The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1910-10-20

that it is growing in this country as
1t is growing in other countries; and
1T is in the process of showing this
that want to demonstrate to you
that your sympathies are democratic
and that you. are not in harmony
with the republican leadership today.
Election of Senators by People.
l will commence with the election
of the senators by the people for this
is one of the most important prop
ositions; it is a question that clear
ly presents the democratic idea as
against the aristocratic idea. The
democrat believes in the election of
the senators by the people. Why?
Because it brings the Senate nearer
to the people. 1t gives the people
chance to control their SENATOR
it makes it easier for the people to
punish their senator's, if the senators
betray the trust reposed in them. 1t
is democratic doctrine. 1t is a
democratic idea. When l want to
find out whether man is demo-
crat or not,-I do not mean demo-
cratic in name, but in sentiment
do not ask him that, but l put some
questions to him that indicate his
bias, or his leaning, one way or the
other; and l know of no better ques-
ton than the question of the election
of the senators by the direct vote of
the people.
LIE me show how this sentiment
has grown; it will show you the
growth of the democratic sentiment
and how widespread it is. My
friends, if l had ever had any idea
that the democratic sentiment is con-
fined to the democratic party, that
idea would have long since been
driven from my mind. l believe
that the democratic sentiment in this
country is very much larger than any
party. l am glad that we have more
who call themselves democrats, be-
themselves democrats to make it
certain that we will at all times con-
troll the government; but if we mad
everybody in the party who are real
ly democrats, we would have. an
overwhelming majority at all times
especially, if we could get rid of
some who call themselves democrats,
but who are not, and whom l would
willing trade for some who do not
call themselves democrats. l might
add in speaking of these two parties
one aristocratic and the other demo-
cratic, that distinctions exist in these
parties. In other words, you may
take any group of men; they may
call themselves aristocrats or demo-
Gratis, but you will find that there
will be shades of differences in their
belief; that in the aristocratic party
you will have an aristocratic end of
it and democratic end of it. The
average will be aristocratic. In the
democratic party, you will find an
aristocratic end and a democratic
end, but the average will be demo-
cratic
My friends, I am glad we have as
a democratic candidate in this dis
trict, man who represents the
democratic end of the democratic |
party and stands for democracy.
You will have to decide for your
selves whether the republican candi-
date stands for the aristocratic end
OF the aristocratic party or the demo-
cratic end of that party. Let me
show you the growth in favor of the
election of the senators by the di-
rect vote of the people. For 1O3 |
years, the people have endured the
present method of the election of the
senator without protest, but in
1892, resolution was passed for
the first time declaring for the cleo
ton of the senators by the direct
vote of the people Then two repub-
lican congresses met and adjourned |
without 9rtinO. thnn or
and acted favorably then another
and another. Five congresses have
acted favorably in the House of Rep
resentatives, but the senate has op-
posed it always. Two-thirds of the
states have acted and we have re-
cord OF Is years of growing senti-
ment. At first the sentiment took
hold OF the democratic party and that
put itself on the side of the people
in their struggle for better represen-
tation in the U. S. Senate; and after
8 years the sentiment reached the
point where it took possession of the
republicans of the House and then
they followed the example of the
democrats. 1t took possession of
the state legislation until state af-
ter state to the number of two-thirds
nave acted favOrably. You are all |
in favor of electing the senators by
the people and l will prove it to you
by your vote. l will put the ques-
ton to you and you will vote in IA
vor of the election of senators by
the direct vote of the people, and,
my friends, think you will not say
that | cannot predict how the people
will vote on this proposition. You
will have the chance to vote against
it, If you want to; but you won't do
it. You are in favor of it. Let me
see the hands of those who are in
favor of the election of the senators
by the direct vote of the people.
Cali vote one way or the other)
Put your hands down now all those
opposing the election of the sena-
tors by the direct vote of the people,
l don't see any hands. Let me
give you the rest of the history.
Two years ago this question was up
in the convention, the democratic
convention declared unanimously in
favor of electing the senators by the
direct vote of the people, but the
republican convention was against 1