The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-08-14

4
they newspapers and otherwise, by
those writer's and speakers who,
consciously or unconsciously, act as
the representatives Of predatory
wealth-of the wealth accumulated
on giant scale by all forms of in
liquity, ranging from the oppression
| of wage earners to unfair and un-
wholesome methods of crushing out
competition and to defrauding the
public by stock-jobbing and the
manipulation of securities, Certain
wealthy men of this stamp, whose
conduct should be abhorrent to every
man of ordinary decent conscience,
and who commit the hideous wrong
of teaching our young men that
phenomenal business succus must
ordinarily be based on dishonesty
have, during the last few months,
made it apparent that they have
banded together to work for re-
action. Their endeavor is to over
throw and discredit all who honestly
administer the law, to prevent any
additional legislation which would
check and restrain them, and to Sc
cure, if possible, freedom from all
restraint which will permit every un-
scrupulous wrong-doer to, do what he
wishes unchecked, provided he has
enough money"
What an arraignment of the pre-
datury interests!
Is the presidents indictment
true? And. if true, against whom
was the indictment directed? Not
against the Democratic party.
Mr.. Taft Endorses the Indictment.
Mr.. Taft says that these evils have
crept in during the last ten years.
He declares that, during this time,
some prominent and influential
members of the community, spurred
by financial success and in their
hurry for greater wealth, became
unmindful of the common rules OF
business honesty and fidelity, and Of
the limitations imposed by law upon
their actions;" and that "the revela-
tions Of the breaches of trusts, the
disclosures as to rebates and discr1-
limitations by railroads, the accumu-
lating evidence of the violations of
the anti-trusts laws, by number
of corporations, and the over-issue
of stocks and bonds Of interstate rail-
roads for the unlawful enriching OF
directors and for the purpose of con-
centrating the control Of the rail-
roads under one management, =
ais these, he charges, "quickened
the conscience of the people and
brought on moral awakening"
During all this time, l beg to re-
mind you, Republican officials presid-
ed in the executive department, fill
ed the cabinet, dominated the senate,
controlled the house of representa-
tives and occupied most Of the fed
eral judgships. Four years ago the
Republican platform boastfully de-
clared that since 1S6O--with the ex-
ception of two years-the Republi-
can party had been in control Of
part or all of the branches Of the
federal government; that for two
years only was the Democratic party
in position to either enact or re-
peal a law. Having drawn the
salaries; having enjoyed the honors;
having secured the prestige, let the
Republican party accept the respon-
sibility!
Republican Party Responsible.
Why were these known abuses
permitted to develop? Why have
they not been corrected? If exist
ing laws are sufficient. why have they
not been enforced? ALI of the eXecu-
tive machinery of the federal gov
ernment is in the hands OF the Re-
publican party. Are new laws ne
cessary? Why have they not been
enacted? With Republican presl-
dent to recommend, with Republi-
can senate and house to carry out
his recommendations, why does the
Republican candidate plead for fur
! ther time in which to do what should
have been done long ago? Can Mr.
Taft promise to be more strenuous
in the prosecution of Wrong-doers
than the present executive? Can he
ask for a larger majority in the SEN
ate than his party now has? Does
he need more Republicans in the
house of representatives or speaker
with more unlimited authority?
Why No Tariff Reform?
The presidents close friends have
been promising for several years that
he would attack the iniquities of the
tariff. We have had intimation that
Mr.. Taft was restive under the de-
mands of the highly protected indus
tries. And yet the influence of the
manufacturers, who have for
TWENTY-FIVE years contributed to the
Republican campaign funds and who
in return hare framed the tariff
schedules, has been sufficient to pre-
vent tariff reform AS the present
campaign approached, both the pre-
sident and Mr. Taft declared in faV-
or of tariff revision, but set the date
of revision after the election. But
the pressure brought to bear by the
,rotected interests has been great