Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1908-08-13

tributions from the beneiciaries of pro-
lection, as to make that party power
less to bring to the country any ma
terial relief from the present tariff
burdens.
Why Nc Antitrust legislation
A few years ago the Republican lead
srs in the house of representatives
were coerced by public opinion into
I the support Of an antitrust law which
had the endorsement of the president,
but the senate refused even to con-
slider the measure, and since that time
no effort has been made by the domi-
nant party to secure remedial legIsla-
ton upon this subject.
Why No Railroad Legislation?
For ten years the Interstate Com
merce Commission has been asking for
an enlargement of Its powers, that it
might prevent rebates and discrimina-
tions, but a Republican senate and
Republican house of representatives
were unmoved by its entreaties. In
1900 the Republican national conven-
ton was urged to endorse the demand
| for railway legislation, but its platform
was silent on the subject. Even In
remedy these abuses. When the presi-
dent finally asked for legislation he
drew his inspiration from three Demo
cratic national platforms and he re-
| ceiyed 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 sup
| ported by the Observation-Disclosures
| embodying legislation asked by the In
| 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 1t 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 a qualified way, in favor of
ascertaining the value of the railroads
Over-issue of Stocks and Bonds.
Mr.. Taft complains of the over-issue
Of stocks and bonds of railroads, go.
| the unlawful enriching Of directors
and for the purpose of concentrating
the. control of the railroads under one
management" and the complaint is
well founded. But, with a president to
point out the evil, and a Republican
congress to correct 1t, we find nothing
done for the protection of the public
Whys My honorable opponent mas, 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 deplorable situation which Mr..
| Taft describes; they recognize that the
masses have had but little influence
upon legislation or upon the adj
ministration 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 cleo
tons. What can be expected when Of
fetal authority Is turned over to the
representatives of those who first fur
nish the sinews 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 in power, 1t Is powerless to re-
generate itself. 1t can not attack
wrong doing In high places without dis
gracing many Of It's prominent mem
bers, and 1t, therefore, uses oplates In
stead of the surgeons knife. It's 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
| riod of fasting In the wilderness, will
| the Republican leaders learn to study
| public questions from the standpoint
| of the masses Just as with individ-
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
1 matter was brought uD In the recent