The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1908-08-15

tributions from the benehcisr,ss
lection. as to make that partv Do. ps0-
less to bring to the country an pOes'
terial relief from the present . IA:
burdens. u-nS
Why Ne Antitrust LsoisI,ti,.,
A few years ago the RepubIic,D -,
ers In the house Of represent,t,1u
were eoerced by public opInion we
the support Of an antitrust law - 1Io
had the endorsement Of the prps,d.Nl
but the senate refused even 10
slider the measure, and since that t, ~,
no EFFORT has been made by the 5o--'
nant party TO secure remedial Iaoysll
ton upon this subject
Why No Railroad Legislation, :
For ten years the Interstate g.
merce Commission has been astiDc Sl
an enlargement Of its powers. thar !.
might prevent rebates and discrIrD,,.
tons, but a Republican senate on5
Republican house Of represeptat,,o-
were unmoved by its entreatlas y
1900 the Republican national convaa
don was urged to endorse the dem,Ds
for railway legislation, but its platfo--.
was silent on the subject Even =
1904 the convention gave no pledoa =
remedy these abuses. When the nrasi
dent finally asked for legislation =.
drew bis inspiration from three Demo.
cratic national platforms and be -
ceived more cordial support from tba
Democrats than from the Republican,
The Republicans In the senate deI,bs-
ately defeated several amendments oi.
ferred by Senator La Toilette and SIM
ported by the Observation-Disclosures
embodying legislation asked By the In
terstate Commerce Commission On0
OF these amendments authorized tba
ascertainment Of the value Of nail
roads. This amendment was not oDIv
defeated by the senate, but 1t was over.
whelmingly rejected by the recent Ra
publican national convention. and III.
Republican candidate has sought tors
cue his party from the disastrous n
suits Of this act by expressing hin.
self, In a qualified way, in favor Of
ascertaining the value OF the railroad,
oVsr-issus Of Stocks and Bonds.
Mr.. Taft complains Of the over-Issue
OF stocks and bonds Of railroads, for
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 president to
point out the evil, and a Republican
congress to correct II, we find nothing
done for the protection OF the public.
Why? Ny honorable opponent has By
bis 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-
nile the deplorable situation which Mr..
Taft describes; they recognize that the
masses have had but little influence
upon legislation or upon the ad-
minisration OF the government, and
they are beginning to understand
the cause. For a generation the Re
publican party has drawn its cam
palgn funds from the benefciaries Of
special legislation. Privileges have
been pledged and granted In return for
money contributed to debauch elec.
lions. What can be expected when Of
fetal authority Is turned over to the
OF those who first fur
nish the sinews Of war and then REIN
Durse themselves out Of the pockets Of
The taxpayers7
Fasting In Wlldsrnsss Necessary.
So long as the Republican party ~
mains IN power, 1t Is pOwerless to n
generate itself. It can not attack
wrong doing In high places withoutdis
tracing many Of its prominent mem
Oers, and It. therefore, uses cplates n
Ttead OF the surgeons knife. Its NAE
actors construe each Republican VI
DRY as an endorsement Of their CO..
luct and threaten the party with d
eat II they are interfered with. NJ
lnt1 that party passes through IPe
1od OF fasting In the wilderness W
he Republican leaders learn to STUDY
'ublic questions from the standpoint
4 the masses. Just as with individ-
lals, @the cares OF this world and the
leceitfulness OF riches choke the truth
o In politics. when party leaders serve
ar away from home and are not u
onstant contact with the voters, con-
lnued party success blinds their eyes
o the needs Of the people and makes
hem deaf to the cry Of distress
publicity Rs to Campaign centribu'
tions.
An effort has been made to secure
egislation requiring publicity as %
ampaign contributions and expendi
1res; but the Republican leaders, even
q the face Of an Indignant public II
used to consent to a law which wouA
ompel honesty In elections. WheH me
natter was brought up In the recenI
republican national convention, tos
lank was repudiated by a vote OF ~
D o. Here, too, Mr.. Taft has been
riven to apologize for bis convention
nd to declare himself In favor OF
-. = I'LL Rad