American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1916-10-26
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speech, Stated that Inc lSsue IN ThIS CaWpalBH was tHaI
OF the faithful performance of the pledges upon the part
OF the party in power. Perhaps ! might read his exact
words: Boosting Is always an empty business, which
appeals to nobody but the boaster, but have no doubt
OF what the Democratic party has accomplished. 1t has
merely fulfilled the promises which II made to the peo-
pie four years ago. The Republican party" says our
honored president, " was put out OF power because OF
~failure-failure, practical failure and moral failure"
Now, my friends, that presents the issue which am
going to call to your attention for a few minutes. II Is
u fair presentation of 1t, and the president was entirely
correct In submitting the proposition as he did, and /
am sure that my Democratic friends Will expect the
Republican who presents the other side to present the
record concerning which our president was speaking,
30 ! want to quote Az my text for this evening an ex-
tract from the most famous work Of modern fiction, the
Democratic platform adopted at Baltimore four years
ago. (Laughter)
THE Democratic party offers itself to the country as
an agency through which the complete overthrow and
extirpaton OF corruption, fraud and machine rule In
American politics can be effected" Our presiednt in
speaking upon this plank four years ago said; "Legis-
lation as we nova days conduct II Is not conducted In
the open; IL is not thrashed out In open debate upon
the floors of our assemblies. 1t Is on the contrary form
ed. digested and concluded In committee rooms" OBJ
rooms that the Legislation not desired by the interests
die. IL liz In the committee rooms that legislation de-
sired by the interests Is framed and brought forth" and
then he proceeds I'm his own way, with his remarkable
capacity for stating a proposition, to explain the 9eat
fault OF secret legislation; that II Ii a system by which
corruption is maintained and sustained in the capital,
and he proceeds to say that no matter liz of greater con-
cern TO the people of this country than that all laws Of
whatever nature be framed In the open, after thorough
debate. and In the full gaze Of one hundred millions of
people.
want to say to you In reference to that plank that
there has not been IA single measure of any Importance
whatever which has actually been framed and shaped
by the congress OF the United States since the fourth
day OF March, 1913. Our fathers when they framed
this government, framed a congress that operated In
the open and all laws were supposed to be framed In
the open after amendments had been offered and adopt
ed, after full discussion, and repeat without fear OF
successful contradiction that not II single important
measure has been enacted, or has been framed and
shaped by the congress itself az n congress since the
fourth day of March, 1913. Well then you say where
has II been formed? II has been framed in secret
caucus, behind closed doors. from which the press IL
excluded, from which the public is shut out, and the
record OF which no man knows nor can know. II you
were Interested AZ a constituency in knowing how Of
fered an amendment to the Underwood bill, and how
II was voted upon; how 1t was shaped or framed; If
you were Interested In knowing how the federal reserve
act was shaped or formed. you would have no means in
the world OF acquiring that knowledge, because IL was
framed exclusively In secret.
For fear that you may suppose that am exaggerat-
ing that statement VIII read you u statement from "A
distinguished Democratic senator, IA man of exceptional
ability. and one of the leaders of the senate while one
OF tho most important measures before the senate was
pending.
lie says; "It Is my purpose to vote for this bill,
NOT because | like II, not because In my Judgment
II should become n law" What other possible rea.
son could II representative OF the people have for
voting for n measure other than the fact that he
liked II, II met with his approval, or In his ludg-
nent II was 10 the benefit Of the peoplel What con.
ceI,able power has been erected and sustained
under the dome Of the capital which can take pos.
session ~ the conscience and the Judgment Of n
representative and compel him 10 vote against mn
unfnvorabie measure. which he believes to be- de-
trimental 10 his constituency, aud II Indeed such a
power does exist and controls Legislation In WASH
IngtoR what has become Of the representative gov
ernmenti How Will You check mp ON your represrn-
tati,e government How Will you cheek up On your
representatives under such n system Of Legislation.
Let me read further, He says, ~ deem II my duty
nevertheless TO embOdy In the permanent record OF
the country for the benefit Of my constituency and
the people nj large my serious objections to this
bill" and then he proceeds to do so. just what
hauntf hS pnnII Inrlx. f.n.. l.un.tnK
how had the bll was which was passed by his vote
Is one of the mysteries Of Legislation. Then he
concludes by saying: ~ want to say TO the COM
mittee aud the country that when l vote for this bill
II viii be II sacrifice I make for the Democratic
party. because this bll In many respects fails to
meet my conception Of the fundamental principles
Of good government. aud In my Judgment Is dan
gerous 10 the country"
Now. my friends. that is not a single instance. That
is not an isolated case. That is read to YOU to show the
system and the remarkable auftudc our honored prrsi-
dent took when he stated at Shadow Lawn that they had
kept the pledges made to the American people.
Let me call your attention 10 another ease. The TN
derwood bill " "A bill which deals with the welfare eth
er for veal or woe of every man. woman and child in
the United States. II had a tendency to fix the qnes.
tion of wage. II had a tendency To measure the amount
of prosperity which We should have. II had for its pur-
pose the raising Of revenue with which to run the
government II was a bill, IN other words. whether you
believe In II or disbelieve In Il, II was of such a nature
as to touch for veal or woe the interests or welfare Of
one hundred millions OF people. Now there was lust
one isolated amendment, one lonesome amendment of
fered to that bill upon the Democratic side during lis
process and progress through the senate of the United
States. A distinguished Democratic senator conceived
the idea OF annihilating the trusts by a system of taxa
tton, He provided an amendment to that effect. lie he
lieved that he could destroy the tobacco trust. the Stan
dard OIL trust, etc. by a system of graduated taxation.
He went before this caucus and asked permission of the
caucus to ofer an amendment 10 the bill upon the floor
of the senate of the United States. where. the constitu-
ton gave him that power and no power ON earth could
take Il away from him. hut the trainers OF the constitu-
ton contemplated that any man who had proper regard
for his duties as a representative would never yield To
N nnar nm nmanAmAnf IN Ffa N hill l., Al,
interests OF his constituency Let me see what he saws
/ am explaining this. and | will show you in