Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1905-06-08
CONTROL CORPORATIONS.
Record Of Democrats Beyond Re-
proach-Repubiicans Divided
on This Issue.

RECORD OF democrats Beyond he
neutrality-suspicious. Divided
on This Issue
The democratic record on control of
railroad rates is beyond reproach FROM
the peoples standpoint. Not only ha
the democratic party declared contin-
ually in its platforms for control or
public monopolies, but the votes of
democratic members of congress have
been uniformly cast for controlling the
power of railroad corporations to
charge exorbitant rates. In the last
congress the democratic members were
unanimous for the Davey I'LL, which
provided that the interstate commerce
commission should have the power to
fix maximum rates, but this bill was
voted down by the republican majority.
The Esch-Townsend bill which was
passed by the house of representatives
and which the democrats voted for.
In lieu of a better measure, was much
more complex than the Davey bill. 1t
had some good provisions but lacked
the plain and direct conditions of the
bill that the democrats proposed. Why
the republicans forced a bill that was
complex and uncertain in many of its
provisions can be judged by their past
position on railroad legislation.
For ten years the interstate COM
merce commission has asked congress
to grant it more power to deal with
the railroads, especially the power to
fix maximum rates. During all these
years the republicans have controlled
congress, but beyond passing the FL
kins bill, which has done more harm
than good to the people, which bill
the railroad combinations favored, no
legislation for the relief of the people
has been accomplished.
President Roosevelt has taken up
the fight for the people against the
railroads and has declared substantial
ly sor the democratic contention. but
a large faction Of his party, with a
majority e the United States senate.
are secret. opposing the legislation
he recomme Ids. This opposition of
many of the .epublican leaders to ION,
trolling the railroads was to be expect
ed, for they and then party have been
receiving campaign funds fTem the
corporations and in many states tits
notorious that the railroad attorneys,
agents and lobbyists have dictated the
nominations for state and federal off
GERS in most of the republican conven-
tons. AS the democrats in the last
congress proposed the policy which the
president has adopted so they will con-
tinue This policy in the coming con
gress. AS long as President Roosevelt
continues to recommend legislation
that agrees with democratic platforms
and principles he may rely upon the
suppost of all true democrats. The
problem of the coming congress is how
many republican members will be
found honestly aiding the democrats
and tee president to control the rail
! roads.
The eXultant democracy of Chicago,
through the Iroquois club, promised to
stand by the present, even to the end
of aiding in giving him a third term.
if such is necessary to complete the
reforms he has initiated. That extra.
ordinary statement from political OPP.
p%onents shows how strongly the bust
ness men and other voters of the coun.
try feel on this paramount issue o.
controlling railroads and other corpora
lions. Whatever course the republican
majority in congress may take tn,
democracy may be relied lpon to vot,
for any plain. straightforward bill tina
will give the interstate commerce com
mission power to fix maximum rates
and will cooperate with the president
and the faction of his party that he
represents in passing such legislation