The weekly herald. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 1906-19??, 1908-08-13
MANY THOUSANDS
AT NOTIFICATION
Continued From Page one)

In the constitution which will put the
election Of senator's In the hands Of
the voters, and the proposition 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, rhe subject wa9
ignored by the Republican national
convention in 1900; 1t was ignored
in 1904, and the proposition was eX-
plicitly repudiated in 1908, for tho
recent Republican national conyen-
ton by a vote Of S66 TO ia, re-
jected the plank endorsing the popu-
lar election of senators and this was
done in the convention which nomi
mated Mr.. Taft, few delegates from
his own state voting for the plank,
Personal inclination Not Sufficient.
In his notification speech, the Re-
publican candidate, speaking OF the
election of senators by the people,
says; Personally ! am inclined to
favor It, but II is hardly a party
question" What Is necessary 10
make this a party question? When
the Democratic convention endorses
proposition by a unanimous vote,
and the Republican convention re-
iects the proposition by vote Of
seven TO one, does It not become an
issue between the parties? Mr., Taft
can not remove the question from
the arena OF politics by expressing a
personal inclination toward the Dem
ocratic position, For several years
he has been connected with the adj
ministration. What has he ever said
or done to bring this question before
the public? What enthusiasm has he
shown in the reformation of the sem
ate? What influence could he exert
in behalf OF a reform which his party
has openly and VIGOROUSLY condemn
ed in its convention, and to which
he Is attached only by a belated ex-
preston Of personal inclination?
The Gateway 10 Other Reforms.
Shall the people rule?" Every re-
medal measure Of national char
acter must run the gauntlet OF the
senate, The president may personal
ly incline toward reform; the house
may consent to it; but as long as the
senate obstructs the reform, the peo-
pie must wait The president may
heed 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 Dem
ocratic platform very properly de-
scribes the popular election of sem
ators as "the gateway to other ma
tional reforms" Shall we open the
gate, or shall we allow the exploiting
interests TO bar the way by the con-
troll Of this branch Of the federal leg
islature? Through a Democratic vic
tory, and through a Democratic vic
tory only, can the people secure the
popular election OF senators, The
smaller parties are unable to secure
this reform; the Republican party,
under It's present leadership, is reso-
lutely opposed to t.; the Democratic
party stands for 1t and has bodily de-
manded It. II am elected to the
presidency, those who are elected
upon the ticket with me will be, like
myself, pledged to this reform, and |
shall convene congress in extraordi-
nary session Immediately after inau-
guratlon, and ask among other
things, for the fultillment of this
platform pledge
House Rules DeSpotic.
The third instrumentanty employ
ed to defeat the will OF the peope
found in the rules OF the house OF
our platform points
out that "the house OF representa-
tives was designed by the fathers OF
the constitution, to be the popular
branch Of our government, responsive
10 the public will" and adds:
"The house OF representatives, as
In recent years by the Re-
publican party, has ceased to be
leliberatiye and legislative body re-
sponsive to the will OF a majority Of
ne members, but has come under the
absolute domination OF the speaker,
who has entire control OF It's DELHI.
,rations, and powers OF legislation,
I'VE have observed with amaze
nent the popular branch of our fed
aral government helpless TO obtain
either the consideration or enactment
If measures desired by a majority
u IT'S members
This arraignment is fully justified.
The reform Republicans in the house
II representatives, when in the mi
lority in their own party, are as help
ess to obtain a hearing or to secure