New-York tribune., 1908-08-13


officials under obligation TO him? If trust
magnate contributes 100000 to elect political
friends to office, with view TO preventing hos
tile legislation. why should that fact be con-
cealed until his friends securely seated in
their official positions?
This IS not a new question: it is a question
which has been agitated-a question which the
Republican leaders fully understands question
which the Republican candidate has studied. and
yet he refuses to declare himself in favor of
the legislation absolutely necessary, namely.
legislation requiring publication before the elec-
ton
I DEMOCRATIC PARTY PROMISES PUB
LICITY.
How the people hope to rule if they are
not able TO learn until after the election what
the predatory interests doing? The Demo-
cratic party meets the issue honestly and cour
ageously. II says:
We pledge the Democratic party to the en-
actment of a law prohibiting any corporation
from contributing to a campaign fund and any
individual from contributing an amount above
reasonable maximum. and providing for the pub
ication before election, Of all such contributions
above a reasona bic minimum"
The Democratic National Committee tmne-
diately proceeded to interpret and apply this
plank. announcing that no contributions would
ne received from corporations that no individual
would De allowed TO contribute more than S10,-
GOO and that all contributions above 800 would
be made public before the election-those re-
ceived before October IS to be made public
or before that day, those received afterward to
be made public the day when received, and
no such contributions TO be accepted within three
DAYS of the election. The expenditures are to be
published after the election. Here is & plan
which IS complete and effective.
POPULAR ELECTION OF SENATORS
Next to the corrupt use of money the present
method of eleeting United States Senators is
most responsible for the obstruction of reforms
For one hundred years after the adoption of the
Constitution the demand for the popular election
Of Senators, while finding increased expression
did not become a dominant sentiment A con-
stitutional amendment had from time time
been suggested and the matter had been
nr 4 J-,a -oE-I =&. I,.&% %La
movement had not reached a point where it
manifested itself through Congressional action
In the SD Congress. however, a resolution was
reported from House committee proposing the
necessary constitutional amendment, and this
resolution passed the House of Representatives
by vote which was practically unanimous. In
the o3d Congress similar resolution was re-
ported to and adopted by the House of Repre-
sentatives Both the SD and SD Congresses
we're Democratic. The Republicans gained con-
troll of the House a result of the election of
1894, and in the saith Congress the proposition
died in committee. A. time went on however,
the sentiment grew among the people until it
forced Republican Congress to follow the
and another Republican Congress acted favor
ably State after state has indorsed this re-
form until nearly two-thirds of the states have
recorded themselves in its favor The United
States Senate. however. impudently and arro-
ganty ObStructS the passage of the resolution,
notwithstanding the fact that the voters of the
Jnied States. by overwhelming MI jority. de-
manded II. And this refusal is the more sig
nifCant when it is remembered that number
interests. Three Democratic national platforms
the platforms of 1900 1904 and 19Os-spe-
cificaily call for change in the Constitution
Which VIII put the election OF Senators in the
hands of the voters, and the proposition has
been indorsed by number of the smaller par
ties. but no Republican National Convention has
been willing TO champion the cause of the people
on this subject. The subject was ignored bv
the Republican National Convention in 1900; it
was ignored in 1904. and the proposition was ex-
Plicttly repudiated in 1908, for the recent Re
publican National Convention. by a vote of S66
to ia rejected the plank fndorsing the popular
election Of Senators-and this was done in the
convention which nominated Mr. Taft few dele
gates from his own state voting for the plank.
PERSONAL INCLINATION NOT sUFFT-
GENT.
In his notification speech the Republican can
didate, speaking of the election of Senators by
the people, says: Personally, I am inclined TO
favor it. but it is hardly party question
What is necessary to make this party ques-
ton? When the Democratic convention in
dorses proposition by a unanimous vote, and
the Republican convention rejects the propC-si-
ton by vote Of { TO /, does it not become an
issue between the parties? Mr.. Taft cannot
remove the question from the of politics
by expressing personal inclination toward the
Democratic position. For several years he has
been connected with the administration. What
has he ever said or done to bring this question
before the publiC2 What enthusiasm has he
shown in the reformation of the Senate? What
influence could he exert in behalf of a reform
which his party has openly and VIGOROUSLY con-
attached only by belated expression of per-
sonal inclination?
THE GATEWAY TO OTHER REFORMS.
Shall the people ruIe?' Every remedial
measure of a national character must run the
gantlet Of the Senate The President may
personally incline toward reform the House
may consent to it. but long as the Senate
Obstructs the reform the people must wait. The
President may heed a popular demand the
House may yield TO public opinion, but as long
the Senate is defiant the rule of the people
is defeated. The Democratic platform very
properly describes the popular election Of Sen
ators the gateway 10 other national
forms Shall open the gate, shall
allow the exploiting interests to bar the way by
the control of this branch of the federal legis-
lature? Through a Democratic victory and
through a Democratic victory only, can the peO-
pie secure the popular election Of Senators.
The smaller parties unable to secure this
reform; the Republican party, under its present
leadership, is resoutey opposed to it; the Dem
ocratic party stands for it and has boldly de
manded 1t. If I elected to the Presidency
those who elected upon the ticket with me
will be- like myself pledged to this reform and
I shall convene Congress in extraordinary ses-
sion Immediately after inauguration and ask,
among other things, for the fulflment of this
platform pledge.
HOUSE RULES DESPOTIC.
The third instrumentality employed to defeat
the will of the people is found in the rules of
the House of Representatives. Our platform
points out that the House of Representatives /
was designed by the fathers Of the Constitu-
ton to be the popular branch of our govern
ment responsive TO the public will and adds
The House of Representatives. as controlled
IN recent years by the Republican party, has
ceased to be a deHberative and legislative body. /
responsive to the will of a majority OF the
members but has under the absolute
domination Of the Speaker, who has entire con-
troll of its deliberations and powers Of legisla-
ton.
We have observed with amazement the pop
ular branch of federal government helpless