Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-12-24

fighting for economic and industrial
reforms.
THAT there is need Of reform Is al
ready apparent TO millions, and IL will
become apparent TO increasing num-
bers as the years advance. The extent
to which the public is being exploited
today is not fully realized by any large
proportion of the people. If II were
the Republican party would be turned
out Of power by a vote largely in ex-
cess Of that by which it won in the re-
cent campaign. II is the duty Of the
Democratic party-and a duty which 1t
is now free TO perform-to present to
the public the reasons for refusing
longer to trust the government to Re
publican leaders.
take. for instance. the railroads.
They are stocked and bonded for ap-
proximately twice what they are
worth.
1.-The trust question presents some OF
the same phases as the railroad prob
lem. Nearly all the trusts are over
capitalized and rely upon their control
Of the market to collect dividends. and
besides this they are constantly mar
rowing the field Of independent enter
prise.
1.-The Democratic party has declared
in two platforms that a private mo-
nopoly is indefensible and intolerable.
1t has demanded the enforcement Of
the criminal law. and ii has also de-
handed that the privileges Of inter-
state commerce be withdrawn from the
trusts. II has a chance to bring this
question before the public with in
creasing emphasis. and it will profit
by the public sentiment which must
ultimately condemn private mOnopO-
lies Of every Kind.
''If the Republican party is afraid
to PROMISE tariff revision during the
campaign 1t is not likely to make any
material revision after victory.
1.-The labor question is growing in
Importance. The manufacturers are
organizing TO fight the legislation ask
ed for by the wage earners. The tend
ency Of this is necessarily to widen
the gulf between labor and capital, and
the situation cannot help being agra
waited il for any reason there Is a
falling of I'm production and a decrease
in the number employed The Repub-
lican administration must meet this
problem.
Though the production OF gold hes
for the time being made less acute the
demand for the restoration of bimet-
allism, still there are other phases Of
the subject that are likely TO present
issues which will embarrass the Re
publicans.
The grow tn OF municipal ownership
In the cities has been accompanied by a
growth In public sentiment favorable
TO the extension OF governmental NC
tivity.
There is an increasing demand for
an enlargement OF the money order sys-
and this. Of course. meets with the op-
position of the banks.
The consolidation OF the trunk lines
OF railway. the raising OF the freight
rates and the political influence exert
I'd by the railways these. taken to-
getber. are increasing the number of
those who believe that railroads should
Ire classed among natural monopolies
and taken out Of the hands of private
individuals and corporations.
THE demand for the election OF SEN
ators by the people is strong among
the masses. but this. too, Is opposed by
the corporations.
''As the expenses of the navy continue
to increase that subject Is likely to be
come more and more an issue.
Attention has been called to some
OF the problems land there are others
which the Republican party must meet ;
they are problems intimately connected
with the welfare OF the country. and
the Republican party Is not I'm position
TO offer a permanent solution OF any OF
them. IL Is too much under the in
fiuence OF the great corporations TO set
tie these questions upon the peoples
side. and they can never be settled I'M
I'll they are settled upon the peoples
side.
There is every indication that the
Democratic party will now address it.
self to these reforms. and thus, by de-
serving success, lay the foundation for
N YoaI yfeforvv