The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-08-12

20 ornE 10 The country any material re.
ilet from the present tariff burdens
Why Ne Railroad Leglslatlon7
For ten years tho Interstate commefo,
commission has been asking for an en-.
iaFKement of its powers, that lt might
4 prevent rebates and determinations. but
Republican senate and a Republican
mousse or representatives. were unmoved
Dg its entreatles In 1900 tho Republican
national convention was urged 10 indorss
the demand for railway legislation blt
~ platform was silent on the subject
Even IN 1904. the convention gave ~
pledge to remedy these abuses. when
the president finally asked for legislation
no drew his inspiration from three Demo
cfatlc national platforms and ne received
more cordial support from the Democrats
lhhh from The Republicans The Repubii.
cans IN the senate deliberately defeated
several amendments offered by Senator
Latoliette ana supported By the Demo-
crats-amendments embodylng legislation
asked by the Interstate Commerce. COM
mission. One of these amendments au-
thori2ed the ascertalnment OF the val
ne OF railroads. This amendment was not
only defeated BY the senate, but il was
OVERWHELMINGLY rejected by the recent
republican national convention and the
Republican candidate has sought to res
cue his party from the disastrous results
OF THIS act by expressing himself, in IL
qualified way, IN favor OF ascertaining
the value OF the railroads.
Mr.. Taft complains Of tie over-isaue
Of stocks and bonds OF railroads, for
the unlawful enrlching Of directors and
for the purpose OF concentrating tho
control Of the railroads under one man
agement, and the complaint is well
founded. But, with a president to point
out the evil, and Republican congress
70 correct Il, we find nothing done FOR
10 protection OF the public. Why? MY
onorable opponent has, by his confess
sion, relieved me of the necessity Of FUR
nshing proof he admits the condition and
he can not avoid the logical conclusion
that must be drawn from the admission.
Publicity as to Campaign contribu-
tions.
An effort has been made to secure legis-
lation recurring publicity as to campaign
contributions and expenditures but the
Republican leaders, even IN the face of
an indignant public. refused to consent
70 law which would compel honesty in
elections. When the matter was brought
up In the recent Republican national
convention, the plank was repudiated ~
a vote or $50 TO o. Here, too, Mr.. Taft
mas been driven 70 apologize for his con-
venton and 70 declare himself IN favor
Or a publicity law; ana yet, II you viii
Ietd what he says upon this subject, You
WIN ma that his promise falls FAR short
OF the requirements Of the situation. He
says.
II I am elected president, 7 shall urge
upon congress. with every hopo OF sue
cess, that law be passed requiring the
iiling IN federal office, OF q statement
ot the contributions received by com
mlttees and candidates In elections for
members at congress. and in such other
elections as are constitntionally within
the control Of congress-"
How can the people hope TO rule. n they
are not able 70 learn until after the cleo
ton what the predatory interests are do
ing3 The Democratic party meets the
issue honestly and courageously. II saws.
We pledge the Democratic parfv 10
the enactment Of a law prohibiting anv
corporation from contributing 10 a cam
paign fund. and any individual from con-
lrlDuung an amount above a reasonable
and providing for tho publi-
cation, before election, OF an such con
.nbuuons above q reasonable minimum %
The Democratic national committee Inn
nediafeiy proceeded to interpret and ap-
pi3 this plank, announcing that no con-
.rbuti0ns would be received from cor
that no individual would be al
Owed 70 contribute more than $1,000. ana
That an contributions above sioJ would
be made public before the electlon-those
received before October is to be made
1ublic on or before that day. those re-
'eiVed afterward 10 be made public on
he day when received. and no such CON
rihutions 20 be accepted within three
laws OF the election. The expenditures
iro TO be published after the election.
iere is a plan which is complete and
.Rective.
Popular Election Of Senators.
Next to the corrupt use Of money. the
'rescnt method Of eiectine United states
enators Is most responsible FOR the ob-
truction of reforms For 100 years after
be adoption Of the constitution. the da
nand for the popular election OF senator's
Ghlie nnding Increased expression. did
ot become dominant sentiment.
institutional amendment had from time
g time been suggested and the matter
ad been moro or less discussed In a few
: the states. but the movement had mot
cached "a point where II manifested H. /
ei through congressional action. I'm the /
ifiy-second congress. however a raso- I
liou was reported from a house com
littee proposing the necessary eonstif,- !
onal amendment and this resolution 4
assed the house OF represcntatives nv L
vote which was practically unanimous
2 the fiiiy-thira congress similar resi-
lnuon was reported to md adapted bv
fe house Of representatives. Both tho
ifty-second and Fiffy-third congresses
ere Democratic Tho Republicans gained
7hiroi on the house az result of the
ection Of lsqi and Ia The Fifty-fourth T
lnsress the proposition died ln commit
-e AS time went ON. however. the SEN
nent grew among the people until II
teea hepoDhcan congress 10 follow
e example SET by the Democrats. and
sen another and another Republican
lngrcss acted favorabiv. State after
ate has indcrsed this reform. until reer.
two-thirds OF the states have recorded
lemselyes IN its favor. The United
atcs senate, however. impudentlv ana
Togantiy obslruets the passage Of the
solution Notwithstanding the fact that
e voters Of the United States bv An
'erwhelmins majority demand IT And
s refusal Is the more significant when
is remembered that q number OF SEN
ors owe their elections 20 great corpor-
e interests. Three Democratic nation
plaiforms-the platforms or 1900 1904
id ~ specifically call FOR a change m
e constitution which viii put the cleo
n OF senators Ia the hands Of the vo-
fsl and the proposition has been IN
rsed by number Of The smaller par
~ but no Republican national con-
ntion has been willing 70 champion
cause Of the people on this subject.