Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-04-07
#liseellaneous &eadins.
DEMOCRATIC RESPONSIBILITY.
AS Outlined BY Champ Clark On AS
suming Speakership.

Last Tuesday marked the opening
of the trial of the Democratic party to
demonstrate its worthiness to receive
the wider condolences of the voters
of the country" Asking his colleagues
to keep that fact uppermost in their
minds during the present session Of
congress, Representative Champ Clark
speakership of the house, outlined the
measure through which the Democra-
tic party hopes to continue to enjoy
the faith of the people. Intelligent re-
vision of the tariff, election of United
States senators by popular vote,
changes in the house rules to permit
proper consideration of public meas
ures, economy in handling the purse
strings of the country, the publication
of campaign contributions and the
early admission of New Mexico and
Arizona to statehood were some of the
things which Speaker Clark empha-
sized in the Democratic programme as
measures which would be undertaken
by the majority party in the house.
Speaker Clark said:
Position of Speaker.
Election to the high position of
speaker is an exceptional honor for
which you have my profoundest graft
tude. To be a member of the house,
to represent 100000 American citizens
in the more numerous branch of the
greatest legislative body in the world,
is an honor to which in the nature Of
things comparatively few men may
attain.
Mr.. Clark's Pleasure.
The pleasure Of being elected
speaker is much enhanced by the per-
feet unanimity with which it was con-
ferred by my party fellows and the
universal good will with which it Is
accepted by our co-laborers of the
minority.
My Democratic brethren, coupled
with the joy of once more seeing a
house, large majority of which is of
my own political faith, is keen sense
of our responsibility to our country
and our kind.
In the House.
After 16 years of exclusion from
power in the house and IA years Of
exclusion from power in every depart
ment of government, we are restored
to power in the house of representa-
tives and in that alone.
Will Prove Equal.
That we will prove equal to the
emergency in which we find ourselves
placed through our own efforts and
through our own desires, there can be
no doubt and the way to accomplish
this is to fulfill with courage, intelli-
gence and patriotism the promises
made before the election in order to
win the election. By discharging our
duty thoroughly and well, subordinat-
ing personal desires to principle and
personal ambition to an exalted love
of country, we will not only receive
the endorsement of the people, but
what is far better-we will deserve
their endorsement Chief among these
promises were:
Revision of Tariff.
Il. An honest, intelligent revision
of the tariff downward in order to give
every American citizen an equal
chance in the race of life and to ham,
per none unduly by special favor or
privilege, to reduce the cost of living
by eradicating the enormities and
crueltes of the present tariff bill and
to raise the necessary revenue to sup
port the government. Bills are already
far advanced in preparation looking to
the accomplishment of these benef-
cent ends.
Popular Election of Senators.
-. The passage OF a resolution,
submitting to the states for ratifica-
tion constitutional amendment pro-
viding for the election of United
States senators by popular vote. This
resolution has already been intro
duced and will soon be passed by the
house. Let us hope that we will send
it to the senate by the unanimous vote
of the house.
Changes In Rules.
"3. Such changes i'm the rules of the
house as are necessary for the thor
ough and intelligent consideration of
measures for the public good, several
of which changes are accomplished
facts. If other changes are deemed
wise, they will be promptly made.
The Ways and Means.
Il congratulate the house and the
country and particularly do l congrat-
ulate the members of the committee
on ways and means, upon the success
of the important and far-reaching eX-
pertinent of selecting committees
through the instrumentality of a COM
mittee, an experiment touching which
dire predictions were made and con-
cerning the operation of which grave
doubts were entered, even by some
honest reformers.
Cutting Down Expenses.
II. Economy in the public expense
that labor may be lightly burdened.
The literal fulfillment of that prom
Use which 50 nearly effects the happi-
ness and comfort of millions we have
begun-and we began at the proper
place-by cutting down the running
expenses of the house by more than
$3.50 per annum. Economy, like
charity, should begin at home. That's
where we began. We can not with
straight faces and clear conscences
reform expenses elsewhere unless we
reform them here at the fountain head.
The Democratic caucus deserves
well of the country for taking this
long and important step in the direc-
ton of economy all along the line.
Control of Purse Strings.
The constitution gives the house
the practical control of the purse
strings of the country and the house
should insist resolutely and firmly, on
exercising that control to the end that
the oupropria inn bills may he re-