Albuquerque citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1907-1909, 1908-08-12

unanimous. In the Fifty-third Con-
gress a similar resolution was report
ed to and adopted Dy the House Of
Representatives. Both the Fifty-sec-
end and Fifty-third Congresses were
Democratic. The Republicans gained
control of the House as a result Of
the election of 1894 and in the Fifty
fourth congress the proposition died
in COMMITTEES. AS time went ON, how
ever, the sentiment grew among the
people, until it forced Republican
Congress to follow the example set
by the Democrats and then another
and another Republican Congress
acted favorably. State after state has
endorsed this reform, until nearly
two-thirds Of the states have recorded
themselves in its favor. The United
states senate, however, impuden.ly
and arrogantly obstructs the passage
ot the resolution. notwithstanding the
tact that the voters of the United
States, by an overwhelming majority,
demand it. And this refusal is the
more significant when it Is remem-
bered that a number of senators owe
their election to great corporate in
[, rests. Three Democratic national
Ilatforms-the platforms of 1900,
1904 and l90S-specifically call for
u change in the constitution which
will put the election of senators in the
| fands of the voters, and the propo-
| sjtion has been endorsed by a number
OF the smaller parties, but no Repuo-
| hcap national contention has bean
willing to champion the cause of the
people on this subject. The subject
v as ignored by the Republican ma
! tional convention in 1900; it was ig-
Eored in 1904, and the propositi IN
vas explicitly repudiated in 1908, for
| the recent Republican national coa-
vention, by a vote of S66 to ia. re-
| 3ected the plank endorsing the popL-
| lar election of senators-and this was
done in the convention which nomi-
| mated Mr. Taft, few delegates from
| his own state voting for the plank.
The third instrum entality employ ed
to defeat the will of the people Is
found in the rules Of the house of rep
Iesentatiyes. Our platform points out
| tnat the House of Representatives,
designed by the fathers of the coh-
stitut4on to be the popular branch OF
| our government, responsive to the
/ public will" and adds:
The House of Representatives. as
! controlled in recent years by the Re-
! publican party, has ceased to be de-
! Lucrative and legislative body, ee-
| sponslve to the will of a majority tt
the members, but has come under the
absolute domination of the speaker,
who has entire control of its deliber-
/ ations and powers of legislation.
I'VE have observed with amazement
| the popular branch of our federal
government helpless to obtain either
| The nsideration or enactment Of
measures desired by a majority of Its
| members"
This arraignment Is fully justified.
! The reform Republicans in the House
CT Representatives. when in the MI
nority in their own party, are as help
.,ss to obtain a hearing or to secure
| a vote upon a measure as are the
! Democrats. In the recent session OF
| the present congress there was a con-
| siderable element IN the Republican
party favorable to remedial legisla-
| ton; but a few leaders, in control or
the organization, despotically sup
dressed these members, and thus
! forced a real majority in the House
/ to submit to a well organized minor
ity. The Republican national conven-
| ton, instead of rebuking this attack
upon popular government, eulogized
| Congress and nominated as the Re-