, 1908-08-12

roads. This amendment was not only
defeated by the senate, but 1t was
overwhelmingly rejected by the recent
republican national convention and the
republican candidate has sought to.
rescue his party from the disastrous
results OF this act by expressing HIM
self. In a qualified way, In favor OF as
certaining the value Of the railroads.
Over-lssue Of Stocks and eonds
Mr.. Taft complains Of the o~ver-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
we'll founded. But, with a president to
point out the evil, and a republican
congress to correct 1t, we find nothing
done Tor the protection Of the public.
Why! NY honorable opponent has, by
his confession. relieved me OF the
necessity of furnishing proof; he ad-
mits the condition and he al not avoid
the logical conclusion that must be
drawn from the admission. There Is
no doubt whatever that a large major
ity Of the voters Of the republican
party recognize the d%eplorable situa
ton which Mr.. Taft describes; they c
ognize that the masses have had but
little influence upon legislation or upon
the administration OF the government,
and they are beginning to understand
the For a generation, the ro-
publican party has drawn Its campaign
funds from the beneficiaries Of special
legislation. Privileges have been
pledged and granted in return for
money contributed to debauch cleo
lions. What can be expected when Of
lcial authority is turned over to the
| representatives of those who first fur
nish the sinews of war and then re-
imburse themselves out of the pockets
of the taxpavers2
Fasting In Wilderness Necessary.
So long as the republican party T e
mains in power, it is powerless to re-
generate itself. 1t car not attack
wrong-doing In high places without dis
gracing many of its prominent mem.
bers. and &, therefore, uses opiates In.
] stead of the surgeons knife. Its male.
factors construe each republican vic
tory as an endorsement of their con.
duct and threaten the party with de.
feat If they are interfered with. Not
until that party passes through a per.
iod of fasting in the wilderness, will
the republican leaders learn to study
| public questions from the standpoint
of the masses. Just as with indivi'
duals, '.'the cares of this world and the
deceitfulness of riches choke the
truth so in politics, when party lead.
ers serve far away from home and are
not in constant contact with the voters
continued party success blinds their
eyes to the needs of the people and
makessthemfdeaf to the cry of distress,
Publieltysss,to Campaign Donations.
An effort has been made to secure
legislation, requiring publicity as to
campaign contributions and expendi.
lures; but the republican leaders, even
mi the face OF an indignant public, re.
fused to consent to a law which would
compel honesty in elections. When
the matter was brought up in the re
cent republican national convention
the plank was %repudiated by a vote Of
$50 to a., Here MI. Taft has been
driven to apologize for his convention
and to declare himself in favor of q
publicity law; and yet, II you Will read
what he sayss upon this subject, you
will ind that his promise falls TAI
short of the requirements of the situa
ton. He says:
Taft's statement.
I'll am elected president, l shat
urge upon congress, with every hope OIL
success, that a law be passed requir
ing the fling, In a federal once, of .
statement of the contributions received
by committees and candidates in cleo
tions or,membsrp Of congress, and In
such other elections as are ~constitu
tionally within the control of con
gress."
I shall not efhbarrass him by asking
him upon what he bases his hope Of
success; it is certainly not on any en-
couragement he has received from re
| publican leaders. 1t Is s%ufhceint to say
that If his hopes were reali1ed-if, In
| spite of the adverse action of his cor
vention, he should Succeed In securing
the enactment ofsthe very law which
he favors, it would give but partial re
lief. He has read the democratic plat
form; not only his language, but his
evident alarm, indicates that he has
read 1t carefully. He even had before
him the. action OF the democratic ma
tional committee In interpreting and
applying that platform; aud yet, he
fails to say that he-fayors the publica
ton OF the contributions before the
election. OF course, 1t satisfies a na
tural curiosity to md out how an cleo
ton has been purchased. even when
the knowledge comes too late to be OF
service, but why should the people be
kept inNdarkness until the election is
past? Why, should athe locking of the
door be delayed until the horse ID
gone?
Election a Public Affair."
An election is a public affair. The
people, exercising the right to seleci
their officials and to decide upon the
| policies to be pursued, proceed to their
several polling pieces on election day
and register THAR; wtil.s What cxcuss
can be given for secrecy as to the In.
fuences at work. II aSman. pscuniar
lily interested In concentrating the
control of the railroads IN enc manage.
ment," subscribes q large sum 10 aid iii
carrying the election. why should his
part in the campaign be. concealed I'm.
til he has put the ofhciais under obli-
cation to him? II atrust magnate con.
tributes 800, 900 to- elect political
friends to Office. with a view to pre-
venting hostile legislation, why should
that fact be concealed until his friends
are securely seated In their official
positions?
This is not a new question; 1t is a
question which has been agitated-a
question which the republican leaders