Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1908-08-21

the administration. what has he ever
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 q reform which his
party has openly anu notoriOusly con.
demned in Its convention. and to which
he Is attached only by belated ex-
preston Of personal inclination?
The Gateway to Other Reforms.
"Shall the people rule?" 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 II; but as long as the
senate obstructs the reform the peo-
pie must wait. The president may
heed popular demand: the house may
yield to public opinion; but as long as
the senate ls defiant, the rule of the
people Is defeated. The Democratic
platform very properly describes the
popular election Of senators as 1.-The
gateway to other national reforms"
Shall we open the gate, or shall we
allow the exploiting interests to bar
the way by the control Of this branch
of the federal legislaturei Through
Democratic victory, and through a
Democratic victory only. can the peo-
pie secure the popular election Of SEN
ators. The smaller parties are unable
to secure this reform: the Republican
party. under its present leadership. is
resOlutely opposed to 1t: the Democratic
party stands for 1t and has boldly de-
manded II. II am elected to the
presidency, those who are elected upon
the ticket with me will he. like my
self. pledged to this reform, and
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 instrunentality employed
to defeat the will Of the people Is
found in the rules Of the house of rep
resentatlves. Our platform 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:
'"The house Of representatives, as
controlled In recent years by the Re
publican party, has ceased to he a de-
Lucrative and legislative body. respon-
sive to the will of majority Of the
members, but has come under the alb
sOlute domination Of the speaker, who
has entire control Of its deliberations,
and powers Of legislation.
I'VE 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 a majority Of Its mem
bers"
This arraignment Is fully justified.
The reform Republicans in the house
of representatives, when in the minor
ity III their own party, are as helpless
to obtain hearing or to secure q vote
upon n measure as are the Democrats.
In the recent session Of the present
congress, there was considerable ele-
ment In the Republican party favorable
to remedial legislation: but Il few lead
ers. In control Of the organization.
despOtically suppressed these mem-
bers. and thus forced real majority
in the house to submit to a we'll organ
lied minority. The Republican national
convention. instead Of rebuking this
attack upon popular government. eulo-
gized congress and nominated rs 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 1.-The
house Of representatives shall again
become a deliberative body, controlled
by n 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-
liberations 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 q 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 es Discussed Later.
shall the people ruler repeat, is
declared by our platform to be the
overshadowhg 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-
tion. 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
mere business asset Of favor seeking
corporations or be an instrument In
the hands Of the people for ths ad-
vancement of the common veal.
Democratic Party Has Earned Cen.
fidenee.
If the voters are satisfied with the
record Of the Republican party and
with its management Of pubic Affairs
Ee can not reasonably ask ror a
change In administration; II. however.
the voters feel that the people. as a
whole, have too little influence In shap-
Ing the policies Of the government; If
tbay fool fhof Grant combinations OF