West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1908-08-13

1904 the convention gave no pledge 10
remedy these abuses. When the presl-
dent finally asked Tor legislation he
drew his inspiration from three Demo
cratic national platforms and he re-.
celved more cordial support from the
Democrats than from the Republicans.
The Republicans in the senate deliber-
ately defeated several amendments Of
ferrcd by Senator La Toilette and sun
ported 10y the Democrats amendments
embodying legislation asked 10y the In.
terstate Commerce Commission. One
OF these amendments authorized the
asccrtainment OF the value OF rail
roads. This amendment was not only
defeated by the senate. but 1t was over
whelmingly rejected by the recent Re
publican national convention. and the
Republican candidate has sought 10 res
cue his party from the disastrous re.
suits OF this act by expressing HIM
self In qualified way. I'm favor OF
ascertainlng the value OF the railroads.
over-issue Of Stocks and Bonds.
Mr. Taft complains OF the over-issue
OF stocks and bonds OF railroads, "for
the unlawful enrlchIng OF directors
and for the purpose OF concentrating
the control OF the railroads under one
management" and the complaint is
well founded, But. with president 10
point out the evil. and Republican
congress 10 correct Il, we find nothing
done for the protection OF the public.
WhyI My honorable opponent has, by
his confession, relieved me OF the ne
cesslty OF furnishing proof: he admits
the condition and he can not avoid the
logical conclusion that must be drawn
from the admission. There is no doubt
whatever that n large ma Jorlty OF the
voters OF the Republican party recog-
nize the deplorable situation which Mr..
Taft describes; they recognize that the
masses have had but little influence
upon legislation or upon the adj
mnlstration OF the government. and
they are beginning 10 understand
the cause. For n generation the Re
publican party has drawn it's cam
| palgn funds from the beneficiarles OF
special legislation. Privileges have
been pledged and granted I'm return for
money contributed TO dcbauch clcc-
tions. What can be expected when of
fetal authority Is turned over TO the
| representatives OF those who FIRST fur
nish the slnews of war and then reim-
burse themselves out of the pockets OF
the taxpayers?
Fasting In Wilderness Necessary.
So long as the Republican party re-
mains I'm power, 1t is powerless to re-
generate Itself. 1t can not attack
wrongdoing In high places without dis
gracing many of its prominent mem
bcrs and IL, therefore uses opiates in
stead OF the surgeons knife. Its male
factors construe each Republican vic
! tory as an endorsement of their CON
duct and threaten the party with de-
feat if they are interfered with Not
until that party passes through pc
rlod of fasting In the wilderness, VIII
the Republican leaders learn TO study
public questions from the standpoint
OF the masses. Just as with indlvid-
uals, "the cares OF this world and the
deceitfulness OF riches choke the truth"
so in politics. when party leaders serve
far away from home and are not I'm
constant contact with tie voters, con-
tinued party success blinds their eyes
to the needs Of the people and makes
them deaf to the cry OF distress.
Publicity as 70 Campaign contribu-
tions.
An effort has been mble TO secure
legislation requiring publicity as TO
campaign contributions and Iexpendl-
lures; but the Republican leaders, even
In the face OF an indignant public, re-
fused TO consent TO n law which would
compel honesty In elections When the
matter was brought up in the recent
Republican national convention, the
plank was repudiated by a vote OF $50
to 94. Here, too. Mr.. Taft has been
driven TO apologize for his convention
and to declare himself I'm favor of a
publicity law; and yet IL you will read
what he says upon this subject, you
VIII find that his promise falls far short
OF the requirements of the situation.
lie says:
IF | am elected president shall
urge upon congress, with every hope Of
success, that law be passed recurring
the filing, In a federal Office OF a state
ment OF the contributions received by
committees and candidates I'm elections
for members Of congress, and In such
other elections as are cOnstitutlonally
within the control Of congress-"
shall not embarrass him by asking
him upon what he bases his hope OF
success; it is certainly not on any en-
enlargement he has received from Re.
publican leaders. 10 Is sufficient 20 say
that II his hopes were reallzed-if. In
spite OF the adverse action Of his con-
vention, ne should succeed I'm securing
the enactmcntof the very law which
he fayors, it would give but partial re-
lief. He has read the Democratic plat
form; not only his language. but his
evident alarm, indicates that he has
read Il carefully. lie even had before
him the action Of the Democratic ma
tional committee in Interpreting and
applying that platform: and yet. ne
fails to say that ne fovors the publlca-
tlon Of the contributions before the
election. or course, It satisfies n nat
ural curiosity 10 find out how an cleo
ton has been purchased. even when
the knowledge comes too late TO bo Of
service. but why should the people be
kept i'm darkness until the election Is
past7 Why should the locking Of the
door be delayed until the horse Is gone?
An Election Public Affair.
An election Is a public affair. The
people, exercising the rght 30 select
their officials and TO decide upon the
policies to be pursued. proceed 10 their
several polling places on election day
and register their will What excuse
can be- given for secrecy as 20 the In
fuences at work. II n man, pccun-
iorily interested In concentrating the
control Of the railroads I'm one manage
mcnt" subscrlbes a large sum to aid I'm
carrying the election, why should his