Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-08-14
Democratic Party PROMISES publicity.

4 !
| they are not able to learn until after
the election what the predatory inter-
ests are doing? The Democratic party
meets the issue honestly and coura.
| geously. 1t says:
1--WE pledge the Democratic party to
the enactment Of a law prohibiting any
corporation from contributing to a
campaign fund. and any individual
| from contributing an amount above a
reasonable maximum. and providing
| for the publication. before election, Of
all such contributions above reason
able minimum"
| The Democratic national committee
Immediately proceeded to interpret and
| apply this plank. announcing that no
! contributions would be received from
corporations. that no Individual would
, be allowed to contribute more than
$4,000, and that all contributions
above 800 would be made public be-
fore the election-those received before
October Is to be made public on or
before that day, those received after
ward to be made public on the day
when received. and no such contribu-
lions to be accepted within three days
Of the election. The expenditures are
to be published after election. Here
is plan which is complete and effec-
tive.
Popular Election Of Senator's.
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 the
popular election OF senators, while find
Ing increased expression, did not be-
| come dominant sentiment con-
stitutional amendment had from time
to time been suggested and the matter
had been more or less discussed in a
few Of the states, but the movement
had not reached point where 1t mani
tested itself through congressional &C.
ton. In the Fifty-second congress.
however, resolution was reported
from house committee proposing the
necessary constitutional amendment,
and this resolution passed the house
was practically unanimous. In the
Fifty-third congress similar resolu-
ton was reported to. and adopted by.
the house of representatives. Both
the Fifty-second and Fifty-third con-
crosses were Democratic. The Repub-
licans gained control of the house as
q result of the election Of 1904 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 Republican
congress to follow the example set by
the Democrats, and then another and
another Republican congress acted ia
vorably. State after state has endorsed
this reform. until nearly 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 vot-
ers of the United States. by an over
whelming majority, demand 1t. And
this refusal is the more significant
when it Is remembered that a number
of senators owe their election to great
corporate interests. Three Democratic
national platforms-the platforms OF
1900. 1904 and 1908 specifically call
for change In the constitution which
will put the election of senators In the
hands Of the voters. and the PROPOSE.
ton has been endorsed by q number
Of the smaller parties, but no Repub.
lican national convention has been
willing to champion the cause -of the
people on this subject The subject
was ignored by the Republican national
convention In 1900; 1t was ignored in
1904, and the proposition was explicit
ly repudiated In 1908. for the recent
Republican national convention, by q
vote Of 1868 to ia, rejected the plank
endorsing the popular election of sena
tors-and this was done in the conven
ton which nominated Mr.. Taft. few
delegates from his own state voting fol
the plank.
i Personal INCLINATION Not Sufficient.
In his notification speech. the Repub.
lican candidate, speaking of the cleo.
ton of senators by the people. says
Personally. l am Inclined to favor It
but 1t ts hardly party question
What is necessary to make this party
question? When the Democratic con
vention endorses a proposition. by {
unanimous vote, and the Republican
convention rejects the proposition by .
vote Of seven to one. does 1t not be
come On issue between the parties
Mr.. Taft can not remove the question
from the arena of politics by express
ing personal inclination toward thu
Democratic position. For severa
years he has been connected witt
the administration. What has he eve
said or done to bring this question be
fore the public? What enthusiasm
has he shown in the reformation Of
the senate? What influence could he
exert In behalf of reform which mis-
party has openly and VIGOROUSLY. con
demned in its convention, and to which
he is attached only by q beiated ex
preston Of personal inclination?
The Gateway TO Other Reforms.
"Shall the people ruler" Every
remedial measure Of national char
acter must run the gauntlet Of the
senate. The president may personally
incline toward reform; the house
may consent to It; but as long as the
senate obstructs the reform. the PEG
pie must wait The president may
heed popular demand; the house maj
| yield to public opinion; but as long a,
the senate Is defiant. the rule of th,
| peonla ia dafeated The namncrnt ri.