The Washington times., 1911-06-12
ON POINDEyTER
RESTS FATE OF
ELECTIONS BILL
Washington Senator Thought
to Hold Deciding Vote on
Amendment.
Continued from First Page.)

| Continued from First Page.)
will be free from further bribery will
awake to the fact that in escaping the
evils of legislative corruption he has
entered a field OF equally insidious dan
ser and broader opportunity for cou-
ruptionists D"
Other objections, he said, were that
| only rich men could bear the expense
of two campaigns-one for the nominal
ton and a second for the election. Can
didates having much money. or the
support of wealth would have advap-
tages, the Senator asserted, Fin the
ability to secure advocates for his cause
and to own or subsidize a goodly por-
tion of the press"
mo man can deny he continued,
that the new system opens a wonder
ful field Of opportunity for both the
millionaire and the, demagogue-a field
history. The late revelations concern
Ing elections In a county in Ohio show
that the public Is not wholly exempt
from these weaknesses we unhappily
sometimes find in our Legislatures"
Another weakness of the plan. Nc
Cumber said, was in its tendency to de-
stroy party organization.
Senator Borah came on with a
speech strong in argument and light
ed by eloquence. Il do not know"
he said, whether this resolution will
prevail at this time or not | should
be exceedingly pleased If 1t does. |
shall not be discouraged II II does not.
/ do know that the fight will never
opportunity to vote upon this sur
"Thirty.two States have in some
form of resolution called for this
change. Millions of people have ask
ed in some form or other that we
submit 1t. To deny this right to have
1t submitted is to repudicte the first
principles of a free government It
Is unwtse. 1t is the most disastrous
course which men who would pre-
Government could possibly take
1T Is defiant challenge to the PEG
pie 10 nave voice in their Govern
ment at all. Those men who oppose this
measure, with much scorn and more
voice, while processing great love and
reverence for the Constitution, never
theless defy II. II they believe that ex-
perience and reason and patriotism ara
sent to pass this contest from this
forum to the forum of public opinion.
For Peoples Control.
If | could see this Government oper-
ate just as the fathers made 1t. | would
never challenge their wisdom nor stray
for one moment from the path they
pointed out to their children. do not
want any different principles of gov
eminent. l want to see the old gov
eminent brought back to where they
left tin the absolute control of the
people.
I'm the first seventy years of the
Government there were no Influences
strong to turn the agencies
of the Government into the agencies Of
particular interests or to wholly private
and selfish purposes. But that is not
true now. We have Influences TO deal
with stronger in wealth and power than
the Government itself at that time
They require the adaptation of govern
ment to modern conditions
Those who favor this change are
and uncomprOmising. They |
will never quit until the cause is de-
creed against them by the only forum
that has Jurisdiction to render final
this to the judgment and intelligence |
OF the American people. |
Those who are seeking to bring |
4 bout this reform are not disturbed by |
the charges of being demagogues. sem |
sation hunters er slaves to popular !
sentiment. The world has always had |
to deal with those whose intellectual |
lrbs are in the back OF their head, and |
has learned patience and tolerance De
,ause of their affliCtion. The naturalist |
ellis Us that the crawfish believes he is !
going forward, and the lightning-bug |
never realizes through It's brilliant ca
Ger that II has it's headlight on behind. |
This question can only be met by rea-
son, by argument, by a plea to the con-
scioushess and convictions Of men,