The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1908-10-30
LET THERE BE LIGHT ="

!
The republican policies are with
out form and void. Darkness con
ceaIs their plans. The awakened
conscience" of an aroused people
calls out: Let there be light. -
What influences are marshal"d be-
hlnd the republican ticket? What
debts are being contracted? What
mortgages ar" being given? Let
th"r" be light. The democratic com
nittcc has set the example. For
tn" first time in our national history
"A national committee has taken the
nation into its confidence and given
| forth list of its contributors. This
is the interest Of honest politics and
honest government. II opens n new
era. VIII the republicans dare to
defy II universal sentiment and
maintain the secrecy that has given
predatory wealth It's hold upon the
government.
The republican national conven-
ton deliberately voted down n plank
pledging publicity and the Re
publican candidate insists that the
the contributions should not be
known until after the election, when
the information can be Of little SER
vice.
We demand the election of sena-
tors by the people, and this is in
the interest of honest government.
| Let senatorial elections be held in
| the daylight, and not behind closed
doors In secret caucuses, where cor
rupt influences can cheat the people
out Of representation. The demo-
critic convention declared for the
popular election of senators. Tho
republican convention, by an over
whelming vote, rejected the idea
and the republican candidate has
merely expressed II personal incli-
nation towards this reform.
The public demands light on the
tariff question. The republican plat
form deals in gcneralities. The Ian
guage employed may mean anything
or nothing, and the speeches Of the
republican candidate intensifles the
gloom that the convention threw
over the subject. Let there be light,
that the people may know whether
the tariff laws are to continue to he
made by few hcncficiaries in their
own interest, or by the peoples re-
representatives. for the peoples good.
What does the republican party
intend to do with the trustsg Let
its plans tie stated. Let its RENE
dies be made known. Let there be
light on this question also. We
have seen one of the greatest of the
trusts obtaining executive permits
sion to absorb IA rival. Is this to
he continued as settled policy of
the republican party? 1t Is not suf-
iicient to find fault with democratic
remedies. What Is the republican
remedy? The people ARE entitled to
know
What is the republican party GO
ing to do on the labor question?
Here again there is need of light.
The republican party claims to be
the friend Of labor. Let II define
the friendship that it intends to
show. II it Is going to oppose
needed labor Legislation, let it boldly
declare it and not betray the toiler
with u kiss.
What is it going to do on the
Philippine question? 1t has enor-
mously increased the appropriations
for the army and navy In prepare
ton for war that ought never to
come. 1t has boosted of posses
sions in the Orient, while the Fill
pinos clamor for an announcement
of the nations policy. Let there he
light. Let their national purposes
be proclaimed, that the world may
know that we have not surrendered
our ideals or abandoned the princi-
pies of government that have given
us pre-eminence among the nations.
What is the republican party go
ing to do for the restoration of conf
dence among the depositors? Whit
assurance Is 1t going to give that
the people will be protected from
loss9 On every question the demo-
cratic party announces It's plan and
sets forth In detail the remedies
which 1t proposes. The democratic
party takes the people into it's conf
dence and submits It's policies to
their judgment. Let the republican
party be equally candid and open its
books and plans; let there be light.