Evening star., 1905-09-24
CAMP A|CN STARTED
Ohio Republicans Active at
Bellefontaine.
t OR A K Err SPEAKS
IMMENSE CROWDS AND FINE
WEATHER THE FEATURES
onbounded Enthusiasm Manifested
Over the Senator's Address-The
City Lavishly Decorated.
Special pispa tch to The Star.

| Special Dispatch to The Star
| BELLE FONTAINE, Ohio. september
| Z4.-Enthusiasm was the keynote at the
! opening OF the republican state campaign
in this city yesterday. Immense crowds
| filled the city and the morning parade was
an unqualified success. Fine weather added
| to the features of the day, and everywhere
the city was decorated for the occasion,
| Following Senator Fairbanks, whose speech
| was reported fully in Saturdays Star, Sem
ator Foraker made one of the principal adj
| dresses of the day. He said, In part:
Senator Foraker's Address.
If Ohio should fail to give the usual re-
| publican majority it would, In the absence
| of explanation, be an Indication that the
\ people are displeased with repuolicsnIsm
| and that would have the double effect of
discouraging republicans and encouraging
| democrats not only in Ohio bur elsewhere
| Therefore, when VIC vote in November we
| must whether we wish IL SO or not cast
our ballots for or against not only the rec
| ord that has been made at Columbus but
| also for or against the record that has been
| made at Washington-not only for or
| against Herrick, but also for or against
Roosevelt
| In other words. the issue, and practically
| the only issue We have this year is that
| OF the republican party versus the demo-
| cratic party.
President Roosevelt has not only met the
expectations and redeemed the promises of
| his party, but he has so far surpassed all
expectations and pledges that the demo-
Gratis are proposing that he be made the
candidate of both parties and be unani-
mously reelected President in 1908 This 4.
the most sensible proposition they have ad-
vanced in fifty years
individual democrats are as ahIa and
high-minded today as any of their great
leaders of the past have been but thew have
no unity of belief or purpose Bryan
breaches one kind of democracy and Parker
another, and the people have no use for
either. Our great victory of last year was
que IN part to the personal popularity OF
president Roosevelt and the still greater
popularity of republican policies but more
than all else. to the utter lack of any COM
mon pehefs or common policies or purposes
OF our opponents. They never were yerv
well endowed with principles In ali thetf
history they have had only four cardinaf
proposiu0.l ls-s!ayery, secession, FREQ trade
and free silver--and now these are al, desI
or disabfed Slavery and secession were
slaughtered on the battlefield free frada
mas been reiegated to the rear by protec-
tioH prosperity, and free silver perfshed AZ
the ballot box.
Reciprocity Treaties.
mere can be no reciprocity treaties
CONSIDERED by the Senate unles the Pres.
ident first negotiates them and 60.
them there. The initiative is With hisn
But II he should find himself able 70
make such treaties the Senate am sure
Wouid not ratify them unless 1t was found
on examination of their provisions that
they did not seriously iniure sny in,H
portant American industry The platform
on which President Roosevelt was eIaot
su SO deciared, and do not imagine he
would disregard that declaration in NO
Sotlatins such a treaty and IL he did
know the Senate would not ratify or an
prove ms action in doing Reciprocity
.nen suouid De confined to nom competing
prooucts. and to such products as are
abie TO stand reduction of duties with
out injury to the industry that produces
mem. mem. Each treaty must, therefore, he
trled on Its own merits, according tn ifs
own provisions, ana for that reason no
one can tell in advance what will be done
III any particular case.
Freight Rate Regulation.
1t has been charged that freight rates
are too high; that rebates are secretJv
given and that Determinations are nrac,
uced, , ana 1t is proposed that all these
eFhs shall be cured by conferriug the
rate making power on the interstate Conn
merce commission.
FROM the evidence taken it appears
that there are various kinds of practicas
and abuses that should be prohibited ana
there VIII no doubt be legislation of that
character at the approaching session OF
t Splis reSs, lor there can be no question
about the power or wisdom of appropri-
ate regulation of the railroad business of
the country.
1T Is very gratifying that railroad men
and shippers alike testify with substan
ual unanimity that the Elkins law pass
ed py Congress in February 1903 has
been so successful in its operation that
the granting OF rebates has been practf-
caily discontinued, or, If not wholly dis
continued, the law has been found bv
practical tests of Its efficiency to he
ample II properly enforced to thoroughly
accomplish its purpose.
The statutes applicable to discrimina
tons can be made much more explicit
and effective, and as a result of the in
Festlgations that have been made and
the consideration that has been given to
this subject there will undoubtedly he
appropriate legislation enacted at the
next session of Congress to prohibit and
punish, In so far as 1t may be possible 50.
to provide, all discriminating abuses
but What~appear to be determinations
are IN many instances found on inyesti-
gation 70 be due to the law of eompeti-
tion ana the result of natural forces and
conditions, over which neither Congress
nor the railroads have any control There
are, however. many cases for which there
Is no such excuse, and for which we must
ana Will provide an effective remedy But
IL Goes not follow that to remedy these,
abuses the rate making power should be-
conferred on the interstate commerca
commission, as the Ohio democratic plat
form OF this year proposes. i believe such
provision is unnecessary to correct the
evils complained of, and that it would be
both unwise and unjust