Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-08-12

subservient officials whom they raise to power by unscrupulous methods? This is the issue raised by the known abuses" to which Mir. Taft refers. Indictment Against the o. Party.
 In a message sent to congress last January, President Roosevelt said "The attacks by these great corpora tions on the administration's actions have been given a wide circulation throughout the country, iE the news papers and otherwise, by those writers and speakers who, consciously or un act as the representatives of predatory wealth-of the wealth ac' on giant scale by all forms of iniquity, ranging from the oppres' sion of wage earners to unfair and un' wholesome methods of crushing out competition. and to defrauding the public by stock-jobbing and the manip ulation of securities. Certain wealthy men of this stamp, whose conduct should be abhorrent to every man of ordinarily decent conscience, and who commit the hideous wrong of teaching our young men that phenomenal bust ness success must ordinarily be based on dishonesty. have. during the last few months. made it apparent that they have banded together to work fol a reaction. Their endeavor is tc overthrow and discredit all who hon. estly administer the law. to prevent any additional legislation which would check and restrain them, and to secure if possible. a freedom from all re. straint which will permit every un- scrupulous wrong-doer to do what he wishes unchecked. provided he has enough money."-What an arraignment of the predatory interests.
 Is the presidents indictment truei And, if true, against whom was the indictment directed? Not against the Democratic party.
 Mr. Taft Endorses the Indictment.
 Mir. Taft says that these evils have crept in during the last ten years. He declares that. during this time. some prominent and influential members of the community, spurred by financial success and in 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 actions"' and that "the revelations of the breaches of trusts. the disclosures as to rebates and discriminations by railroads, the accommodating evidence of the viola. tions of the antitrust laws. by a nun Der of corporations. and the over-issue of stocks and bonds of interstate rail roads for the unlawful enriching of di rectors and for the purpose of concen' trating the control of the railroads un der one management. all these, he charges, "quickened the conscience of the people and brought on a moral awakening"
 During all this time, beg to remind you. Republican officials presided in the executive department, filled 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 1S60-with the exception of two years the Republican party had been in con trol of part or of all the brGSches of the federal government: that for two years only was the Democratic party in a position to either enact or repeal a 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 corrected? If existing laws are sufficient. why have they not been enforced? All of the executive ma chinery of the federal government Is in the hands of the Republican party. Are new laws necessary? Why have they not been enacted? With a Re publican president to recommend. with a Republican senate and house to carry out his recommendations. why does the Republican candidate plead for further time in which to do what should have been done long ago? Can Mir. Taft promise to be more strenuous in the prosecution of wrong-doers than the present executive? Can he ask for a larger majority fin the senate than his party now has? Does he need more Republicans in the house of represent. stives or a speaker with more unlim- tied authority.
 Why No Tariff Reform7
 The presidents close friends have been promising for several years that be would attack the iniquities of the tariff. We have had intimatiOn that Mir. Taft was restive under the de mands of the highly protected in dustries. And yet the influence of the manufacturers. who have for twenty five years contributed to the Republican campaign fund. and who fin return have framed the tariff schedules. has been sufficient 10 prevent tariff reform As the present campaign approached
 both the president and Mir. Taft de
 clared in favor of tariff revision. but set the date of revision after the cleo
 ton. But the pressure brought to bear
 by the protected interests has been
 great enough to prevent any attempt al
 iariR reform before the election: and
 The reduction promised after the cleo tion ia so hedred aIsout with qualify