Weekly Arizona journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1903-1908, 1908-09-09

sober judgment Of the people can hard
~ fail Ia miss the Importance Of the
selection of such u man ~ Mr. TAFT.
Questions Which Are Not Issues.
some questions which are discussed
with no little yigor can hardly be con
.,dcred rs campaign issues. Mr. Bryan
desires United states senators 10 bc
choscn by direct vote of the people IN
the several States Mr.. Taft also in
clincs to favor this course. And !
am glad he does.
But this can be accomplished only
by constitutional amendment. and such
amendment can be had only when rati.
hcd by three fOurths of the states. This
would hardly seem 10 be- an issue upon
which to select President In case
Of congressional initiative twothirds
Of both houses must concur in order 10
present the amendment for ratification.
Or if the states desire the amendment
and there is any such sentiment ~
promises the necessary ratification,
two thirds of the states may require a
convention 10 bc called for the pur.
pose. Further, any state may, If It
desires. provide for direct vote which
will generally he treated by the Lcgis-
laturc IA binding because of its cx.
preston ~ the wish ~ the people. This
Is the ease in n number of states where
senators are practically chosen 10y ii
rect vote now. BIT as long as there
are twelve states who do not desire the
amendment, the constitutional provi
sion for the election of senators by the
legislatures cannot Ice changed.
| Auuin Mr. Ilrynu nhinatg D., ia.
present rules Of the House Of Repre-
senttives and complains that it is no
longer n delibcrative body How
90 make the procedure of u body of
nearly four hundred members more
fully deliberate while at the same time
to make provision for the proper dis.
patch OF business. how to give greater
| Freedom and how TO escape from the
alleged tyranny of the speaker with.
ou, creating new tyranny of the min
ority. is question which parliamcn.
tarians may discuss to advantage II
| would be well to have some definite
statement of the amendments desired
and an opportunity to Judge their eff
feet. In any event. tnc members Of
the House will make such rules as they
| think best and the general suggestions
| Of the Democratic platform on this
point can hardly be regarded as per
tinent To the presidential campaign.
Election Laws.
Mr.. Bryan also has much 10 say with
regard 10 corrupt practices and cam.
| paign expenditures. But he omits TO
give the credit due the Republican
| party for what il has accomplished
forms. an accomplishment the more
noteworthy in the light of Mr.. Bry.
ans reiterated criticisms of contrbu.
tions To Republican campaign funds
In the state Of New York n Republican
| Legislature in 1906 passed q statute
prohibiting corporations from maklng
| any political contributions directly or
indirectly and providing that officers.
directors or stockholders participating
IN or consenting 10 the violation of the
law should be guilty of criminal Of
Tense. And ] know Of no more drastic
statute in this country with regard to
| the publicity Of campaign contrbu.
tons and for the prevention of cor.
rupt practices than that passed in New
York under Republican auspices. Taese
were not promises Of an opposition
party seeking power, but enactments
by party in power securing genuine
reforms. Proper recognition must of
course be given to the patriotic Demo.
Gratis who supported these reforms. but
they were enacted by Republican ad.
ministration. Congress has also lcpis.
lated against political contributions by
corporations. Purity of elections and
free opportunity for the uncorrupted
expression OF the popular will lie AT
the foundation of every reform and
cannot be too carefully safcpuardod
And there should be federal legislation
securing proper publicity of and nc.
counting for campaign contributions in
connection with federal elections. But
u must fairly be recognized that the
skirts or neither party have been
clean. IT We search Mr.. Bryan's fol.
lowing we shall find not few who
nave sinned, and also those who. il we
Judge from their local activities. are
still unrepentant. The Democratic
party cannot claim unsullicd virtue
either with regard to the source of its
revenues or its readiness 10 receive
them. And when criticism Is meted ont
to the Republican marty on this score
justice requires that it should also re-.
ceiye credit for the reforms il has
achieved
Revision Of the Tariff.
Both parties demand a revision of
the tariff. But they differ in the prin.
elple and aim Of such revision. The
Republican party stands for the policy
OF protection. II maintains its historic
position in defense Of American stand.
ards OF living and of the American
seal OF wages The Democratic party
seeks, as Mr.. Bryan CONSTITUTES it's plat. !
FORM, to overthrow protection and 10
establish revenue tariff. Instead Of
REIMBURSEMENT of protective rates and
fair arrangement of schedules consjs. |
tent with the long established poliev |
oi the country under which our trade |
has been developed and our industrial |
activities nave attained their notable
expansion, he insists ON AN overthrow of |
the entire system of protection. thus
threatening the dislocation of trade
and the most serious disturbance Of |
industry. He seeks not tariff revision
but tariff revolution. Mr. Brvan an