The morning journal-courier., 1908-08-13

form was silent on the subject Even
in 1904 the convention gave no pledge
to remedy these abuses, When the
president finally asked for legislation
he drew his inspiration from three
democratic national platforms and he
received more cordial support from
the democrats than from the republi.
cans, The republicans in the senate
deliberately defeated several amend
ments offered by Senator LaFollette
and supported by the democrats
amendments embodying legislation
asked by the interstate commerce
commission one of these amend
ments authorized the ascertainment Of
the value of railroads. This amend
ment was not only defeated by the
senate, but II was overwhelmingly re-
jected by the recent republican ma
tional convention, and the republican
candidate has sought to rescue his
party from the disastrous results Of
this act by expressing himself, 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-issuc
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 man
agement,' and the complaint is well
founded. But, with president to point
out the evil, and a republican congress
to correct It, we find nothing done for
| the protection of the public Why? My
honorable opponent has. by his confess
sion, relieved me OF the necessity of
furnishing proof; he admits the condl-
ton and he can not avoid the logical
| conclusion that must be drawn from
| the admission There Is no doubt what
ever that a large majority of the vot-
ers Of the republican party recognize
the deplorable situation which Mr.
Taft describes; they recognize that the
masses have had but little influence
upon legislation or upon the admins
! traton Of the government, and they
are beginning to understand the cause
For generation, the republican party
has drawn its campaign funds from
the beneficiaries of special legislation
Privileges have been pledged and
granted In return for money contrib
uted to debauch elections What can be
expected when official authority Is
turned over TO the representatives OF
those who first furnish the sinews OF
war and then reimburse themselves out
of the pockets of the taxpayers?
Fasting In Wilderness Necessary.
So long as the republican party re-
mains In power. It is powerless to re.
generate itself. 1t cannot attack wrong.
doing in high places without disgraclng
many of its prominent members, and
1t, therefore, uses oplates instead OF
the surgeons knife. Its malefactors
construe each republican victory as ar
endorsement Of their conduct ant
threaten the party with defeat If they
are lnterfered with Not until that par,
ty passes through period of fasting
In the wilderness, will the republican
leaders learn to study public questions
from the standpoint of the masses. Jus
as with individuals, the cares Of thl!
world and the deceitfulness of richie!
choke the truth so in politics. wher
party leaders serve far away from
home and are not in constant contac
with the voters, continued party sue
cess blinds their eyes TO the needs O
the people and makes them deaf L
the cry of'distress
Publicity as 10 Campaign Contribu
lions.
An effort has been made to secur'
legislation requiring publicity as t
campaign contributions and expendi
lures. but the republican leaders, ever
in the face of an indignant public, re
fused to consent to a law which woul,
compel honesty In elections. When tn
matter was brought up in the recen
republican national convention, IN
plank was repudated by vote Of IS
to a. Here, too Mr. Taft has beef
driven to apologize for mis- convention
and to declare himself in favor Of
publicity law; and yet, II you will rea
what he says upon this subject, yo
will find that his promise falls far shor
OF the requirements of the situation
, He says
, IF | am elected president. | sha
urge upon congress, with every hop
, Of success, that a law be passed re