The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-08-25

bftrarily decides what legislation shall
be considered and passed in the great
popular branch Of the national con-
gress."
Mr.. Cannon replied as follows:>
Under the constitution of the Unit
ed States, the house of representatives
organizes itself, and any member of
the house of any party or no party. on
any day, at any time, can halt any
business before the house, and as q
question of highest privilege offer a
resolution and secure a vote on 1t to
displace the speaker OF the house Of
representatives and put some other
member in his place."
In other words. the remedy is to dis
grace, and destroy one of the high
est officers in the government--to cast
him figuratively from a political Tar
pean Rock, to be erected by the mem
bers with his consent, for that pur-
pose.
I have suggested the other way by
which the American voters can regain
their right to self government, and
that Is by the assertion of their man.
hood on election day, by rebuking with
| their ballots the party which has
brought about such an intolerable con-
dition.
Power That Guides.
The question "Shall the people
ruler" is one which demands the Sc
rious and earnest consideration of all
| men who are interested in the perpet-
uation of our institutions. 1t must be
apparent to all who have followed the
course of legislation during the past
| few years that there is power with
| in the Republican party determined
that the people shall not rule. That
power has manifested itself whenever
effort has been made to check the de-
structive work of unlawful combina-
| ton, reduce the oppressive tariff tax
| or enact any legislation looking to-
| wards the equalization or Tightening
of the burdens resting upon the peo-
pie.
That dominant power which now
guides and directs the Republican
| party, has on many occasions defied
the president in cases where he has,
on the demand of the masses, made
| sporadic efforts in their behalf In
some instances he has persuaded this
| handful of leaders to compromise on
| their own terms, with the eighty mil
| lions of people whom he assumed to
| represent, but in most cases he has
been absolutely powerless.
That dominant leadership elects the
speaker of the house, names the COM
mittees of the senate, and is in full
charge of the ingenious machinery
provided for the protection of in
| trenched monopoly against the de-
mands of the people.
1t dictated the platform adopted by
that party in national convention this
year, and after defying Mr.. Roosevelt
for three and half years, and killing
or Gripping nearly all his proposed
i legislation, and having received his
unstinted denunciation therefor, pro-
ceeded with the finest irony to en-
dorse his administration, after which
it dictated a committee to take charge
of the campaign, and is now in full
command of the party organization.
This dominant leadership is now
circulating two kinds of campaign
literature-one being designed for the
east and the other for the west-the
first being placed in the hands of
trust magnates. tariff beneficiaries.
stock gamblers, and others who are
supposed to be enemies of the presi-
dent. declaring that Mr.. Taft is
'sane and SAFE free from the faults
of Roosevelt, while the second goes to
| the business men, the farmers and
| laborers who are presumed to be adj
mirers of the president, and declares
that Taft is Roosevelt's double and
may be, safely counted on to insist
upon his policies and see that they
are carried out.
LaFollette's List.
Senator LaFollette, in speech de-
livered in the senate last March, ex-
hibited a list of less than 100 men.
who he declared controlled the in
dustrial life of the nation, and held
in their hands the business of the
country. A casual reading of this list
shows that it is made up of men who
have been the beneficiaries of legisla-
ton or favorites in the administra-
ton of the law.
The president rails against swollen
fortunes as menaces to the public well
fare and as promotive of evils which
eat at the very heart of society.
AS remedies he has suggested an
income tax and an inheritance tax.
that their growth may be to some ex-
tent checked.
The national convention of his party
is silent upon the question of these
proposed reforms, while the possessors
of most of these swollen fortunes,
allied as they are with the dominant
forces of the Republican party. are
giving generous support to the Re-
publican national ticket.
I will not at this time discuss the sew
eral planks of the national platform.
endorse the platform in all its parts,
and pledge my best endeavors towards
securing the reforms to which the party
is by it's terms committed. AS the cam
paign progresses, I shall discuss It's
various features, from time to time, as
opportunity presents.
Gentlemen, we enter upon this cam
paign with every prospect of success.
Never had a political platform been re-
ceived with such favor by all classes
of people, and never has a candidate
been presented by any party. VINO was
our matchless standard bearer, Will
lam ]. Bryan.
We must and will win this battle
without the use of money, or the aid OF
corporate power. If our adversaries SO
desire let them pursue that course.
But there are times in the life OF q
nation like this. when money, and
coercive influences are Of no avail.
There comes a time. when the quick
ened conscience of an enlightened peo-
ple impel action. which neither money
nor influence can check. e..
That time, in my judgment is here.
let every man from this hour forward
perform this duty in manly and hon
orable way.