Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-08-12
BRYAN
ACCEPTS

to what subject We Address ourselves,
the same question confronts us: Shall
the people control their own govern
ment. and use that government for tho
protection OF their rights and for the
promotion OF their welfareY or shalt
the representatives of predatory wealth
prey upon defenscless public. while
the Offenders secure immunity from
subservient officials whom they raise
TO power by INSCRIPTIONS methods, !,
This Is the Issue raised by the known
abuses" TO which aIr. Taft refers.
President's Indictment Against tho
FSrty.
In message sent to congress last
January. President Roosevelt said,
"'rbe attacks 10y these great corpora
tions OH the Administrations actions
throughout the country. In the news
papers and otherwise, by those writers
and speakers who. consciously or un-
consciously. net as the representatives
OF predatory weaith-of the wealth ac.
cumulated on n giant scale by all forms
OF iniquity. ranging from the oppres-
sion of wage carncrs TO unfhir and un-
wholesome methods OF crushing out
competition, and TO defrauding the
public by stock -jobbing aud the manip-
ulation OF securities. Certain wealthy
men OF this stamp. whose conduct
should be abhorrcnt TO every man OF
ordinarily decent conscience, and who
commit the hldcous wrong OF teaching
our young men that phenomenal buoI,
ness success must ordlnarlly be based
on dishonesty, have. dvssng the iaet
few months. made II apparent that
they have banded together To work for
a reaction. Their cndeavor IL 70
overthrow and dIscredit all who hon
estly administer the law. 10 prevent
any additional Legislation which would
check and restrain them. and To secure
II possible. freedom from nH re.
straint which will permit every un-
scrupulous wroog-doer TO do what he
wishes unchecked. provided he has
enough moneyr-what mn nrraignment
OF the predatory intercstsl
IL the presidents indictment true?
And. IL true against whom was the
Indictment directed? Not against the
Democratic party.
Mr.. Taft Endorecs tho Indictment.
Mr.. Taft says that these OWLS have
crcpt In during the last ten years. lie
declares that during this time, some
prominent and influential members
of the community, spurrcd by financial
success and I'm their hurry for greater
wealth. became unmindful of the com
mon rules OF business honesty and
fidelity, and OF the limitations imposed
by law upon their nctions!" and that
'the revelations OF the breaches OF
trusts, the disclosures ns to rebates
and determinations by railroads. the
accommodating evidence OF the viola
tions OF the antitrust laws. by n num-
Der OF corporations, and the over-issuc
OF stocks and bonds OF Interstate rail.
roads for the unlawful enriching of d.
rectors md for the purpose OF concen-
trating the control OF the railroads un-
der one mannRement,"-all these, he
charges, "quickened tho conscience Of
the people and brought on moral
awakening"
During oil this time. I beg TO remind
you, Republican officials presided IN the
executive department, filed the cab.
inet, dominated the senate, controlled
the house OF Representatives and occu-
pied most OF the federal judgeshIps.
-Four years ago the Republican plat
form boastfully declared that since
1SG0-with the exception Of two years
the Republican party had been In con.
troll Of part or OF nll the branches OF
the federal government; that for two
years only was the Democratic party I'm
a position TO either enact or repeal ~
law. Having drawn the salaries: hav-
Ing enjoyed the honors; having secured
the prestige, let the Republican party
accept the responsibility!
Republican Party Responsible.
Why were these "known abuses"
permitted to develop? Why have they
not been cOrrectedf II existing laws
are sufficient, why have they not been
enforced1 All OF the executive ma.
chinery OF tho federal government IS
In the hands Of the Republican party
Are new laws necessary Why have
they not been enactedf with n re.
publican president 10 recommend, with
n Republican senate aud house TO carry
out hIs recommendation, why does the
Republican candidate plead for further
time Ia which TO do what should have
been done long agof Can Mr. Taft
promise 10 be more strenuous In the
prosecution OF wrong-docrs than the
present exccutivc2 Can he ask for q
larger majority in the senate than his
party now has7 Does be need more
Republicans I'm the house OF represent
atives or speaker with more unlim.
tied authority.
Why No Tariff Reform7
The presidents close friends have
been promising for several years that
he would attack the iniqulties of the
tariff. We have had intlmation that
Mr.. Taft was restive under the de.
mands OF the highly protected in.
austries. And yet the influence Of the
manufacturers, who have for twenty.
dve years contributed to the Republican
campaign fund, and who I'm return
have framed the tariff schedules, has
been sufficient TO prevent tariff reform
As the present campaign approached.
both the president and Mr.. Taft dc.
clared in favor Of tariff revision, but
set the date Of revision after the cleo
tion. But the pressure brought 10 bear
bv flo prgfagfoI fpforcrfa hoe I,.,,