Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-08-12

party, under Its present leadership. Is vesolutely opposed to 1t; the Democratic party stands for 1t and has boldly dc- manded it If am elected to the presidency, those who are elected upon the ticket with me will be. like my self. pledged to this reform. and l shall convene congress in extraordi- nary session immediately after inau- guration, and ask. among other things. for the fulfillment of this platform pledge.
 House Rules Despotie.
 The third instrumentality employed to defeat the will a& the people is found in the rules of the house of rep resentatives. Our platfo-m points out that "the house of representatives was designed by the fathers of the constl- tuition. to be the popular branch of our government. responsive to the public will," and adds: .i
 'rrhe house of representatives, as controlled in recent years by the Re publican party, has ceased to be de- liberative and legislative body. respon- sive to the will of majority of the members. but has come under the ab- solute domination of the speaker. who has entire control of its deliberations, and powers of legislation.
 "We 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 it's 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 as helpless to obtain hearing or to secure q vote upon 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 few lead CTS, in control of the organization, i despotically suppressed these. mem bers. and thus forced real majority in the house to submit to well organ ized minority. The Republican national convention, instead of rebuking this attack upon popular government eulo- gized 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 deliberative body. controlled by a majority of the peoples repre- sentatives. and not by the speaker" and is pledged to adopt "such rules and regulations to govern the house of representatives as will enable ma jority of its members to direct its de- Alterations 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 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 ruler 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 1t man. ifests itself in other issues; for whether we consider the tariff question, the trust question, the railroad question, the banking question, the labor ques' ton, the question of imperialism. the development of our waterways, or any other of the numerous problems which press for solution, we shall find that the real question involved in each is whether the government shall remain q mere business asset of favor seeking corporations or be an instrument ir the hands of the people for the ad vancement of the common veal. Democratic Party Has Earned Con
 fidenee.
 If the voters are satisfied with tho record of the Republican party ana with it's management of public affair' we can not reasonably ask for . 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: fl they feel that great combinations of capital have encroached upon the rights of the masses. and employed the lnstrumentalities 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 tc arouse the conscience of the public and to bring about that very awakening tc which Mfr. Taft has referred.
 Only those are worthy to be entrast ed with leadership in a great cause who are willing to die for it. and the Democratic party has proven it's worthi ness by its refusal to purchase victory by delivering the people into the hand. of those who have despoiled them. IT this contest between Democracy on tn one side and plutocracy on the other the Democratic party has taken its DO sition on the side ot equal rights. and