The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1908-07-07

While on the other han, the republican I
PARTY, on a roll call inn the convention,
by an overwhelming vote took an I'M
equivocal stand in favor of a system
of water rates without giving the peo-
pie the benefit of meter.
No Hope of Reform.
1--WE search in vain for one syllable |
in the Chicago platform pledging the
republican party to retrenchment and
reform; and it is no mere coincidence
that has given us billion dollar ses-
sion of congress on the eve of a ma
tional election and the possible re-
vision of the tariff. Reckless extrava-
gsnce is to be condemned at all times,
for, aside from squanderinng the sub
stance of a nation, the federal gov
er:,ment sets an example that undoubt-
edly weakens the habits of frugality
so necessary in the private concerns
| Of life; but how much worse is this
p1odigal expenditure when we realize
J that it will be the chief argument of
! the tariff system upon the ground that
/ customs duties are the chief reservoirs
! from which our revenues must bel
/ drawn, and that therefore no material
| change in the tariff can be made with
! out reducing the revenues that are
needed to support the nation at the
/ rate of a billion dollars year. The
! slogan in the last session of congress
seems to have been Spend all the
! money you can, for every dollar that
! is paid out will have the tendency to
maintain the high water mark Of the
! present tariff" =
IF it be asked how this and other
| similar abuses may be overcome, our
answer is, that men must be elected
/ to both branches of congress who are
| absolutely responsible to their consti-
| tuents and governed in their legisla-
| tive conduct by the consciousness that
! they have not been sent to the halls
| of congress for the purpose of repre-
senting selfish interests, but as SER
wants of the commonwealth.
Election of Senators
"There is one branch of congress
| that must be democratiZed before the
| people can hope for the character Of
representation that is guaranteed on
the face of our organic law. So long
as we maintain the present method Of
electing United States senator's, We
I cannot hope that the upper chamber
of congress will reflect the popular
| will. There are SO many steps be-
; tween the ballot and the bastile of the
senate, through the circuitous medium
| of state legislatures, that the will of
the voter is waylaid and destroyed
before it can force it's way into this
mighty citadel of corporate power.
con five different occasions, the
| If rot !,
constitutional amendment providing
/ for the election of United States SEN
ators by the direct vote of the people,
but these measures have been sand
| bagged in the senate by those who are
determined that the senate shall not
become an integral part of our free,
| representative institutions, and thus
we behold the upper branch OF con-
gress, which was established by the
constitution as a coordinate of the
| United States congress, absolutely ar
rogating to itself the right to cOntroi
ell national Legislation and to exer-
else that right for the defeat of meas
ures inntended for the public good.
"The democratic party will continue
| to labor for the direct election OF
| United States senator's, and it appeals
! to the voters of America to elect mem
bers of the different state legislatures
who will pledge themselves to vote
! for no candidate for the United States
| senate that is not in favor of this re-
| form; and we warn the people of
| America that unless this be given i'm
! mediate and serious attention, the oil
| garchy now exercising almost desp0ic
sway in the senate chamber Will con-
! tinue until the very fabric of self
| government shall be destroyed.
"The affirmative position of thei
! MateriaIism Rampant
democratic party upon these grea,
| questions will be made clear during
the impending campaign, and, dis
! daininng all subterfuges it will speak
in language that cannot be misun-
! derstoOd. Its voice Will ring with a
genuine love for humanity and the
charge of insincerity will never be
brought to it's doors. Let our party
! declara ton in this convention present
| the strong contrast between that which
we here propose and that which was
declared at Chicago. Let any man
| take the temperature of the Chicago
platform, and discover, if he can, any
! sign OF human warmth. 1t reads like
the annual report of a bankers asso-
citation, cold, calculating ana COM
mercial. Where do you find one word
to allay the fears of our people or To-
quiet the unrest and anxiety tnatl
| everywhere prevail? Not a single sen
| timent is there 60 redeem it from the
! materialism permeating it through
and through; just simply a promise to
! help the people make more money, that
is all that is necessary, for money Isl
everything. Why discuss character,
they ask, or great moral principles,
| the golden calf is fittest to be wor-
shipped, and there is no time or space
to waste on sentimental things. Such
is the message that the republican
/, party has given to the world.
; The Great West.
| GAS we meet here in the heart of
this great west, we will be pardonei
if we express our admiration for that
vast empire stretching from the banks
of the Mississippi to the golden shores
of the Pacific. Our fertile plains and