The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-13

public before the eIectiOn-thOSe T5-
CelVed before October 10 to be made
public on or before that day, those re-
celyed afterward to be made public
on the day when received, and 10
such contributions TO be accepted
within three days Of the election The
expenditures are to be published after
the election. Here is q plan which IS
complete and effective
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
popular election of senator's while
finding increased expression did not
become dominant sentiment. A con-
stitutional amendment had from time
to time been suggested and the mat
ter had been more or less discussed
in few of the states, but the move
ment had not reached a point where
1t manifested itself through congress
siOnal action. In the Fffty-seCond
congress, however, a resolution was
reported from a house committee
proposing the necessary constitution
al amendment and this resolution
by a vote which was practically
unanimous. In the Fifty-third con-
gress a similar resolution was re
ported to, and adopted by, the House
OF Representatives Both the Fifty
second and Fffty-third congresses
we're democratic. The republicans
gained control of the house as a re-
suit of the election of 1894 and in
the Fifty-fourth congress the PROPOSE
ton died in committee. As time went
on, however. the sentiment grew
among the people, until 1t forced a
republican congress TO follow the
example set by the democrats, and
then another and another republt-
can congress acted favorably. State
after state has endorsed this reform,
until nearly two-thirds of the states
have recorded themselves in its IA
vOr. The United States senate, how
ever, impudently and arrogantly OBJ
structs the passage of the resolu-
ton, notwithstanding the fact that
the voters of the United States, by
an overwhelming majority, demand
il. And this refusal is the more sig
nificant when il is remembered that
a number of senators owe their cleo
ton to great corporate interests
Three democratic national platforms
the platforms Of 1900, 1904 and 1908
call for q change in
the constitution which will put the
election of senators in the hands OF
the voters, and the proposition has
been endorsed by a number OF the
smaller parties, but no republican ma
tionaI convention has been willing to
the cause of the people on
this subject. The subject was ignor-
ed by the republican national con-
ventiOn in 1900; it was ignored in
1904, and the proposition was ex-
pIicity repUdiated in 1908, for the re-
cent republican national convention,
by a vote Of $50 to ia, rejected the
plank endorsing the popular election
Of senators-and this was done in the
which nominated Mr. Taft,
few delegates from his own state
voting for the plank.
Personal inclination Not Sufficient
in his notification speech the re-
publican candidate, speaking of the
election of senators by the people,
says: Personally, l am inclined to
favor it, but It is hardly a party
question" What is necessary to make
his a party question: When the
democratic convention endorses a |
by a unanimous vote, and |
by a vote of seven TO one, |
hoes il not become an issue between |
he parties Mr.. Taft can not remove |
he question from the arena of poll |
les by expressing a personal incli- /
nation toward the democratic posi- |
ton For several years he has
Teen connected with the administTa- !
ion. What has he ever said or done |
% bring this question before the pub |
ic2 What enthusiasm has he shown /
n the reformation OF the senate !
What influence could he exert in be
half of a reform which his party |
las openly and .notoriousIy condemn |
ii in its convention. and to which |
le is attached only by q belated ex-
preston of personal inclination?
The Gateway to Other Reforms
Shall the people ruIe2" Every RENE
lial measure of a national character
must run the gauntlet of the senate.
The president may personally incline
oward a reform; the house may con
ent 10 1t; but as long as the senate
'bstructs the reform the people
must wait The president may heed /
| popular demand: the house may
-ield 70 public opinion; but as long
Is the senate is defiant, the rule OF
he people IS defeated The demo- |
.fatiC piaTorm very properly de- /
cTlbeS the popular election of sena- /
Ors as the gateva- to other IA
ional reforms" Shall we open the
rate. or shall We e-low the exploit
ng interests to bar the way by the
.ontrOl OF this branch Of the federal
egISlature2- Through a democratic
-ictOry, and through democratic vic
oTy only, can the people secure the
popular election Of senators The
mailer PARTIES are unable to secure
his reform; the republican party,