. Sherman and myself,
nave served together in the house of rep
sentatiyes and have been held there day
after day and night after night, in an eff
Tort to transact the public business because
the democratic minority insisted upon the
right, while remaining in their seats, to
refrain from answering 'roll calls, thereby
destroying a quorum.
When Thomas b.. Reed OF Maine became
speaker OF the house he exercised what he
regarded TO be his parliamentary right to
count those present not voting as a part
of the body to determine the question
whether the quorum was in fact present.
BY this simple process he put ar end to
one OF the most effective means Of filibus-
tering. The rules adopted, known as the
these rules 1t is possible for the majority
present to transact public business with
promptness and despatch. 1t hardly lies
IN the mouth of Mr.. Bryan or the demo-.
cratic party to ~criticise these rules IN view
OF the fact that upon ascension of the DEM
tatives and the election of Mr.. Crisp Of
Georgia as speRker, these same rules were
endorsed ana adopted and enforced with
rigor.
These are three things which Mr.. Bryan
mentions as eviderce. that the people do
not rule. 81 20
Outcome Is Certain.
Shall the people. ruler This question
was settled s..ore than half a century ago
when Abraham Lincoln stood by the sacri-
ficial altar at Gettysburg declaring the
purpose, OF the party then in power to con
government and against the rule OF an
armed majority, that in the end there
might be established in this country IA
government u the people, by the people and
for the people," ~ -l,.,
swered at the close Of the, contest in No.
TVsnibep Sfe&t and sevidenced by the tri-
umphant election Of the nominees Of the
republican ~partyNfof. the office OF president
and vice president OF the United States.