West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1908-08-13

the Offenders secure Immunity from
subservlcnt officials whom they raise
To power 10y INSCRIPTIONS methodist
This Is the Issue raised by the known
abuses" 10 which Mr. Taft refers.
Presidents Indictment Aoainst th,
Party.
In a message sent To congress last
January. President Roosevelt said:
The attacks by these great corpora
tions on the administrations actions
have been given wide circulation
throughout the country. I'm the news
papers and otherwise. 10y those writer's
and speakers who, consciously or un-
consciously. act as the repre- -catatives
OF predatory wealth-of the wealth ac-
cumulated on giant scale 10y all forms
OF iniquity, ranging from the opprcs-
sion of wage earners To unfair and un-
wholesome methods of crushing out
competition. and to defraudlng the
public by stock -iobbing and the maulp-
ulatlon OF securities. Certain wealthy
men of this stamp. whose conduct
should be abhorrent TO every man OF
ordinarily decent conscience. and who
commit the hideous wrong of teaching
our young men that phenomenal bust
ness success must ordinarily be based
on dishonesty, nave. during the last
few months made II apparent that
they have banded together TO work for
a reaction. Their cndeavor is to
overthrow ana dlscredit all who hon.
esuy administer the law, TO prevent
amy additional legislation which would
check and restrain them. and 10 secure.
if possible, freedom from all re.
straint which win permit evcry uh-
scrupulous wrong-doer To DO what he
wishes unchecked. provided he has
enough money."-What an arraignment
of the predatory interests
Is the presidents Indictment true?
And. II true. against whom was the
Indictment directed? Not against the
Democratic party.
Mr.. Taft Endorses tho Indictment.
Mr.. Taft says that these evils have
crept I'm during the last ten years. lie
declares that. during this time. some
prominent and influential members
OF the community, spurred by financial
success and I'm their hurry for greater
wealth. became unmindful OF the com
mon rules of business honesty and
fidelity, and OF the limitations Imposed
by law upon their actionsw and that
"the revelations OF the breaches of
trusts, the disclosures as 10 rebates
and determinations 10y railroads. the
accommodating evidence Of the VlOln-
tions Of the antl-trus laws. 10y num-
Der Of corporations. and the over-issuc
OF stocks ana bonds OF interstate rail
roads for the unlawful enrlching Of di-
rectors and for the purpose of conccn-
tratlng the control Of the railroads un-
der one Management. all these. he
charges. "quickened tho conscience Of
the people and brought on moral
awakening"
During all this time. beg TO remind
you, Republican officials presided in the
executive department, flied the cab
met dominated the senate, controlled
the house OF representatives and occu-
pied most OF the federal iudgcships.
Foursyears ago the Republican plat
form boastfully declared that since
lSGO-with the exception of two years
the Republican party had been In con.
troll Of part or OF all the branches OF
the federal government: that for two
years only was the Democratic party I'm
a position to either enact or repeal II
law. Having drawn the salaries: hav-
Ing enjoyed the honors; having secured
the prestige, let the Republican party
accept the responsibility!
Republican Party Responsible.
Why were these known abuses"
permitted to develop? Why have they
not been corrected? II existing laws
are sufficient. why have they not been
enforced? All of the executive ma
chinery of the federal government is
in the hands Of the Republican party.
Are new laws necessary? why have
they not been enacted? with n Re.
publican president TO recommend. with
Republican senate and house TO carry
out his recommendations. why does the
Republican candidate plead for further
time In which 20 do what should have
been done long ago? Can Mr.. Taft
promise to he more strenuous I'm the
prosecution Of wrong-doers than the
present exccutiveI Can he ask for a
larger majority In the senate than his
party now has? Does he need more
Af'HNNAhNfaAAn IA Alit ilblnf VI represent
atives or n speaker with more unlim-
ved authority.
Why No Tariff Reform?
The presidents close friends have
been promising for several years that
he would attack the iniquitles Of the
tariff. We have had intimation that
Mr.. Taft was restive under the de
mands OF the highly protected I'm
dustries. And yet the influence of the
manufacturers. who have for twenty
five years contributed to the Republican
campaign fund, and who I'm return
have framed the tariff schedules. has
been sufficient TO prevent tariff reform.
As the present campaign approached.
both the president and Mr.. Taft de.
clared In favor Of tariff revision. but
set the date OF revision after the cleo
tion. But the pressure brought to bear
by the protected interests has been
great enough 90 prevent any attempt az
tariff reform before the election. and
the reduction promised after the eiec.
tion - so hedged about with qualify.
Ing phrases. that no one can estimate
with accuracy the sum total Of tariff
reform TO be expected I'm case Of Re
publican success If the past can be
taken as a guide. the Republican party
Will be 80 Obligated by campaign corr
tributions from The benefciarlcs Of pro-
lection, as to make that party power
less 70 bring to the country any ma
tcrial relief from the present tariff
burdens
Why No Anti.trust Lcoislaton1
A few years ago The Republican lcl}.
ers in the house Of Representatives
were cocrccd by public opiHon into
the support Of nn antitrust law which
had the endorsement Of tho president.