The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1906-06-07
The Party that Doe. Things.

The country VIII notice that the rail-
way rate-regulation bill adds one more
item to the long roll of the Republican
party's great achievements in the field
Of constructive legislation. Senators
ana Representatives, as we'll as dis
tinguished and undistinguished persons
who are not in public station, are con-
graduating the President on the pas
sage of the bill. They are right. The
President started the movement for
rate regulation. In his message to Con-
gress in December, 1907, he said that
in his judgment ''the most important
legislative act now needed as regards
the regulation Of corporations is an act
to confer upon the interstate commerce
commission the power to revise rates,
the revised rate to go into effect and 10
stay In effect unless and until the court
of review reverses it" This power is
conferred by the bin which went
through the House q few weeks ago,
and which has just gone through the
Senate in q somewhat modified form.
"a lew 4lAlnQtCo DClOiC lAC Jill was
brought up for final passage in the Sen
ate Tillman testified that but for the
Presidents advocacy the measure could
never have had q chance for adoption.
Everybody knows that this statement is
correct. The President succeeded be-
cause he had his whole party behind
him. From the beginning of the move
ment the Republican party has cnam-
pioned rate regulation constantly and
intelligently. When the Esch-Town-
SEND bill passed the House of the late
Congress, year and quarter ago, the
country saw the first step taken toward
placing rate regulation in the statutes
OwiSg to lack of time the Senate did
not take up the question in that Con-
gress, but 1t has made amends in this
one The bill Is a courageous and sane
attempt to deal with this large issue In
a way that will meet the peoples de-
mands for government control over
freight charges, and at the same time
protect the railroads from harmful as
sauIt The interests of shippers, Of
railroads and of the people are, so far
rs can be foreseen in advance of the
actual operation of the law, intelligent
Iy guarded.
When, in 1871, Clement L. vallandig-
haIa. the copperhead chieftain Of the
rebellion days, warned his party
against wagsng further futile war
against the legislation of the proceed
ing decade. he paid striking tribute to
the wisdom and the patriotism Of the
Republican party. That party is still
doing things which Its enenies are
compelled to accept During TIE dis
cuss:on of the rate bill In the Senate
the President and his party we've as
sailed by the Democrats. but In the end
all were compelled to fall into line in
support Of the Republican measure.
When 1t is placed on the national stat
ute book. another great exploit IL prac
tica. legislation will be inscribed to the
Republican party's credit. This meas
ure, which originated with q Republi-
can President. was shaped by RepublI-
cans, and passed Republican Con-
gress by virtually unanimous vote.
In the congressional campaign this year
it will make tens of thousands of votes
for the Republicans, particularly in the
West For nearly half century al
most every great measure which has
gone on the national statute book has
been put there by the Republican party,
and most of them have been opposed by
the Democracy. In 1906, when the Re
publicens are about. to celebrate the
fiftieth anniversary of the establish
ment Of their party as national or
ganization. it ought to be an easy and
a pleasant task 10 win sweeping Re
publican victory In the congressional
elections.-St. Louis Globe Democrat
cit Looks Like Bryan.o
So say many Democratic leaders and
papers who opposed the free silver can
didate in 1896 and 1000. Well, sup
pose the money question Is ignored,
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