Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1908-08-26
Why No Tariff Reform?


The presidents close friends have been
promising for several years that he would
attack the inlquities OF the tariff We
have had intimation that Mr.. Taft was
FESTIVE under the demands of the highly
protected industries. And yet the innu-
ence of the manufacturers, who have for
% years contributed to the Republican
campaign fund. and who in return have
framed the tariff schedules, has been
sufficient to prevent tariff reform. AS the
present campaign approached, both the
president and Mr.. Taft declared in favor
of tariff revision, but set the date of
revision after the election. But the pres
sure brought to bear by the protected
interests has been great enough to pre-
vent any attempt at tariff reform before
the election; and the reduction prom
Used 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 success. If the past can be
taken as Il guide, the Republican party
will be so obligated by campaign con-
tributions from the beneficiaries of pro-
lection, as to make that party powerless
to bring to the country any material re-
lief from the present tariff burdens.
Why no Antitrust Legislation?
few years ago the Republican lead
ers 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 sub
ject.
Why No Railroad Legislation?
For ten years the Interstate Commerce
commission hapn 4 For
larSement of its powers that it might
prevent rebates and discriminate tons, but
Republican senate and a Republican
house of representatives were unmoved
by its entreatieS. IN 1900 the Republican
national convention was urged to indorse
the demand for railway legislation, but
It's platform was silent on the subject
EVen In 1901, the convention gave no
pledge to remedy these abuses. When
! tho president finally asked for legislation
he drew his inspiration from three Demo-
cratic national platforms and he received
more cordial support from the Democrats
than from the Republicans. The Republi-
cans in the senate delbera tely defeated
several amendments offered by Senator
LaFollette and supported by the Demo-
cratS-amendments embodyinS legislation
asked by the Interstate Commerce Com
mission One of these amendments aU-
thoriZed the ascertainment of the val
lie of railroads. This amendment was not
only Ue1eateu pS the senate, but It was
overwhelmingly rejected by the recent
Republican national convention and the
Republican candidate has sought to res
| cue 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-lssue of Stocks and Bonds.
Mr.. Taft complains of the over-issue
| of stocks and bonds of railroads, for
| the unlawful enriching of directors and
! Tor 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? Ny
| honorable opponent has, by his confess
sion, relieved me of the necessity of fur
| nishing proof; he admits the condition and
he can not avoid the logical conclusion
! that must be drawn from the admission
| There is no doubt whatever that a large
| majority Of the voters of the Republi-
| can party recognize the deplorable sftu-
J alton which Mr.. Taft describes; they rec
| oSnize that the masses have had but lit
tie influence upon legislation or upon
| the administration of the government.
and they are beginning to understand the
cause. For generation, the Republi-
can party has drawn its campaign funds
/ from the beneficiaries OF special legisla-
| tor Privileges have been pledged and