Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1907-08-09
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From our Special Correspondence

Washington, ID. c., Aug. las set
forth in this correspondence last week
the North Carolina conflict with the
{ railroads is still the paramount polfti-
If cal issue. The victory of Governor
Glenn in forcing the railroads to obey
the state law reducing rates until the
: legal questions involved have been de-
: cided by the Supreme Court is the
most satisfactory outcome to the peo-
, pie that has occurred since railroad
p, greatest satisfaction is expressed by
Democrats that Democratic Governor
showed the ability and courage to com
pei obedience to the law by imprison.
ing the law breakers in spite of the
threats of the corporation managers
and attorneys. and the aid of federal
judge. It should be remembered that
the issue in the North Carolina case
was similar to that cOntended for by
the Democrats when the railroad rate
bill was pending in the United States
Senate. namely. that a reduction of
rates should be effective until declared !
by the courts unconstitutional or con.
fiscatory.
The discussion of the most availa BILE |
presidential candidate for the Demo-
Gratis to nominate has received fresh |
| impetus this week by the arrival in
Washington of Senator Bacon of Geor-
GA. He declared himself favorable to
Southern man for President such as
Senators Daniel. CulbersOn, Carmack
and Gray, and dozens of Others who
could be named. All that is needed
declared Senator Bacon" is for of
them to step out and declare himself
candidate and the nomination will
be his" Other Democratic leaders do
not view the nomination of South
ern man with the optimistic complac-
ency of Senator Bacon; they do not be-
lieve that the Democratic National
Convention will nominate man from
a. Southern State unless he is accept
able to the delegates from the close
aud doubtful Northern States.
1t has been reiterated in these col
umns for the past year or two that no
tariff revision Is possible oy the Repub- J
lican majority in the next Congress. s
The trusts and mOnopoIists have too
firm hold on the Republican leaders. =
This now confirmed from Oyster Bay
by Senator Hopkins, after cOnsulta
ton With President Roosevelt. which
was participated in by H. H. Miles,
the Wisconsin Tariff Re
vision League. Senator Hopkins on
leaving Oyster Bay said: 1.-The conclu-
sion reached was that no tariff revi
sion should be undertaken until after
the next presidential election. 1t
would be suicidal to the Republican
party" the Senator added. ito under
take revision of the tariff during the
next Congress. After the presidential
election l believe it will be the duty of
the Republican party to revise the
Tariff and that it will be done"
After after always after, or later,
Or next year, but never now. The last
Republican national platform declar-
ID: "We insist upon the maintenance
If the principle of protection" and the
lext platform will contain a similar
or the Republican leaders
would find themselves without their \
M, ii hrt ,air
unds from the protected trusts and 2
nonopolists. Il
Will these Republicans, who feel that Il
rust high prices are plundering them, 1;
,e satisfied with the standpatters' pro- |;
ram From experience they know b
hat with two or three exceptions ev s
~ Republican representative in Con. E
;ress will fall back upon the Republi n
an platform, which, INSISTS upon the s
maintenance of the principle of pro-
ectiOn"-that is, the protection of the e
rusts, and vote against tariff revision. II
What does the conclusion reached by 3
be President and Senator Hopkins
nean; that: lit would be sucidical to
he Republican party to undertake
evisioD of the tariff during the next y
congress ?" 1t must he one of three
hings, either the Republicans cannot
ct along without the ususal cam
align contributions from the protected
rusts; or that the present trust pros
Gritty would be dissipated by reduc-
lg some of the protection the trusts
Ow enjoy; or to revise the tariff would
ause a split in the Republican ranks.
Republican prosperity is dependent
pom protecting the trusts in making
normous profits, those who are pay
az trust high prices, and are not too
artisan to help their own pockets,
lust come to the conclusion that the
republican leaders are in league with
he trusts to plumber them.
MarvIand'S Hnma. Gamma Waak