Evening journal., 1908-08-12

question before the publicg What enthusl-
asm has he shown in the reformation OK
the senate? What influence could he exert
IN behalf Of reform which his party has
openly and notoriously condemned In its
convention. and TO which he Is attached
only by a belated expression Of personal /
inclinationf.
Shall the people ruler Every remedial
measure OF a national character must run
the gauntlet OF the senate. The president
may personally incline toward a reform:
the house may consent 20 Il; but as long
as the senate obstructs the reform, tho
people must wait. The president may
heed popular demand; tho houss may
yield to public opinion; but as long as the
senate IS defiant. the rule ot the people
Is defeated. The Democratic platform very
properly describes the popular election OF
senators as the gateway % Other national
reforms Shall we open the gate. or shall
we allow the exploiting interests TO bar
the way by the control ef this branch OF
the federal lesisIaturel Through Demo-
cratic victory. and through Democ attic
victory only. can tho people secure the
popular election OF senator's. The smaller
the Republican party under its present
leadership. is resolutely opposed 20 Il;
tho Democratic party srands for Il and
has boldly demanded Il. II I am elected to
the presidency. those who are elected upon
tho ticket with me viii be. like myself
pledged 20 this reform. and shall con-
vene congress IN extraordinary session
Immediately after Inauguration. and ask.
among other things. for the fuihllmcnt Of
this platform pledge.
"rhe third instrumentaliiy employed 70
defeat tho win OF the people is found
in the rules of the house OF representa-
tives. Our platform points out that the
house OF representatives was designated
by the fathers OF the constitution. to be
the popular branch OF our government, re-
sponsive to the public Will. ana adds:
The house OF representatives, as con-
trolied in recent years by the Republican
party, has ceased to be dcliberative
and legislative body, responsive to the
win OF majority Of the members. but
has come under the absolute DOMINATION
OF the speaker. who has entire control OF
It's deliberations. and powers Of iegisla-
ton.
owe have observed with amazcmcnt
the popular branch OF our federal gov
ernment helpless to obtain either the con-
sideration or enactmenttof measures de-
sired by a majority OF its members
This arraignment is fully justiaed J'he
reform Republicans In the house o. repre-
sentatives. when IN the minority in their
own party. are as helpless to obtain a
I
sure as are the Democrats. In the recent
session OK the present congress, there was
a considerable element in tho Republican
party favorable TO remedial legislation;
but a few leaders, In control OF the organ.
ization. despoticaliy suppressed thsss
members. and thus forced a real majority
In the house to submit to a well osgan'
ized minority The Republican nauona
convention, instead OF rebuking this At
tack upon popular government, etlog.ze'
, congress and nominated as the Republican
candidate for vice-president one OF IN
! men who shared in the responsibility fc
, the coercion OF the house. Our party dc
mands that the house OF representative
shall again become deliberative body
controlled by a majority OF the people,
representatives., and not by the speaker.
and is pledged 20 adopt such rules an,
regulations 10 govern the house OF repre-
sentatives as viii enable a majority OF III
members TO direct its deliberations AM
control legislation
" Shall the people ruler They can no
do so unless they can control The housl
OF representatives. and through their rer
resentatives IN the house. give expression
to their purposes and their desires. Tn
Republican party is committed 70 thl
methods now IN vogue in tho house o
representatives: the Democratic party
! pledged 10 such a revision Of the rules a
III will bring the popular branch OF the fed
: eral government into harmony with III
ideas OF those who framed our constitution
and founded our government.
viii Discuss Other Issues Later.
= Shall the people ruler repeat is Dc
clarcd by our platform 10 be the over
shadowlng question. and as the campaig
: progresses, shall take occasion to dis
cuss this question as Il manfests itse
in other issues; for whether we conside
:. the tariff question. the trust question, N
/, railroad question. the banINng question
tho labor question, the question OF impel
a !
or any other Of the numerous problem
!, which press for solution, we shall I'm
that the real question involved in each Il
whether the government shall remain
|. mere business asset OF favor seeking col
porations or be an instrument in the hand
Of the peopleGor the advancement Of II
. common veal.
III the voters are satisfied with n
record OF the Republican party and wit
its management OF public affairs we ca
not reasonably ask for a change IN az
ministration; H. however, the voters fe
, that the people. as a whole. have too Il
. tie influence in shaping the policies Of Il
government; II they feel that great con
= binatlons Of capital have encroach'
- upon the rights Of the masses. and en-
a. pioyed the instrumentalities OF govern
ment TO secure an unfair share Of the L
tai wealth produced. then We have
!. right to expect a verdict against the r
y publican party and In favor OF the Dem