Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-08-12

1900 the Republican national conven- tion was urged to endorse the demand for railway legislation, but its platform was silent on the subject. Even in 1904 the convention gave no pledge to remedy these abuses When the presi- dent finally asked for legislation he drew his inspiration from three Demo cratic national platforms and he re- ceived more cordial support from the Democrats than from the Republicans. The Republicans in the senate deliber- ately defeated several amendments of ferred by Senator La Fe.isste and sup ported by the Democrats-amendments embodying legislation asked by the In terstate Commerce Commission. One of these amendments authorized the entertainment of the value of rail roads. This amendment was not only defeated by the senate. but 1t was over whelmingly rejected by the recent Re- publican national convention, and the Republican candidate has sought to res cue his party from the disastrous re- suits of this act by expressing him- self. in a qualified way, in favor of ascertaining the value of the railroads.
 Over-issue of Clocks and Bonds.
 MT. Taft complains of the over-issue of stocks and bonds of railroads, flor 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 president to point out the evil. and a Republican congress to correct it. we find nothing done for the protection of the public. Why? My honorable opponent has, by his confession, relieved me of the ne- cessity of furnishing 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 large majority of the voters of the Republican party recog- nize the deplorable situation which MT. Taft describes; they recognize that the masses have had but little influence upon legislation or upon the ad- ministration of the government. and they are beginning to understand the cause. For generation the Re publican party has drawn its cam paign funds from the benefciaries of special legislation. Privileges have been pledged and granted in return for money contributed to debauch cleo tions. What can be expected when of ficial authority is turned over to the representatives of those who first fur nish the sinews of war and then reim- purse themselves out of the pockets of the taxpayers?
 Fasting In Wilderness Necessary.
 So long as the Republican party re mains in power, it is powerless to re- generate itself. It can not attack wrong-doing in high places without dis gracing many of its prominent mem- bers, and it, therefore, uses opiates in- stead of the surgeons knife. Its male factors construe each Republican vic tory us an endorsement of their con duct and threaten the party with de feat if they are interfered with. Not until that party passes through pc. riod of fasting in the wilderness, will the Republican leaders learn to study public questions from the standpoint of the masses. Just as with individ' uals, "the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the truth, so in politics. when party leaders serve far away from home and are not in constant contact with the voters, con- tinued party success blinds their eyes 10 the needs of the people and makes them deaf to the cry of distress.
 Publicity as to Campaign contribu'
 tions.
 An effort has been made to secure legislation requiring publicity as tc campaign contributions and expendi lures: but the Republican leaders. eveI in the face of an indignant public, re fused to consent to law which would compel honesty in elections. When the matter was brought up In the recent Republican national convention. th plank was repudiated by a vote of SS( to 94. Here, too. Mir. Taft has beer driven to apologize for his convention and to declare himself in favor of { publicity law; and yet. if you will reat what he says upon this subject, you will find that his promise falls far shor of the requirements of the situation He says:
 ''If I am elected president. I shal urge upon congress. with every hope o success. that law be passed requiring the filing. in a federal office, of state ment of the contributions received b, committees and candidates in elections for members of congress. and in sucl other elections as are constitutional! within the control of congress"
 I shall not embarrass him by askin; him upon what he bases his hope O success: It Is certainly not on any en couragement he has received from Re publican leaders. It Is sufficient to sa! that If his hopes were real.zed-if. il spite of the adverse action of his con ventiOn. he should succeed in securln; the enactment of the very law whlcl
 he favors. 1t would give but partial re lief. He has read the Democratic plat
 form: not only his language. hut hi evident alarm. indicates that Ee ha' read It carefully. He even had befor' him the action of the Democratic ns tional committee in interpreting ant applying that platform: and ret hl
 fails fn sar fhaf he favnrs fhe nnhlica