The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-08-12

consideration or enactment of meas
bers."
This arraignment is fully justified.
Inc reform Republicans in the house of
representatives, when in the minority
IA their own party, are as helpless to
OBTAIN hearing or to secure vote
upon measure as are the Democrats.
IN the recent session of the present
congress. there was considerable ele-
ment in the Republican party favor
aole to remedial legislation; but few
leaders, in control of the organization,
despotically suppressed these MEM
Ders. and thus forced a real majority
In the house to submit to well or
gained minority. The Republican ma
tional convention, instead of rebuking
TINS attack upon popular government.
euiogized congress and nominated as
the Republican candidate for vice pres
ident one of the men who shared in
the responsibility for the coercion of
the house. Our party demands that
the house of representatives shall
again become deliberative body, con-
trolled by majority of the peoples
representatives, and not by the speak
err. and is pledged to adopt such
rules and regulations to govern the
mouse OF representatives as Will enable
majority of it's members to direct it's
deliberations and control legislation"
shall the people ruler" They can
not do so unless they can control the
house of representatives, and through
their representatives in the house, give
expression to their purposes and their
desires. The Republican party is COM
mitted to the methods now in vogue
in the house of representatives; the
Democratic party is pledged to such
revision of the rules as will bring the
popular branch of the federal govern
ment into harmony with the ideas OF
those who framed our constitution and
founded our government.
Other Issues Later.
Shall the people rule?" 1 repeat, is
declared by our platform to be the
overshadowing question, and as the
casion to discuss this question as it
manifests itself in other issues; for
whether We consider the tariff ques-
ton, the trust question. the railroad
question. the banking question. the la
Dor question, the question of imperial
ISM the development of our water
ways, or any other of the numerous
problems which press for solution, we
shall find that the real question in
volved in each is, whether the govern
set of favor seeking corporations or be
an instrument in the hands of the
people for the advancement of the
common veal.
Party Has Earned Confidence.
If the voters are satisfied with the
record of the Republican party and
with its management of public affairs
we can not reasonably ask for a change
in administration: IL. however, the
voters feel that the people, as whole,
have too little influence in shaping the
policies of the government; If they feel
that great combinations of capital have
encroached upon the rights of the
masses, and employed the instrument
talities of government to secure an un-
fair share of the total wealth produced,
then we have right to expect YER
dict against the Republican party and
in favor of the Democratic party; for
our party has risked defeat-aye, suf-
fered defeat-in it's 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 en-
trusted with leadership in a great
cause who are willing to die for it. and
the Democratic party has proven it's
worthiness by its refusal to purchase
victory by delivering the people into
the hands of those who have despoiled
them. In this contest between de-
mocracy on the one side and pluto
cracy on the other,.ethe Democratic
party has taken its position on the side
of equal rights. and invites the OPP
position of those who use politics, to
secure special privileges and govern
mental favoritism. Gauging the pro-
gress of the nation, not by the hap
pfness or wealth or refinement of
few, but "by the prosperity and adj
vancement of the average man." the
Democratic party charges the Repub-
lican party with being the promoter
Of present abuses. the opponent of
necessary remedies and the only bull
wark of private monopoly. The DEM
ocratic party affirms that in this cam
paign it is the only party, having a
prospect of success, which stands for
justice in government and for equity
in the division Of the fruits of indus
try.
Defender of Honest Wealth.
We may expect those who have
committed larceny by law and pur-
chased immunity with their political
influence. to attempt to raise false is
sues, and to employ "the livery of
Heaven" to conceal their evil pur-
poses, but they can no longer deceive.
The Democratic party is not the en-
envy of any legitimate industry or of
honest accumulations- 1t is. on the
contrary, friend of industry and the
steadfast protector of that wealth
which represents a service to society.
The Democratic party does not seek
to annihilate all corporations; it SIM
ply asserts that as the government
creates corporations. it must retain
the power to regulate and to control
them, and that it should not permit
any corporation to convert itself into
a monopoly. Surely we should have
the cooperation of all legitimate cor
porations in our effort to protect bust
ness and industry from the odium
which lawless combinations of capital
will, If unchecked, cast upon them.
Only by the separation of the good
from the bad can the good be made
secure.
Not Revolution but Reformation.
The Democratic party seeks not re-
volution but reformation, and l need
hardly remind the student of history
that cures are mildest when applied
at once; that remedies increase in Sc
verify as their application is pOstpon-