The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1908-08-13

in all the questions now under discus
sion, is Shall the people rule?" No
matter which way we turn; no matter
to what subject we address ourselves.
the same question confronts US: Shall
the people control their own govern
ment. and use that government for the
protection of their rights and for the
promotion of their welfare? or shall
the representatives of predatory wealth
prey upon a defenselesS public, while
the offenders secure immunity from
subservient officials whom they raise
to power by INSCRIPTIONS methods?
This is the issue raised by the known
abuses" to which Mr.. Taft refers.
Presidents Indictment Against the
Party. ,
In a message seHt to congress last
January, President Roosevelt said:
1.-THE attacks by these great corpora
lions on the administrations actions
have been given a wide circulation
throughout the country, in the news
papers and otherwise, by those writers
and speakers who, consciously or un-
consciously, act as the representatives
Of predatory wealth-of the wealth acI
cumulated on a giant scale by all forms
Of iniquity, ranging from the oppres-
sion of wage earnerS to unfair and un-
wholesome methods Of crushing out
competition, and to defrauding the
public by stock-jobbing and the man1p-
u1ation Of securities. Certain wealthy
men of this stamp, whose conduct
-L-- L. @AIN--4~& - we nov ~
ordinarily decent conscience, and who
commit the hideous wrong Of teaching
our young men that phenomenal bus1-
ness success must ordinarily be based
on dishonesty, have, during the last
few months, made 1t apparent that
they have banded together to work for
q reaction. Their endeavor is to
overthrow and discredit all who hon.
estly administer the law, to prevent
any additional legislation which would
check and restrain them, and to secure.
If possible, a freedom from all re-
straint which will permit every un-
scrupulous wrong-doer to do what he
wishes unchecked, provided he has
enough money."-What an arratgnment
Of the predatory interestsi
Is the presidents indictment true?
And, II 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 COM
mon rules Of business honesty and
fidelity, and Of the limitations imposed
by law upon their a~ctions!" and that
1.-THE revelations Of the breaches of
trusts, the disclosures as to rebates
and determinations by railroads, the
accommodating evidence of the viola
tons Of the antitrust laws, by a num-
Der Of corporations, and the over-issue
of stocks and bonds Of interstate rail-
roads for the unlawful enriching Of d.
rectors and for the purpose of concen-
trating the control of the railroads un-
der one management,"-all these. he
charges, "Quickened the conscience of
the people and brought on a moral
awakening"
During all this time, I beg to remind
you. Republican officials presided in the
executive department, filed the cab
met, dominated the senate, controlled
the house of representatives and occu-
pied most Of the federal judgeships.
Four years ago the Republican plat
form bo~astfully declared that since
1S6O-with the exception Of two years
the Republican party had been, in con-
troll Of part or Of all the branches of
the federal government; that for two
years only was the Democratic party in
a position to either enact or repeal a
law. Having drawn the salaries; hav-
ing enjoyed the honors; having secured
the prestige, let the Republican party
accept the responsibility!
Republican Party Responsible:
Why were these known abuses
permitted to develop? Why have they
not been corrected? If existing laws
gre sufficient, why have they not been
enforced? All Of the executive ma
chinery of the federal government is
In the hands Of the Republican party.
Are new laws necessary? Why have
they not been enacted? With a Re-
publican president to recommend, with
a Republican senate and house to carry
ont his recommendations, why does the
Republican candidate plead for further
time in whichato 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 senate than his
party now has? Does he need more
Republicans in the house of represent
attves Or a speaker with more unlim-
tied authority.
Why No Tariff Reform2
The presidents close friends have
been promising for several years that
he would attack the 1niquities of the
tariff. We have had intimation that
Mr.. Taft was FESTIVE under the de-
mands Of the highly protected in
dustries. And yet the influence Of the