Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-07-01

to be determined, but the support thus
extended keeps Ia Toilette regular
aud when about four years from now
we observers of politics gather at am |
other Republican convention the little |
giant" of Wisconsin viii be factor TO
be reckoned with.
The Famous Three PIanks.
Before this campaign is over there is |
going TO be much said in debate on the
stump and in the newspapers concern
ing the three plahks of the La Toilette
platform which were offered for spe-
cial vote on the floor of the convention
and each one of which was voted down
by the well disciplined forces of Taft
Reduced to essentials, these were the
planks:
First-Compulsory publication of all
campaign contributions, with the names
of the contributors.
Second.--The official valuation of the
physical properties of Interstate rail-
roads,
Third-The election of United States
senators by direct vote of the people.
The Republican party has gone on
propositions. A convention which
proudly boosted that it was dominated
by President Roosevelt voted down
| these planks, although some months
ago Mr.. Roosevelt urged in a message
| TO congress the publicity Of all cam
paign contributions and the valuation
| of railroad property. 1t is true that as
| the time for election drew near neither
/, of these issues was mentioned in the
volley of presidential messages to con-
| gress, and the influence of the presi-
| dent was not eXerted in the slightest
| degree. to save either measure, which
he had earlier recommended. from the
hostility of his friends at Chicago.
| What it all means is so clear that q
mere statement of conditions leads to
the Inevitable inference. The Repub-
lican party faces In this campaign a
crisis in its existence. 1t is at odds
with the people. 1t goes to the country
/, with a record of extravagant incompe-
tence and impotence in two successive
congresses absolutely controlled by Its
leader. 1t is torn with internal strife.
and its leaders greet each other with
| smiles on their lips and hate in their
hearts. But 1t looks back to the days
of 1896 and remembers that 1t has
| been schooled in the art of winning
| elections by the brute force of money.
SO it dominates ticket intended to
produce money. 1t puts at the head
Taft, one of whose brothers controls
all the public utilities of Cincinnati
and who is in touch with all the
financiers of the Ohio valley. Another
brother is the attorney for the Guggen-
, helm brothers. who created and now
possess the smelter trust and who next
to the Standard Oil company are the
strongest plGtocratic force in the Unit
ed States. Having enthroned Taft, the
convention proceeded to nominate for
vice president James S. Sherman OF
New York, himself n rich man, the as
sociate of Wall street magnates and a
man generally credited with having
raised that $246O0O from insurance
companies and speculative bankers
which Roosevelt asked his 'practicar
friend, Mr.. Hartman, to get for use in
the last two days Of the 1904 cam
paign
Does any one think that party so
topenly bidding for contributions from
high financiers would declare for pub
licity in Its financial methods?
The men from whom the Republican
party will seek to get its funds are
the men who either own railroads or
gamble in their stocks. If the party
asks for an official valuation of the
physical properties on which these
stocks and bonds are. based, what
chance would it have of getting contri-
buttons from this class of financiers
The whole strategy is as clear to the
intelligent mind as polished piece of
rock crystal.
III Future of the La Toilette PIanks.
III am not member of the Denver
convention nor of the national commit
tee, but think that the three planks
thus coldly set aside here at Chicago
will find a place In the Denver plat
form, doubtless with the verbiage
changed, but with the sense still re-
tanned They represent really Demo
cratic doctrine. Mr.. Bryan has long
preached the doctrine of the direct
election of senators by the people and
alone among the presidential possibili
ties of this country on either party side
appeared before the house committee
on the election of president and vice
president and made stirring appeal fol
the campaign publicity bill, which was
killed by Cannon In congress and here
again. have no personal knowledge
of Mr.. Bryan's position on the third
plank, save that his paper, the Com
moner. commended heartily the propo-
sition made in congress for the phys
ical valuation of telegraph lines, and
writing from memory only without the
documents before me- think 1t also
approved the valuation of the railways
The Anti Plank.
II After nominating Taft, one of the
first opponents of government by in
|. junction, nominating him the morning
after thousands of organized Iaborers
lparaded tie streets Of Chicago and helt
a meeting of protest against such ac
!, tion, the Republican convention adopt
= ed, after a bitter fight in the commit
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