Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1906-09-27

statement, unrescrvedly for the revenue
tariff.
What is II revenue tariff. as known to
economies? 1t is a system in which inn
port duties are levied upon products and
commodities which the country does not
and cannot produce with the addition of
a few luXuricS which, under any system,
are heavily taxed. 1t is the policy which
England has for years maintained I
know that the republicans of this state
are unalterably opposed to the English
system, and | believe there are very few
democrats who, when they consult their
Independent. individual opinions, would
favor a revolution that could bring moth
ing but disaster in it's train. Under the
system OF protection, we have multiplied
our wealth SO that we are, beyond com
pare, the richest nation on earth. we
nave increased our production so that
We nave outstrpped all the people of
the world. We have given our working
men wages which have no parallel in
the field of industry. We have attained
height OF prosperity unequaled in the
history of man: will not at this time
summon the aid of statistics. i simply
invoke your own observation and expert
ence. You know. as well as l. that the
welfare of agriculture depends absolute
ly upon the employment at good wages
or the men and women who are not en-
gagged in agriculture, and that when idle
ness prevails the price of the farmers
products must go down. Let Mr.. Porter
suspend for a season his rancorous at
lacks upon me, and defend if he can his
proposition TO change the economic sys-
TEN of the country.
Corporations.
All sober minded, thinking men know
that this country has before it certain
great problems which have grown out of
our extraordinary development, and
which must be resolutely met and solved
if we are to preserve the institutions of
our fathers in their full integrity We
have more than 10000 miles of main track
railway in the United States. Gradually
these miles of railway are being gathered
country depends for it's transportation
upon these railways. They are public
highways, and it is conceded that the
government may lawfully compel them
to do at least two things-first. to fur
nish transportation for a fair and reason
able compensation; second, to furnish
conditions. for the same compensation;
and the prohibition against discrimina-
ton applies as well to localities and COM
munities as to individuals.
The task of bringing into practical use
the power which the government mques-
tionably holds has been most difficult
one and will continue to tax the best
efforts of the most enlightened people
Of the world. One of the questions that
you must answer in the coming election
is this: Which party is most likely to
so deal with the subject that justice will
be done to all the people. and the rights
of the railways maintained.
Railway Regulation.
Eighteen years ago, the republican
party gave to the state of Iowa law
regulating railways, which is acknowi-
edged to be as perfect as the wit of man
has yet devised. 1t was matured in the
wisdom and zeal of man who has done
as much to protect the people from the
aggressions of corporate power as any
man in acknowledgements William Lar
rabee. 1t will, think, be admitted that
the republican party in this state is
therefore entitled to the trust of the peo-
pie in it's leadership upon this most i'm
portant phase of public affairs.
In 1887, the republican party gave to the
nation law which seemed to provide for
genutty of railway management, the
compleXity of the subject itself, and new
conditions in the business, rendered the
law Inadequate for the protection of the
public, and recent years have witnessed
one of the most interesting, instructive
and vital struggles for it's amendment
Fortunately for us, we had at Washing
ton a president whose head was clear
whose heart was pure. and whose cour-
age was unfaltering. He led the fight
with unsurpassed skill and relentless
energy, and before the last congress adj
Journed the law was so strengthened
that 1t will do much to remedy the
abuses. which have aroused the indigna-
ton of the people. Again the republican
party. vidicated its title to leadership in
American affairs.
The Democratic Plan.
1t may be true-it probably is true
that the law will need further change,
and that still other stringent regulations
must be added, and that additional pow
erS must be granted to the interstate
commerce commission. We, however, are
dealing with the question in a way that
will allow the railways to earn a revenue
amply sufficient for their maintenance,
operation and the reward of capital and
VIII at the same time secure to travellers
and shippers their inherent rights over
our public highways. 1t is strange that
the democratic candidate for governor
maj ~ ono. ,.rI,s To
less flow of his criticism of my doings
and sayings to tell you what plan the
democratic party proposes for the regula-
ton or transportation. He says that he
follows unreServedly his distinguished
commander, William Jennings Bryan /
nave high regard for Mr.. Bryan. l be-
neNe MN to be sincere, and all the world
knows him to be strong and COURAGEOUS
Mr.. Bryan proposes government owner
ship as the solution of the problem, in
the event of complete or even partial
| failure of the effort to regulate our rail-
ways. am not able to agree 10 this
remedy for either the ills we suffer or
any that we may suffer. 1 regret eX-
ceedingly that II is even proposed for II
| Is obvious that If the democratic party.
under such platform. were in power
that Is to say, with this alternative prop
osition7 regulation first, and if IL fails.
| government ownership-regulation would
inevitably fail. | am not willing to con-
cede the possibility of a failure of the
| government to bring into subsection
either the railways or any other form of
corporate power. / know that there is
intelligence enough and virtue enough in
the American people TO command justice
at the hands of transportation. 1t would
be interesting to hear from Mr.. Porter
upon this subject. i am sure you would
| like to know whether, if he becomes
| governor of this state, he will begin his
| crusade for the change in the constitution
and in the laws necessary to enable Iowa
| to buy the railways which, under this
scheme, the state is to own and operate
II involves, as l understand it. the own
| ership of some railways by the general
government. and of others by the state
am curious for information as to which
| OF the railways within our borders Mr.
Porter thinks the state should buy and
operate, and which the United States
should buy and operate. Whether ne is
willing to expound his views or not n say
unhesitatingiy that / am for the repub-
ncan plan of strict and increasing regula-
| ton and supervision to the end that
every railway shall furnish its facilities
az iair rates; 70 shippers in the same
| community at the same rates. and 10
/ shippers in different cnmnnInitIen ID fai.