Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1906-04-05
THE ISSUES.
nifcant.

Ever since The campaign OF loOO,-ln
which free silver democrats and free
silver republicans occupied the same
camp, and through force Of circum-
stances high tariff, sound money re-
publicans and low tariff, gold stand
ard democrats were allies, American
politics has generally been OF tho sort
described by Robert Burns rs amiXty,
maxty, hodgepodge COALITION. Both
men and principles have been inter-
mlrably mixed up. But party lines
seem TO be forming again, and it Is
quite probable that In the next CON
gressicnal election the issues between
the parties may be more clearly de-
fined.
Tho Milwaukee Journal, which Is
taking hopeful view Of the demo-
cratic party prospects, says
The signs multiply which Indicate
that there IL to bo real, aggressive,
hard-fought political battle next fall
when the time comes to elect new
house OF representatives.
"The Democrats see signs Of vic Dry
and are beginning TO ma sual their
forces for the conflict The Republi-
can leaders are nervous and are be-
ginning to detect signs Of approach
Ing disaster. AS consequence of
these things there Is restiveness
among tho congressman which ls sig.
niilcant. They, particularly the lead
ers, are playing more Mt the game of
politics than vt statesmanship. They
are maneuvering for position. They
arc on the search for issues and cam.
pnign material.
congressman Williams, the lloor
leader OF the Democrats has informed
the public what some of the chief issues
Of the campaign are to be, 1t IL worth
while to note what Mr. Williams has
TO say. Here arc four of the 'issues'
Corruption In Office, lin the land
department, the pustoIlice department.,
and the consular service: the corrupt
connection between the Republican
national executive committee and cam
paign contributing corporations,
Enforcement of existing laws, not
only with respect to the corruptionsts
In the government service, but also
with regard TO those who have vioat.
cd trusts, have been convicted Of 1t,
and who have been prosecuted, There
seems TO be an idea that an Injunction
not to do thing any more is the only
proper punishment for " rich man who
Is vt the head OF n trust.
1.-THE regulation of railway rates, II
satisfactory law is not passed ut the
present session Of congress- Not II
trust exists In the United States THAI
Is not founded either upon railway dis.
crimination, railway rebates or an ex-
cessive tariff shutting Off foreign COM
petition,
"rarif revision. Back of 1t all
and looming over it all will be tho tar
In Nfgsue and the hundreds OF cases
where tho tariff Is over 100 per cent of
the entire price of the article upon
which II Is levied.
"Who can doubt that In these four
great questions the Democrats have all
the issues they nocd2 Two OF them In
particular are to be emphasi2ed: The
tariff and the enforcement OF the laws.
"l'ho events OF the last year have
demonstrated tho need and the Office
tiveness OF II vigorous enforcement of
the laws, II they have not demonstrate
ed anything else, 1t Is clear that
there are plenty OF laws. What Is
needed is men behind the laws to give
them force, Law enforcement, without
fear or favor, is elemental IN democ-
racy. And 1t Is fundamental with De-
mocracy. IL is TO be hoped that 1t
will be u leading issue in the cam.
paign. 1t will do the country good
and II subsequent application of the
principle will go far towards elimina-
ting many of the evils which threaten
the nation today.
1.-THE tariff will not down. Mr.. Will
liams is right in saying that back OF
II all and looming over 1t all Is the
tariff. 1t Is the big issue OF the day,
as it has been for decades, and as II
will BIO until tariff law Il passed that