Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1905-04-24

Has President Roosevelt the courage
to be reformer? There is no doubt
that large number of people have faith
that he ia going to make a vigorous as.
sault upon the intrenchments behind
which predatory wealth is massed. 1t
was this belief that secured for him a
very considerable democratic vote last
fall. and more recent evidences OF reform
tendencies have brought him in the com.
mendation and congratulation of the
people in general. He has said and done
some things to excite the hope so widely
expressed. If he justifies this hope he
will retire from this office with great
popularity among the masses; if he dis.
appoints this hope the disappointment
will be the greater because OF the expec-
tation that has been aroused.
While the question of imperialism
raises the same issue between the rights
OF the pe,.'ie as W ole, who pay the
taxes, ,and the profits of the few who liveby
exploitation, still several other questions
are involved in the discussion of i'm
peralism, and its consideration is not
necessary for the purpose Of this article.
The same may be said Of the labor ques-
ton and Of the money question. The
issue between democracy and plutocra, :
not only manifests Itself in these queu-
tions, but it is present in every problem
that confronts us today; it will, how.
ever, require all the space allowed for
this article to consider three of the ques-
tions which are calling attention at this
time, namely the railroad question, the
trust question, and the tariff question.
Dnrlns the lul before the storm [prom.
ised at tine extra session which is looked
for in October), it may be we'll to con-
slider the work to be done and the quail :
ties necessary for its successful perfor-
nance. What is the work to be done?
The president has asked for legislation
empowering federal officials to fix rail-
road rates, and this request has aroused
almost unanimous opposition among the
railroads. The influence OF the transport
tation companies was not sufficient to
prevent the passage of bill by the
house, but was sufficient to prevent the
incorporation in that bill OF remedies for
all of the admitted evils. But the bias
of the senate in favor OF the great cor
porations was too strong to permit OF the
| x~f l. tr,
had gone through the house by practic-
ally unanimous vote.
The railroad magnates recognize that
when the fixing OF railroad rates is put
into the hands of government officials,
such officials will be compelled to act,
| for public opinion will coerce them into
the performance Of their duty. Ii they
fail to give the people the needed pro-
lection the people will lay the RESPONSE
bility upon those who appoint the off.
cials, and thus party interest will become
compelling force. Then, too, public
officials must act in the open. They can.
not be parties to secret understandings
While the regulation of railroad rates is
in the hands OF the railway magnates
the general pu ,lic is in ignorance of what
is going on; individuals may suffer from
extortion or discrimination, but their
appeals and complaints are only heart
in their immediate vicinity. The recor,
of official boards and commissioners
however, is published in documentar,
form and scattered broadcast over tn,
land.
But the railroad question is only one o
the questions which he has to meet
The railroad question can not be investi
gated without disclosing the intimate
relation which exists between the rail
roads and the trusts, and as a reform
principle naturally grows and extends
itself in all directions, it is quite certain
that the discussion of the rate bill viii
compel the investigation of the trusts
In fact, the trust question is alread,
forcing itself upon public attention. Th'
Garfield report on the beef trust, instea(
of quieting the country, has really
aroused an indignation which will neces
sarily lead to further probing. The alb
surdity of some of the conclusions Sc
forth in the Garfield report has tende'
to reflect upon either the good inten
tions or the ability of those who made tn
investigation, and to remove this sus pic
ion active effort will be required.
The president can not attack the prin
ciple upon which one trust operate
without attacking the principle upo
which they all operate, and they are like