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

tuition, TO he the popular branch Of our
government, responsive to the public
WILL" and adds:
"The house of representatives, as
controlled IN recent years by the Re
publican party, has ceased to be n de-
Lucrative and legislative body, respon-
sive to the will of majority of the
members, but has come under the alb
solute domination of the speaker, who
has entire control of its deliberations,
and powers Of legislation.
eve have observed with amazement
the popular branch of our federal gov
ernment helpless TO obtain either the
consideration or enactment of meas
ures desired by majority of its mem
bers"
THIS arraignment is fully justified.
The reform Republicans In the house
Of representatives, when In the minor
ity in their own party, are MS helpless
to obtain hearing or to secure vote
upon a measure as are the Democrats.
In the recent session of the present
| congress, there was a considerable ele-
ment in the Republican party favorable
TO remedial legislation; but n few lead
| ers, in control OF the organization,
despotically suppressed these mem
bers. and thus forced real majority
In the house TO submit to n well organ
ized minority. The Republican national
convention, instead OF rebuking this
attack upon popular government eulo-
glzed congress and nominated as the
| Republican candidate for vice president
one OF the men who shared In the re-
sponsibility for the coercion of the
house. Our party demands that "the
house of representatives shall again
become a dellberative body. controlled
by majority of the peoples repre-
sentatives. and not by the speaker"
and is pledged TO adopt such rules
and regulations to govern tie house
Of representatives, as will enable n ma
iority of Its members to direct It's de-
llberatlons and control legislation"
"Shall the people ruley' They can
not do so unless they can control the
house of representatives, and through
their representatives in the house, give
desires. The Republican party Is
committed to the methods now in
vogue in the house of representatives;
the Democratic party is pledged to
such a revision of the rules as will
bring the popular branch of the federal
government into harmony with the
ideas of those who framed our consti.
tuition and founded our government.
Other Issues Will Be Discussed Later,
"Shall the people rule?" | repeat, is
declared by our platform to be the
| overshadowing question, and as the
campaign progresses, shall take occa-
sion to discuss this question as it man.
| fests itself in other issues; Tor whether
we consider the tariff question, the
| trust question, the railroad question,
the banking question, the labor ques-
| tlon, the question OF Imperialism. the
development of cur waterways, or any
other OF the numerous problems which
press for solution, we shall find thot
the real question involved in each is.
whether the government shall remain
| Il mere business asset of favor seeking
corporations or be an instrument in
| the hands Of the people for the adj
vancement of the common veal
Democratic Party Has Earned Con-
fidenee.
If the voters are satisfied with the
| record Of the Republican party and
with It's management of public affairs
We can not reasonably ask FOR n
change in administration; if, however,
the voters feel that the people, as a
whole, have too little influence in shap-
Ing the policies of the government; II
they feel that great combinations of
| capital have encroached upon the
rights of the masses, and employed the
nstrumentalitles of government TO Sc
| cure an unfair share of the total wealth
produced. then we have a right to ex-
pect a verdict against the Republican
party and In favor of the Democratic
party; for our party has risked defeat
aye, suffered defeat-in its effort to
arouse the conscience of the public and
to bring about that very awakening to
which Mr.. Taft has referred.
Only those are worthy TO be entrust-
ed with leadership In a great cause
who are willing to die for 1t, and the
Democratic party has proven its WORTH
Less by its refusal to purchase victory
10y delivering the people into the hands
OF those who have despolled them. In
this contest between Democracy on the
cne side and plutocracy on the other,
the Democratic party has taken its po-
stion on the side of equal rights, and
Invites the opposition Of those who use
politics TO secure special privileges and
governmental favoritlsm. Gauging the
progress Of the nation, not by the hap
p.Ness or wealth or refinement OF a
few, but "by the prosperity and ad-
vancemeat OF the average man." the
Democratic party charges the Repub-
llcan party with being the promoter OF
present abuses, the opponent of neces-
sary remedies and the only bulwark of
private monopoly. The Democratic par.
ty afiirms that in this campaign 1t is
the only party, having n prospect OF
success, which stands for Justice in
government and for equity in the dlyi-
sion Of the fruits Of industry.
Democratic Party Defender Of Honest
Wealth.