The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-08-14
Democrat. promise Publicitv.

-. q 1haS IoAts AAN|Ns SAiN
issue honestly and courageously. Ut says:
w pledge the democratic party to the
enactment of a law prohibiting any cor
poration from contributing to Il campaign
fund. and any Individual from contribute
Ing an amount above a reasonable maxi
mum. and providing. for the publication.
before election, of all such contributions
above n reasonable minimum"
The democratic national committee i'm
mediately proceeded to interpret and apply
this plank, announcing that no contribu-
TOMS would be received from corporations,
that no individual would be allowed to
contribute more than $4,000, and that all
public before the election-those received
before October Is to be made public on or
before that day. those received afterward
to be made public on the day when re-
ceived. and no such contributions to be ac-
cepted within three days of the election.
The expenditures are to be published after
the election. Here is a plan which is
complete and effective.
Popular Election Of Senators.
Next to the corrupt use of money. the
present method of electing United States
senators is most responsible for the OBJ
struction of reforms. For 100 years af-
ter the adoption Of the constitution. the
demand for the popular election of sena-
tors. while finding increased expression,
did not become a dominant sentiment. A
constitutional amendment had from time
to time been suggested and the matter
had been more or less discussed in a few
of the states. but the movement had not
reached q point where 1t manifested 1T
self through congressional action. In the
Fifty-second congress. however. a reso-
luton was reported from q House COM
mlttee proposing the necessary constitu-
passed the House of Representatives by
a vote which was practically unanimous.
In the %Fifty-third congress a similar reso-
luton 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 a result of the
election of 1894 and In the Fifty-fourth
congress the proposition died in commit
tee. As time went on, however. the sen
tiInent grew among the people; until 1t
example set by the democrats, and then
another and another republican ngress
acted favorably. State after state has
thirds of the states have recorded them
selves in it's favor. The United States
Senate. however, impudently and arro-
tuition, notwithstand!ng the fact that the
voters of the United States. by an over
whelming majority. demand 1t. And this
refusal is the more significant when it is
remembered that a number of senators
owe their election to great corporate in
terests. Three democratic national plat
forms-the platforms Of 1900. 1904 and 1905
specifically call for a change in the consti-
tuition which will put the election OF sena-
tors In the hands Of the voters, and the
proposition has been indorsed by a num-
70 IS Lull POI Jul III IS-
publican national convention has been
willing to champion the cause of the
people on this subject. The subject was
vention in 1900; it was ignored in 1904, and
the proposition was explicitly repudiated
in 1908, for the recent republican national
the plank Endorsing the popular election
Of senators-and his was done in the con-
vention which nominated Mr.. Taft, few
delegates from his own state voting for
In his notification speech, the republican
candidate, speaking. of the election of
senators by the people, says: Personally,
a party question" What is necesarsy to
make this a party question? When the
democratic convention Endorses a PROPOSE
lican convention rejects the proposition
by a vote of seven to one. does 1t not be-
come an issue between the parties? Mr..
Taft can not remove the question from
sonal inclination towar the democratic
position. For several years he has been
connected with the administration. What
question before - the public pGbS What ain en-. enc
thusiasm has he shown in the reforma-
ton of the Senate? What influence could
he exert in behalf Of 9 reform which his
demned In its convention. and to which
he is attached only by a belated express
sion OF personal inclination?
gateway TO Other R0fornno.
Shall the people rule" Every rene
must run the gauntlet q the senate. The
president may personally incline toward
= reform: the House may consent to it;
reform, the people must wait. The presi-
dent may heed a popular demand; the
House may yield to public opinion; but
Of the people is defeated. Tns democratic
| platform very properly describes the popu-
lar election Of senator's as the gateway
to other national reforms" Shall we open
Interests to bar the way by the control
Of this branch of the federal legislature!
Through a democratic victory. and
the people secure the popular election OF
senator's. The smaller parties are unable
to secure this reform: the republican par
y; Tna onpo ITS present }o e! ,b aea Ssmacrs -; Is reso.
stands for 1t and has boldly demanded it.
II l am elected to the presidency, those
who are elected upon the ticket with me
form, and I shall convene congress in ex-
~traordinary session Immediately after In
auguration. and ask: among other things,
for the fulfllment Of this platform pledge.
Democratic Earn Confidence.
II the voters are satisfied with the rec
ord of the republican party and with its
management OF public affairs we can not
reasonably ask for a change in admins
NEAIOu- H. however, Tile voters Keel that
the people. as q whole. have too little in.
fiuence in shaping the policies of the gov
eminent: II they feel that great combina-
tons Of capital have encroached upon the
tnstrumentalties Of government to secure
an unfair share OF the total wealth pro-
duced. then we have a right to expect a
verdict against the republican party and
in favor Of the democratic party: for our
party has risked defeat-aye. suffered de-
feat-in Its effort to arouse the conscience
Of the public and to bring about that very
awakening to which Mr.. Taft has refer.
red.
Not Revolution, Reformation.
The democratic party seeks not revo,u.
remind the student Of history that cures
are mildest when applied at once: tina,
remedies increase in severity as their ap-
plfcation il postponed. Blood poisonine
may be stopped by the loss of a fnsef
today: 1t may cost an arm tomorrow or a
life the mex day.
The platform Of our party closes with a
brief statement Of the party's Ideal. II
favors such Al administrator OF the gov.
eminent as viii insure. q far as human