The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1906-08-31
The Issues in the Congressional
Campaign.

Senator Rayner is a careful and thoughtful
student of current political affairs. Perhaps
few members of either branch of Congress
take the time and pains to keep themselves
as we'll posted in such matters. Because OF
this. his conclusions and delverances are
always especially worthy ofthe best attention
and consideration of the voters of the Demo
cratic party.
In an interview with representative OF the
Baltimore News on Monday last, Mr.. Rayner
spoke quite fully upon the issues that would
be before the people in the coming Congress
sional campaign. From that interview we
take the following extracts:
81 agree with Senator Whyte that the tariff
is the leading issue, not only in this campaign,
but that it will continue to be so IN the future
until radical changes are made IN the interests
of the American consumer. | have always
treated the tariff as the leading issue IN the
past. and propose to continue on this line
"What we want is a thorough revision OF
the whole system, not at the hands OF ITS
friends, because then it will never be revised,
but at the hands of its enemies-that Is, at the
hands of those who believe that monopoly has
been surfeited with a sufficient amount OF pro
lection. and that the friend Of the consumer
and not the friend of the American monopo.
list Is to undertake the revision. | do not
believe in halfway measures upon this issue.
ut is constantly claimed that we cannot
frame revenue tariff without incidental pro
lection. This is not true. We can easily
frame tariff without protecting industries
that no longer require protection, and we can
certainly frame one that Is not prohlbluve
tariff. Reciprocity under the Dlngley act Is
a sabterfuge. II is well known 10 those who
have studied the schedules that the duties were
placed at fictitious figures, so that if reduc-
ton was agreed upon they could still be main
tanned at an extortionate rate. What Is the
result? The Senate declined to act upon the
reciprocity conventions and the fictitious hg-
ures remain. We must expose this whole
business. aud | firmly believe in taking the
ground that every Republican tariff that has
ever been framed Is for the sole benefit aud
interest of these who are IN partnership with
the Republican party and who furnish the
capital to the firm, and that the Democratic
party stands for q revenue tariff IN the interest
of the American monopolist.
II do not consider, that the tariff IS the
only issue, however. A few weeks before the
adjournment of the Senate | WAS present at
conference with a number OF its members and
with prominent Democrats from different
sections of the country. II was the positive
conviction of everyone present that executive
gIsurpation' should be made one of the leading
issues 10 our Congressional and Presidential
campaigns We claim that President Roose-
welt has trespassed upon Constitutional hmlta-
tons; that he has inteTfered with The functions
of the law making power; that he has, by the
use of his patronage and influence, dominated
both branches of Congress; that be has made
a compact with the Speaker 0; the House and
It's Committee on Rules to promote or TO slide
legislation as il suited his purpose. and that
he has arrogated to himself functions never
contemplated by the trainers of the Cousu,a
ton.
There is another proposition OF supreme
importance that we must not lose sight of. and
that is the deliberate siraHgling OF the measure
TO prevent the purchase Of Congressional ard
Presidential elections. The President aud
Speaker Of the House Of Representative are
responsible for the suppression ct this leg'sla.
ton. Il passed the Senate, as / recall u,
unanimously. When it came 10 the House u
awaited, as usual, the order and Command OF
the President
ut was bold move to sacrifice tbs bill,
because II It bad been reported It would have
swept through the Honse as It did the Senate.
Its Importance will be realized when u Is
tariff protected interests furnish the most
enormous sums Of money TO the Republican
party, 10 return for which they receive their
own protecticn at its hands Most OF these
concerns and enterprises, especIrl ; toe large
oues, are corporate bodies, chartered ~ the
various States in which they transact 'he,f
business and come under this ball. The life
insurance contributions do not compare With
those collected from the tariff interests and
other sources
The practical defeA; of this measure IN
Congress means that The Democratic party
must face an enormous corruption fund IN ihe
future, as il has done IN the past ~hi'e its
passage would have signi6ed to the eonHiry
that tie elective franchise can 40 longer DC
polluted except q, the peril OF law. and that
the ballot Is no longer for sale.
awe must stand upon our AncIeut Eroaad,
and | believe that the day IS approaching
wheu the country viii become desperately
tired Of all these innovations that are nos TN
dermining the whole character and framework
Of OR Government, and will be glad to rein
state the creed Of The Constitution, that does
not recognizes 10 it, worship the power 81
wealth and monopoly or Of aggression and
Capitalization -