Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1908-08-21

ny publt tIllloll lHlo lnt support vi an
antitrust law which had the Endorsement
of the president. but the senate refused
even to consider the measure, and since
dominant party to secure remedial leglsla-
ton upon this subject.
For ten years the interstate
commission has been asking for an en-
largement of its powers, that 1T might pre-
ven, rebates and Determinations but a re.
publican senate and a republican house of
representative were unmoved by it's en-.
treaties; In 1900 the republican national
mand for railway legislation. but its plat
form was silent on the subject; Even in
a lsE4 the hes eony ysn sa W1s n" 9 PIED nr to DEM,
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
Republicans, The republicans, in the senate
ds 1arsd tie nrf%atf ed S Toi e =amsn aanndrts
ed by the Observation-Disclosures emhody-
ing legislation asked by the inter state com
ments authorized the ascertainment of the
value of railroads. This amendment was
not only defeated by the senate: but 1T was
publican national convention, and the re-
publican candidate has sought to rescue
his party from the disastrous results of
this act by expressing himself, in IL quail.
fed way, In favor OF ascerta!ning the value
of the railroads.
Mr.. Taft complains of tho overissue of
stocks and bonds of railroads. for the IN
lawful enrichment of directors and for the
IuI IoSe . 4 concentrating III 'bI1i y thN
railroads under one Infringement and the
complaint is we'll founded. But, with n
president prh;idsn to point out They the evil; AND We " e nd
! He'"'" WIZ %S"S Ny ' h%pSo t"i%s''S opponent g n Has HAS
sity Of furnishing proof: he admI's the con-
dition and he cannot avoid tn" logical con
clusion that must be drawn from the admls-
sion. There is no doubt whatever that n
large majority OF the voters of the republic
an party recognize the d"plornble situa-
nize that the masses have had but little
influence upon legislation or upon the ad-
are beginning to understand the cause. For
a generation the republican party has
drawn its campaign funds from the hene.
iiciaries Of special legislation. IrlTileges
have been pledged and granted in return
for money contributed to dcbhuch elections.
What can be expected when official an-
tlves of those who first furnish the sinewS
Of war and then reimburse themselves out
SO ionssas the republican party remains
in power It is powerless to regeneratG It
places without dissracing MANY Of It's
prominent members: and it. therefore. uses
opiates instead of the surgeons knife. It's
tory as an Endorsement of their conduct
and n t atsT q the w,f party Nov W't hn fGtf that n p fnfy
Wilderness viii the republican leaders learn
to study public questions from the stand
point OIL III HliSStS. u a. ~ 'H.ii
viduals. 1.-The cares Of this world and the
deceitfulness of riches choke the truth,
50 in politics. when party leaders serve far
contact with the voters. continued party
success blinds their eyes to the needs of
Of distress.
An effort has been made to secure legis.
lation requiring publicity as t" campaiGn
contributions and expenditures: but the
republican leaders. even in the face of an
Indignant public, refused to consent to a
tons. When the matter was brought up. in
the recent republican national convention
the q PLANK Her wa5 to rep Mr.. Taft by has q b T"'e d Or SSr'
to apologize for his convention and to de
clare himself in favor Of 4 publicity law;
and vet, if you will read what he says up
on this subject. YOU will find that his prom
Use falls far short of the requirements of
the situation. He SAYS:
az am elected president I shall urge
upon congress. with every hope of success.
that a law be passed requiring the filing. in
Il federal office, of a statement of the con
tributions received by committees and can
didates In elections for members OF con
constituttonally within the control of con
gress."
on what he bases his hope Of success; it is
received from republican leaders. It is suf-
izei-if, IN spite Of the adverse action Of
his convention. he should succeed in Sc
e synids I'll the fo enaetm # Won Gf a tive h XSFy par 1IW
relief. He has read the democratic plat
form; not only, his Language. hut his evi.
carefully. He even had before him the
action q the democratic national commit
tee in int ,nter Pre- I'M AN, and af az 1ST fb thaf h. plat at
vors the publication Of the contributions
before the election. OF course. it satisfies
a natural curiosity to find out how an
election has been purchased. even when
the knowledge comes too late to he of serr
ice. but why should the people be kept il
do rGOaSS until the election is D0StI WIN
should the locking of the door be delayed
until the horse is gone?
pie. exercising, the right to select their Of
iicials and to decide upon the policies to b,
p pIac s on p] election ID day Snt and S register p9 their
will. What excuse can Je given for Sc
crecy as to the influences at work: n 4
ing tie control of the railroads in one
management" subscrihes a large sum t.
aid In CARRYING the election, why should
til he has put the officials under obligation
to him? If a trust m4gnate contrihHteS
ton, why should that fact be concealed un-
til his friends are securely seated in their
This IS not a new question: it is a ques-
ton which has been agi5atedna question
stand-a question which the republican
candidate has studied. and yet he refuses
ton absolutely necessary, namely, legisla
ton requiring publication before election.
How can the people hope to rule If they
are not able to learn until after the election
what the predatory interests are doing
estly and courageouSly. 1t says:
we pledge the democratic party to the
enactment Of a lnw prohibiting any cor
poration from contributing to a campaign
fund, and any individual from contributing
an amount above n reasonable maximum.
and providing for the publication. before
election, of all such contributions above
n reasonable minimum
The democratic national committee i'm
mediately proceeded to interpret and apply
this plank, announcing. that no contrihu
that no individual would ne allowed. to con-
tribute more than $4,000. and that all cen
tt, buttons above 500 would be made public
before the election-thoSe received before
,daV those received afterward to be made
public on the day when received, and no
such contributions to be accepted within
lnree days of the election. The expendi-
ton. Here is a plan which is complete and
effective.
Next to the corrupt use of money the
present method of electing United States
struction of reforms. For 100 years after
, e adoption of the constitution the de
mand for the popular election of senators,
while finding Increased expression. did non
tional amendment had traIh time to time
been suggested and the matter had been
more or less discussed in a few of the
states, but the Inoyement had not reached
congressional action. In the Fifty-sccOud
congress-, however, Il resolution was report
ed from a house committee proposing the
necessary constitutional amendment, and
seBtatives by d vote which was practically
unanimous. IN the tifty-third congress a sim