The Glenwood post., 1908-08-15

to bring to the country any material re-
lief from the present tariff burdens.
Why ~ Railroad legislation
For ten years the interstate Commerce
Commission has been asking for en-
largement of its powers that it might
prevent rebates and Determinations but
a Republican senate and a Republican
house of representatives were unmoved
by its entreaties. In 1900 the Republican
national convention was urged to indorse
the demand for railway legislation, but
its platform was silent on the subject.
Even in 1901, the convention gave
pledge to remedy these abuses. When
the president finally asked for legislation,
he drew his inspiration from three Demo-
cratic national platforms and he received
more cordial support from the Democrats
than from the Republicans. The Republic
cans in the senate deliberately defeated
several amendments offered by Senator
LaFollette and supported by the Demo-
observation-disclosures embodyinE legislation
asked by the Interstate Commerce Com
mission. One of these amendments au-
thorized the ascertanment of the val
ne of railroads This amendment was not
only defeated by the senate, but it was
overwhelmingly rejected by the recent
Republican national convention and the
Republican candidate has sought to res
cue his party from the disastrous results
of this act by expressing himself, in a
qualified way in favor of ascertaining
the value of the railroads
Mr.. Taft complains of the over-issue
of stocks and bonds of railroads, for
the unlawful enriching of directors and
for the purpose of concentrating the
control of the railroads under one man
agement" and the complaint is well
founded. But. with a president to point
out the evil and Republican congress
to correct 1t. find nothing done for
the protection of the public. Why? My
honorable opponent has. by his confess
sion. relieved me of the necessity of fur
nishing proof: he admits the condition and
he can not avoid the logical conclusion
that must be drawn from the admission.
Publicity as to Campaign contrbu-
tions.
| An effort has been made to secure legis-
| lation requiring publicity as to campaign
| contributions and expenditures: but the
| Republican leaders. even in the face of
| an indignant public. refused to consent
| to a law which would compel honesty in
elections. When the matter was brought
| up in the recent Republican national
| convention. the plank was repudated by
| n vote of $50 to a. Here, too, Mr.. Taft
| has been driven to apologize for his con-
| vention and to declare himself in favor
| of a publicity law; and yet, II you will
| read what he says upon this subject, you
| will find that his promise falls far short
| of the requirements of the situation. He
| says:
"If am elected president. ! shall urge
upon congress, with every hope of sue
| cess. that law be passed requiring the
| filing. in federal office. of a statement
| of the contributions received by COM
| mttees and candidates in elections for
members of congress, and in such other
| elections constitutionally within
| the control of congress"
How can the people hope to rule, II they
| are not able to learn until after the cleo
| tion what the predatory interests are do
| ing? The Democratic party meets the
| issue honestly and courageously 1t says:
I'VE pledge the Democratic party to
| the enactment of a law prohibiting any
corporation from contributing to a cam
| paign fund, and any individual from con-
| tributing amount above n reasonable
| maximum. and providing for the publi-
| cation, before election, of all such con-
| tributions above reasonable minimum
| The Democratic national committee i'm
| mediately proceeded to interpret and ap-
| ply this plank, announcing that no con-
| tributions would be received from
| porations. that no individual would be al
| lowed to contribute more than $4,000. and
that all contributions above 800 would
| be made public before the election-those
received before October 10 to be made
public on or before that day, those re-
ceived afterward to be made public on
the day when received. and no such con-
tributions to be accepted within three
days of the election. The expenditures
are to be published after the election
Here is u 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 OBJ
struction of reforms. For 100 years after
| the adoption or the constitution, the de-
mand for the popular election OF senators.
while finding ins ceased expression, did
not become a dominant sentiment. A
| constitutional amendment had from time
to time been suggested and the matter
| had been more less discussed In few
of the states. but the movement had not
reached point where 1t manifested it
self through congressional action. In the
Fifty-second congress, however, n reso-
luton was reported from a house COM
mittee proposing the necessary constitu-
| tional amendment. and this resolution
passed the house Of representatives by
vote which was practically unanimous.
| In the Fifty-third congress similar res
olution was reported to, and adopted by
the house of representatives. Both the
Fifty-second and Fifty-third congresses
were Democratic. The Republicans gained
control of the house a result of the
election of 1894 and in the Fifty-fourth
congress the proposition died in commit
tee. AS time went on. however, the SEN
timent 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 favorably. State after
state has indorsed this reform. until near
ly two-thirds of the states have recorded
themselves in Its favor The United
States senate. however. impudently and
arrogantly obstructs the passage of the
resolution notwithstanding the fact that
the voters of the United States, by an
overwhelming majority, demand 1t. And
this refusal is the more significant when
1t IL remembered that number of SEN
ators owe their elections to great corpor-
ato interests. Three Democratic nation
al platforms-the platforms Of 1900 1904
and lsos-specifically call for a change In
the constitution which will put the cleo
tion of senator's in the hands of the Lyo-
ters. and the proposition has been In
dorsed by number of the smaller par
ties but no Republican national con-
vention has been willing to champion
the cause of the people on this subject.
The suhiect Xna Ignored by tha Renuhli-