The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-08-12

10 bring to the country any material
relief from the present tariff burdens.
Why No Antitrust Legislation?
A few years ago the Republican
leaders in the house of representatives
| were coerced by public opinion into
| the support of an antitrust law which
mad the endorsement of the president,
but the senate refused even to con-
| slider the measure, and since that time
no effort has been made by the domi-
nant party to secure remedial legisla
ton upon this subject.
Why No Railroad Legislation?
For ten years the Interstate COM
merce commission has been asking for
4 an enlargement of it's powers, that 1t
might prevent rebates and discrimina-
| lions. but Republican senate and
Republican house of representatives
| were unmoyed by it's entreaties. In
| 1900 the Republican national conven-
ton was urged to endorse the demand
for railway legislation, but it's platform
| was silent on the subject. Even in 1904,
the convention gave no pledge to rem
| edy these abuses. When the president
| finally asked for legislation, he drew
| his inspiration from three Democratic
national platforms and he received
more cordial support from the Demo-
Gratis than from the Republicans. The
Republicans in the senate deliberately
defeated several amendments offered
by Senator LaFollette and supported
| by the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES en-
| bodying legislation asked by the inter-
state commerce commission. One of
these amendments authorized the as
certainment of the value of railroads.
This amendment was not only defeat
| ed by the senate, but ii was over
whelmingly rejected by the recent Re
publican national convention. and the
Republican candidate has sought to
| rescue his party from the disastrous
of hi 1.N hxv -
self. in qualified way, in favor of as
pertaining the value of the railroads.
Overissue of Stocks and Bonds.
Mr.. Taft complains of the over-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 it, we find nothing
done for the protection of the public.
Why? My honorable opponent has, by
his confession. relieved me of the neces-
sity 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 a large majority of the
voters of the Republican party recog-
nize the deplorable situation which Mr..
Taft describes; they recognize that the
masses have had but little influence
upon legislation or upon the admins
tration of the government, and they are
beginning to understand the cause.
For generation, the Republican party
has drawn it's campaign funds from
the beneffciaries of special legislation
Privileges have been pledged and
granted in return for money contribut-
ed to debauch elections. What can be
expected when official authority is
frr nad TO 10 tot M
those who first furnish the sinews of
war and then reimburse 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. 1t can not attack
wrong doing in high places without
members, and it. therefore, uses opiates
instead of the surgeons knife. Its
malefactors construe each Republican
victory as an endorsement of their
defeat IL they are interfered with. Not
until that party passes through a
period 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 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
makes them deaf to the cry of distress.
Publicity as to Campaign Funds.
An effort has been made to secure
legislation requiring publicity as to
campaign contributions and expend-
lures: but the Republican leaders,
even in the face of an indignant pub
lie. refused to consent. to law which
would compel honesty in elections.
When the matter was brought up in
the recent Republican national con-
vention, the plank was repudiated by a
vote of $50 to "a. Here. too, Mr.. Taft
has been driven to apologize for his
convention and to declare himself in
favor of a publicity law: and yet. If
you will read what he says upon this
subject you will find that his promise
falls far short of the requirements of
the situation. He says:
IF 1 am elected president. I shall
urge upon congress, with every hope of
success. that a law be passed requir-
ing the filing. in a federal office, of a
statement of the contributions received
by committees and candidates in cleo
lions for members of congress, and in
such other elections as are constitu-
tionally within the control of con-
gress."
/ shall not embarrass him by asking
him upon what he bases his hope of
success; II is certainly not on any en-
enlargement he has received from Re
publican leaders. 1t is sufficient to say
that If his hopes were realized-if. in
spite of the adverse action of his con-
vention, he should succeed in securing
the enactment of the very law which
he favors, it would give but partial
relief. He has read the Democratic
platform; not only his language, but
his evident alarm. indicates that he
has read II carefully. He even had be-
fore him the action of the Democratic
national committee in interpreting and
applying that platform: and yet, he
fails to say that he favors the pub
LEGATION of the contributions before the
election. OF course, it satisfies nat
ural curiosity to find out how an cleo