The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-08-12

he allowed to contribute more than
$4,000, and that all contributions
above 800 would be made public be-
fore the election-those received before
October 10 to be made public on or
before that day, those received after
ward to be made public on the day
when received, and no such contribu-
tlons TO be accepted within three days
of the election. The expenditures are
| to be published after election. Here
is a plan which is complete and effec-
| tive.
Popular Election Of Senators.
Next to the corrupt use of money,
| the present method of electing 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 senator's, while find
ing increased expression, did not be.
come dominant sentiment. A con.
stitutional amendment had from time
TO time been suggested and the matter
had been more or less discussed in a
| few cf the states, but the movement
| had not reached n point where it mani
tested itself through congressional ac-
| tion. In the Fifty-second congress.
however, resolution was reported
from n house committee proposing the
| necessary constitutional amendment,
and this resolution passed the house
of representatives by n vote which
was practically unanimous. In the
Flfty-third congress a similar resolu-
tion was reported TO, and adopted by,
the house of representatives. Both
| the Flfty-second and Fifty-third con-
| crosses were Democratic. The Repub-
licans gained control of the house as
a result of the election of 1894 and in
| the Fifty-fourth congress the PROPOSE
| tion died In committee. AS time went
on, however, the sentiment grew among
the people, until 1t forced Republican
congress to follow the example set by
the Democrats, and then another and
| another Republican congress acted IN.
vorably. State after state has endorsed
| this reform. until nearly two-thlrds of
| the states have recorded themselves I'm
its favor. The United States senate,
1
! obstructs the passage of the resolution,
Notwithstanding the fact that the vot.
ers OF the United States. by an over.
whelming majority, demand It. And
| this refusal is the more significant
when 1t Is remembered that n number
| Of senators owe their election to great
corporate interests. Three Democratic
national platforms-the platforms Of
| 1900. 1904 and 190S-specihcally call
for change in the constitution which
| will put the election of senators in the
| hands of the voters, and the proposi-
| tlon has been endorsed by n number
| of the smaller parties, but no Repub-
| lican national convention has been
| willing to champion the cause of the
| people on this subject. The subject
was ignored by the Republican national
convention in 1900; It was ignored in
1904. and the proposition was explicit
! ~ repudlated in 1908. for the recent
Republican national convention. by n
vote Of SG6 to III, rejected the plank
endorsing the popular election of sena.
tors-and this was done I'm the Convcn-
| tion which nominated Mr.. Taft. few
delegates from his own state voting for
the plank.
Personal inclination Not Sufficient.
In his notification speech, the Repub-
| llcan candidate. speaking of the clcc.
tlon of senator's by the people. says:
| Personally. ! am inclined to favor It.
but It is hardly party question"
What is necessary 10 make this party
question? When the Democratic con-
Yention endorses a proposition by a
unanimous vote, and the Republican
convention rejects the proposition by a
vote Of seven to one, does 1t not be-
| come an issue between the parties?
Mr.. Taft can not remove the question
from the arena of politics by express.
ing n 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 be-
fore the public? What enthusiasm
has he shown in the reformation of
the senate? What influence could he
exert in behalf of reform which his
| party bIthlg anu COu-
demned in its convention, and to which
| he is attached only by belated ex-
preston of personal inclination?
The Gateway to Other Reforms.
"Shall the people rule?" Every
| remedial measure of a national char
| acter must run the gauntlet of the
senate. The president may personally
| incline toward reform; the house
| may consent TO IT.; but as long as the
senate obstructs the reform, the peo-
pie must wait. The president may
heed popular demand; the house may
yield TO public opinion; but as long as
the senate is defiant, the rule of the
people is defeated. The Democratic
platform very properly describes the
popular election of senators as 1.-The
gateway TO other national reforms"
Shall we open the gate, or shall we
allow the exploiting interests to bar
the way by the control OF this branch
of the federal legislature? Through
Democratic victory, and through
Democratic victory only, can the peo-
pie secure the popular election OF SEN
ators. The smaller parties are unable
to secure this reform: the RepubliCan