The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-08-12


would be allowed to contribute more |
than $4,000, and that all contribu- |
tons above 500 would be made public !
before the election-those received be-
fore October Is to be made public on
or before that day, those received af-
terward to be made public on the day
when received, and no such contribu-
tons ito be accepted within three days
of the election. The expenditures are
to be published after the election.
Here is a plan which is complete and
effective
Election OF Senators.
Next to the corrupt use of money.
the present method Of eIecting 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
finding increased expression. did not
become "a dominant sentiment. A con-
stitutional anne ndment had from time
to time been suggested and the matter
had been more or less discussed in
few of the states. but the movement
had not reached point where it man.
ifested'itself through congressional ac-
ton. In the fifty-second congress,
however. a resolution was reported
from house committee proposing the
necessary constitutional anne ndment,
and this resolution passed the house
OF representatives by a vote which
was practically unanimous. In the fiji
ty-third congress a similar resolution
was reported to. and adopted by the
house of representatives. Both the
| fifty-second and fifty-third congresses
were democratic. The republicans
gained control Of the house as re.
suit of the election of 1894 and in the
| fifty-fourth congress the proposition
died in committee. AS time went on.
| however. the sentiment grew among
| the people, until it forced a republi.
can congress to follow the example
| set by the democrats, and then anoth.
er and another republican congress
acted favorably. State after state has
Endorsed this reform, until nearly two
thirds of the states have recorded
themselves in it's favor The United
States senate, however, impudently
and arrogantly obstructs the passage
OF the resolution, notwithstanding the
fact that the voters of the United
States. by an overwhelming majority,
demand 1t. And this refusal is the
more significant when it is remember.
ed that a number of senators owe
their election to great corporate in
terests. Three democratic national
platforms-the platforms of 1900, 1904
and 190S-specifically call for a
change IN the constitution which will
put the election of senators In the
hands OF the voters, and the proposi-
uon has been Endorsed by a number of
the smaller parties, but no republican
national convention has been willing
TO champion the cause Of the people
on this subject The subject was
ignored by the republican nat.
ional convention in 1900; it was
ignored in 1904 and the prop
os1tion was explicitly repudiated
In 19oe, for the recent republican nat.
lonal convention, by a vote of S66 to
ia, rejected the plang indorsing the
popular election of senators-and this
was done in the convention which
nominated Mr.. Taft, few delegates
from his own state voting for the
plank.
In his notification speech, the repub
mean candidate, speaking of the cleo.
ton OF senators by the people, says:
personally. l am inclined to favor il
but 1t is hardly a party question -
"hat is necessary to make this a par.
" question? When the democratic
convention indorses a proposition by
unanimous vote. and the republican
convention rejects the proposition by
vote OF seven to one, does it not be.
come an issue between the parties ?
Mr.. Taft cannot remove the que stion
from the arena Of politics by express.
ing personal inclination toward the
democratic position. For several
years he has been connected with the
administration. What has he ever said
or done to bring this question before
the public? What enthusiasm has he
shown in the reformation of the sen.
ate? What influence could he exert
IN oehaf OF a reform which his party
, mas openly and VIGOROUSLY condemn.
ed In Its convention and to which he
is attached only by a belated EXPIRES.
sion or personal inclination?
Gateway to Reforms.
/ Shall the people ruler" Every re.
J medal measure Of a national charac.
ter must run the gauntlet of the sen.
ate. The president may personally
, Incline toward a reform; the house
may consent to it; but as long as the
senate obstructs the reform, the peo.
, pie must wait. The president NAV
need a popular demand; the house
may yield to public opinion; but as
, long as the senate is defiant. the rule
OF the people is defeated. The demo.
cratic platform very properly de.
scribes the popular election of sena.
tors as the gateway to other nation.
al reforms" Shall we open the gate
or shall we allow the exploiting in.
4 terests to bar the way by the control
: OF this branch Of the federal leeisla.
) sure? Through a democratic victory,
: and through democratic victory on.
ly. can the people secure the popular
: election of senator's. The smaller
parties are unable to secure this re.
| form tho