The Prescott daily news., 1908-08-12

cratic national platforms and he re- ceived more cordial support from the Democrats than from the Republicans. The Republicans In the senate deliber- ately defeated several amendments of ferred by Senator La Toilette and SUD- ported by the Democrats-amend embodying legislation asked by the h. terstate Commerce Commission. One of these amendments authorized the ascertainment of the value of rail- roads. This amendment was not only defeated by the senate, but it was over whelmingly rejected by the recent Re publican national convention, and the Republican candidate has sought to res cue his party from the disastrous re- suits of this act by expressing him. self, in q qualified way, in favor of ascertaining the value of the railroads
 Over-issue of Stocks and Bonds.
 Mir Taft complains of the over-issue of stocks and bonds of railroads, flor the unlawful enriching of directors and for the purpose of concentrating
 
 management" and the complaint is well founded. But, with president to point out the evil, and a Republican congress to correct it, we find nothing done for the protection of the public. Why? My honorable opponent has, by his confession, relieved me of the ne- cessity 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 a large majority of the voters of the Republican party recog- nize the deplorabe situation which Mr. Taft describes: they recognize that the masses have had but little influence upon Legislation or upon the ad- mnistration of the government and they are beginning to understand the cause. For a generation the Re publican party has drawn its cam- paign funds from the beneficiaries of special Legislation. Privileges have been pledged and granted in return for money contributed to debauch elec- tions. Wlat can be expected when of fcial authority is turned over to the representatives of those who first fur nlsh the sinews of war and then reim- purse themselves out of the pockets of the taxpayers?
 Fasting In Wilderness Necessary.
 So long as the Republican party re- mains in power, it Is poweress to re- generate Itself. It can not attack wrong doing in high places without dis gracing many of its prominent mem- bers, and 1t, 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 nterfered with. Not until that party passes through a pe- riod of fasting In the wilderness, will the Republican leaders learn to study public questions from the standpoint of the masses. Just as with indivld- 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 in constant contact with the 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 to Campaign Contribu-
 tions.
 An effort has been made to secure legislation requiring publicity as to campaign contributions and expendi- lures; but the Republican leaders, even In the face of an indignant public re- fused to consent to law which would compel honesty in elections. When the matter was brought up in the recent Republican national convention the plank was repudiated by vote of SSO to 94. Here, too, Mir. Taft has been driven to apologize for his convention and to declare himself in favor of publicity law; and yet, if you will read what he says upon this subject, you will find that his promise falls far short of the requirements of the situation. He says:
 If 1 am elected president, shall urge upon congress, with every hope of success, that law be passed requiring the filing, in federal office, of state ment of the contributions received by committees and candidates in elections for members of congress, and in such other elections as are constitutionally within the control of congress-"
 I shall not embarrass him by asking him upon what he bases his hope of success; it Is certainly not on any en- couragement he has received from Re publican leaders. It is sufficient to say that if his hopes were realized-if, In