Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1908-08-13

was designed by the fathers of the
constitution, 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 be a
deliberative and legislative body. re-
sponsive to the will of a majority of
the members, but has come under the
absolute domination of the speaker.
who has entire control of it's deliber-
alton, and powers of legislation.
w have observed with amazement
the popular branch of our Federal
government helpless to obtain either
the consideration or enactment of
measures desired by a majority of it's
members"
This arraignment is fully justified.
The reform Republicans in the house
of representatives, when in the minor
ity in their W party, are as helpless
to obtain a hearing or to secure a vote
upon a measure as are the Democrats.
In the recent session of the present
congress, there was a considerable
element in the Republican party fav-
orable to remedial legislation; but a
few leaders, in control of the organi-
cation, despOtically suppressed these
members, and thus forced a real ma
Jor1ty in the house to submit to a well
organized minority. The Republican,
national convention, instead Of rebuk~
ing this attack upon popular govern
ment, eulogized congress and nominal
Oh aC tho PGYuJh1ionn o0rrjEJot rs fo--
vice-president one of the men who
shared in the responsibility for the CO.
ercion of the house. Our party demands
that "the house of representatives shall
again become a deliberative body,
controlled by a majority of the peoples
representatives, and not by a speak
er." and is pledged to adopt ''such
rules and regulations to govern the
house of representatives as will en-
a majority of it's. members tos di-
it's deliberations! and control leg
isIation."
Shall the people ruhe?' They can
do so unless they can control
the house of representatives, and
throagh heir representatives in the
house, give expression to their pur-
poses and their desires. The Republi--
a party is committed to the methods
now IN vogue in the house of repre-
sentattves; the Democratic party is
pledged to such a revision of the rules
as will bring the popular branch of
the Federa1 government into harmony
with the ideas of those who framed
our constitution and founded our gov
eminent
Other Issues Will Be Discussed Later
"Shall the people ruler" I repeat,
is declared by our platform to be the
overshadGwing question, and as the
campaign progresses, [ shall take oc-
casiOn to- discuss this question as it
manifests itself in other issues; for
whether we consider the tariff ques-
ton, the trust question, the railroad
question, the banking question, the
labor question. the question of imper-
ialism, the development of our water
ways, OF" n other of the numerous
problems; which press for solution, we
shall find hat the real question in
volved in each is, whether the overn
ment SHAH remain a mere business
asset of faver seeking corporations or
UO oil 116tEuLLCAJ LII Lie LII VI tuS
people for the advancement of the
common veal.
Democratic Party has Earned Conf
dence.
If the voters are satisfied. with the
record OF the Republican party and
with itsS management DE- public af-
fairs we can not reasonably ask for a
change in administration: if, however.
the voteSS feel that the people, as a
whole, Rave too little influence in
shaping the policies of the govern
ment; ifathey eel hat great. combina-
lions of capital have encfoached upon
the rights of the Masses and employ
ed the nstrumentalities of govern.
ment tossecure an unfair share of the
total wealth produced, then we have
| a right to expect a verdict against the
Republican party and in favor of the
Democratic party; for u party has
risked defeat-aye, suffered defeat
in it's effort to rou the conscience
of the public and to bring about that
very awakening to Which Mr.. Taft has
referred.
Only those are worthy to be entrust-
ed with leadership, in a great cause
who are willing to die for it, and the
Democratic party has proven it's wor
thfness by it's refusal to purchase vic
tory by delivering the people into the
hands of those who have despoiled
them. In this contest between Demo
cracy on the one side and plutocracy
} on the other, the Democratic party
has taken it's position on the side oil
equal rights, and invites the opposition
: of those who use politics to secure
l special privileges and governmental
favoritism. Guaging the progress O.
the nation, not by the happiness o
j wealth, or refinement of a few, blu