Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-08-06


cinnati, the city Of his nativity. formal
ly accepted the Republican nomination
for the Presidency. He pledged ale
glance TO the policies of President
Roosevelt and asserted that the chief
function of the next Republican ad-
ninistration would be to develop the
Roosevelt policies and clinch what had
been begun by the present chief eXecu-
tive of the uation.
In doing this, however. Mr. Taft
pointed out that there will be serious
and difficult work to do, principally to
devise ways and means by which the
high level of business integrity and
obedience to law which he president
Rooseyelt) has established may be main
tanned and departures from it re-
strained without undue interference
with legitimate business" In part Mr..
Taft said:
Senator Warner and Gentlemen of the
Committee:
am deeply sensible of the honor which
the Republican national convention has
conferred on me in the nomination which
you formally tender. | accept it with full
appreciation of the responsibility it i'm
poses.
Gentlemen. the strength of the Repub-
lican cause in the campaign at hand is
in the fact that we represent the policies
essential to the reform of known abuses,
to the continuance of liberty and true
prosperity, and that we are determined
,,1o m
maintain them and carry them on.
The man who formulated the express
sion of the popular conscience and who
led the movement for practical reform
was Theodore Roosevelt. He laid down
the doctrine that the rich violator of the
law should be as amenable to restraint
and punishment as the offender without
wealth and without influence, and he pro-
ceeded by recommending legislation and
directing executive action to make that
principle good in actual performance.
Lands Rooseveit's Acts.
President Roosevelt demonstrated TO the
people by what he said, by what he rec
commended to Congress, and by what he
did, the sincerity of his efforts to COM
mand respect for the law, to secure equal
ity of all before the law and to save the
country from the dangers of plutocratic
government, toward which we were fast
tending.
Under the present rate bill. and under
all its amendments, the burden of the
| Interstate Commerce Commission in
supervising and regulating the operation
of the railroads of this country has grown
so heavy that it is utterly impossible for
that tribunal to hear and dispose, in any
reasonable time, of the many complaints,
queries and issues that are brought be-
fore it for decision. 1t ought to be re-
| lieved of its jurisdiction as an executive,
directing body and its functions should
be limited to the quasi judicial investiga-
| ton of complaints by individuals and by
a department of the government charged
with the executive business of supervising
| the operation of railways.
Takes Up Rate Question.
The question of rates and the treat
| ment of railways is one that has two
| sides. The shippers are certainly en-
| titled to reasonable rates but loss is an
injustice to the carriers. Good business
| for the railroads is essential to general
| prosperity. Injustice to them is not alone
| injustice to stockholders and capitalists,
whose further investments may be neces-
| sary for the good of the whole country,
| but it directly affects and reduces the
wages of railway employees, and indeed
| may deprive them of their places entirely.
From what has been said, the proper
| conclusion would seem to be that in at
| tempting to determine whether the entire
schedule of rates of a railway is excess
| i've, the physical valuation of the road is
a relevant and important but not neces-
sarily controlling factor.
Another suggestion in respect to sub
ordinate and ancillary machinery neces-
sary to carry out Republican policies is
| that of the incorporation under national
laws or the licensing by national license
or enforced registry of companies engag-
| ed in interstate trade.
The fact is that nearly all corporations
doing a commercial business are engaged
! in interstate commerce, and if they all
were required to take out federal Ii
cense or a federal charter, the burden
upon the interstate business of the coun-
| try would become intolerable.
Discusses Hepburn Bill.
Mr.. Roosevelt recommended an amend
| ment to the antitrust law, known as
| the Hepburn bill, which provided for
| voluntary classification, and created a
strong motive therefor by granting i'm
munity from prosecution for reason. BILE
| restraints of interstate trade to all cor
| porations which would register and sub
| nit themselves to the publicity regula-
tons of the Department of Commerce and
| Labor.
The tendency of Mr.. Bryan's pro-
| posals have generally been destructive of
the business with respect to which he is
demanding reform. Mr. Roosevelt would
compel the trusts to conduct their bust
ness in a lawful manner and secure the
benefits of their operation and the main
tenance of the prosperity of the country
of which they are an important part;
REPUBLICAN LEADERS WHO