Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-12
SPEECH NOTIFYING HIM OF HIS
NOMINATION DEMOCRATIC PARTY
Declares That the Republican Party Is Responsible
for All the Abuses Which Now Exist in the
Federal Government, and is Impotent to
Accomplish the Reforms Which
Are Imperative1y Needed

wrong of teaching young men that
phenomenal business success must ordi-
narAy be based on dishonesty. have. dur
ing the last few months. made it ap-
parent that they have banded together
to work for a reaction. Their endeavOr
is to overthrow and discredit all who
honestly administer the law. to prevent
any additional Legislation which would
check and restrain them. and to secure.
If possible. freedom from all restraint
which will permit every INSCRIPTIONS
wrOngdoer to do what he wishes I'M
checked. provided he has enough money
What an arraignment of the predatory
interests!
Is the Presidents indictment true? And.
if true against whom was the indictment
directed? Not against the democratic
party.
MR.. TAFT ENDORSES THE IN
DICTMENT.
Mr. Taft says that these evils have
crept in during the last ten years. He de-
clares that during this time some prom
inent and influential members of the COM
munity. spurred by financial success and
in their hurry for greater wealth, became
unmindful of the common rules of bust
ness honesty and fidelity. and Of the linn
itations imposed by law upon their
tions; and that 1.-The revelations of the
breaches Of trusts. the disclosures as to
rebates and determinations by railroads.
the accommodating evidence of the VIOLA
tions of the antitrust laws by a number
of corporations. and the overissue of
stocks and bonds of interstate railroads
for the unlawful enriching Of directors
and for the purpose of concentrating the
control of the railroads under one man
agement all these. he charges. quick
ened the conscience of the people and
brought on a moral awakening
During all this time. I beg to remind
you. republican officials presided in the
executive department.. filled the cabinet.
dominated the Senate. controlled the
House Of Representatives and occupied
most of the federal judgeshiDs. Four
years ago the republican platform boast
fully declared that since 1s6O-with the
exception of two years-the republican
party had been in control Of part or of all
the branches of the federal government;
that for two years only was the demo-
or repeal law. Having drawn the sal
aries. having enjoyed the honors. having
secured the prestige, let the republican
party accept the responsibility.
REPUBLICAN PARTY RESPON-
SIBLE.
Why were these known abuses per-
mitted to develop? Why have they not
been corrected? If existing laws are suf-
fcient. why have they not been enforced?
All of the executive machinery Of the fed
eral government is in the hands of the re-
publican party. Are new laws necessary?
Why have they not been enacted?' With
republican President to recommend. with
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 Mr.. Taft prom
ise to be more strenuous in the prosecu-
ton OF wrong-doers than the present ex
ecutive? Can he ask for larger major
ity In the Senate than his party now has?
Does he need more republicans in the
House of Representatives or a Speaker
with more unlimited authority?
WHY NO TARIFF REFORM
The Presidents close friends have been
promising for several years that he
would attack the iniquities of the tariff.
We have had intimation that Mr.. Taft
was FESTIVE under the demands of the
highly protected industries. And yet the
influence of the manufacturers. who have
for twenty-five years contributed to the
republican campaign fund and who in
return have framed the tariff schedules.
has been sufficient to prevent tariff re-
form. AS the present campaign APP
preached. both the President and Mr.
Taft declared in favor of tariff revision.
but set the date of revision after the
bear by the protected interests has been
great enough to prevent any attempt at
tariff reform before the election; and
the reduction promised after the election
is so hedged about with qualifying
phrases that no one can estimate with
accuracy the sum total OF tariff reform
to be expected in case of republican sue
cess. If the past can be taken as
guide. the republican party will be so
obligated by campaign contributions from
the beneficaries of protection as to make
that party powerless to bring to the
country any material relief from the
present tariff burdens.
WHY NO ANTITRUST LEGISLA-
TIONP
A few years ago the republican leaders
In the House of Representatives were
coerced by public opinion into the sup
port Of an antitrust law which had the
Endorsement of the President, but the
Senate refused even to consider the meas
ure, and since that time no effort has
been made by the dominant party to Sc
cure remedial legislation upon this SUBJ
ject.
WHY NO RAILROAD LEGIsLA-
TIONP
For ten years the interstate commerce
commission has been asking for an en-
largement of its powers. that it might
prevent rebates and determinations, but
Lit