The Forrest City times., 1908-08-14

taken as a guide the Republican party will be SO obligated by campaign con tributions from the benefciRries or pro- lection. as to make that party powerless to bring to the country any material re- lief from the present tsrif burdens.
 Why No Railroad Lesislstionf
 For ten years the Interstate Commerce Commission has been asking for an en- largement of Its powers. that it might prevent rebates and diseriminstions. but . Republican senate and Republican house of representatives were unmeyed by its entresties In lse the Republican national convention was urged To ind.rse the demand for railway legislation, but its platform was silent On the subject. Even in lst4. the convention gave no pledge 10 remedy these abuses When the president finally asked for legislation, he drew his inspiration from three Demo cratic national platforms and he received more cordial support from the Democrats than from the Republicans The Republi- cans In the senate deliberately defeated several amendments offered bX Sena tor LaFoliette and supported hy the Demo- rats-smendmeuts embody.ng legislation asked by the Interstate Commerce Com mission one Of these amendments au- thoriZed the ascertainment Of the val ue Of railroads. This amendment Was not only defeated by the senate. but il was overwhelmingly rejected by the recent Republican national convention and the Republican candidate has sought to res ese h.s party from the disastrous results Of this act by expressing himself. in a qualified way, in favor of aseeftaih.ng the value of the railroads.
 Mfr Taft complains CT the esef-issHe Of stocks and bonds Of railroads. for the unlawful enriching of directors and for the purpose Of concentrating tie
 .f.-- agement." and the complaint is well founded But, with president to point out the evil, and Republican congress to correct it. we find nothing done for the protection of the public. Why My honorable opponent has. by his eoufes sion. relieved me of the necessity CT fur nishing proof. he admits the condition and he can not avoid the logical conclusion that must be drawn from the admission.
 Publicity as to Campaign contribu-
 tions.
 An effort has been made to secure legi.- latien requiring publicity as te campaign contributions and expenditures. but the Republican leaders. even in the face of an indignant public, refused 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 rerudiated hy q vote of 6S0 to g4 Here. too. Mir Taft has been driven to apolos ze for his con vention and to declare himself in favor of q publicity law, and yet. f You VII read what he says upon this subject you will find that his promise falls lar short of the requirements of the situation. lie says
 '1t am elected president. shall irse upon congress, with every hope ef sue cess, that law be passed requiring the ffTF F,s al .a,44 of the contributions received hg con- mittees and candidates ia elections for members Of congress, and n sseh other elections as are coustltutoHal1y within the control of congress
 How can the people hope te rule. fl they are not able 10 learn until after the eiee- ton what the predatory interests are do- ing? The Democratic party meets the issue honestly and eouvageously ' says:
 We pledge the Democratic party 10 the enactment of law prohibiting any corporation from contributing ta q cam paign fund. and any individual from con tribuung an amount above q reasonable maximum, and providing fer the putii- cation. before election. of all such con tribauons above q reasonable minimum. ,"
 The Democratic national committee im- med1ately proceeded to interpret and ap- ply this plank. announcing that no con- tFibutions would be received from cor poratons, that no individual would he al- lowed to contribute more than Sf6.659 and that all contributions above sle1 would be made public before the eleetion-those received before October l5 to be made public on or before that day. those re- ceyed afterward to be made public on the day when received. and nc such con- tributions to be accepted within three days of the election. The expenditures are 10 be published after the election. Here is plan which is complete and effective.