The Elk Mountain pilot., 1908-08-20

Republican success. II the past can b
taken a. . guide, the Republican party
will be 10 obligated BY campaign con-
tributions from the bsnsnciariss Of pro-
tection. as to make that party powsrisss
to bring to the country any material re-
lief from the present tariff burdens.
Why No Railroad Lsslsiationf
For ten years the Interstate Commerce
Commission has been asking for en-
larKement Of Its powers, that II might
prevent rebates and discrimination. but
house of representatives were unmoved
by its entreaties. In 1900 tho Republican
national convention was urged to indorse
the demand for railway legislation. but
It's platform was silent on the subject.
Even in 1904. the convention gave no
pledge to remedy these abuses. When
the 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 tho Republicans. The Republi-
cans in the senate deliberately defeated
several amendments offered by Senator
LaFolletts and supported by the Demo-
observation-disclosures embodyinK legislation
asked by the Interstate Commerce Com
mission. One of these amendments au-
thorized the ascertainment of the val
ue of railroads. This amendment was not
only defeated by the senate. but II was
overwhelmingly rejected by the recent
Republican national convention and the
Republican candidate has sought to res
cue his party from tho disastrous results
of this act by expressing himself. In a
qualified way. In favor Of ascertafning
the value of tho railroads.
Mr. Taft complains OF the oyer-issue
of stocks and bonds Of railroads. for
tho unlawful enrichinx Of directors and
for the purpose OF concentrating the
control of the railroads under one man
agement.'' and the complaint IL well
founded. But. with a president to point
out the evil. and \ Republican congress
to correct it, we ind nothing done for
the protection of the public. Why? My
honorable opponent has. by his confess
sion, relieved me of the necessity of fur
nishinK proof: he admits the condition and
he can not avoid the logical conclusion
that must be drawn from the admission.
Publicity ~ to Campaign contribu-
tlons.
An effort has been made to secure leGis-
iation requiring publicity AZ to campaign
contributions and expenditures. but tho
Republican leaders. even in the face of
an indignant public. refused to consent
to 4 law which would compel honesty in
elections. When the matter VAS brought
up in the recent Republican national
convention. the plank WAS repudiated by
a vote of SO to ~. Here. too. Mr. Taft
has been driven to apologize for his con-
NentlOn ana 10 ueClhTe HifhsSh III iA'c'
of n publicity law; and yet. II you Will
read what he says upon this subject. you
will IND that his promise falls far short
of the requirements of the situation. He
says:
''If 1 am elected president. / shall urge
upon congress. with every hope of sue
cess. that . law be passed requiring the
Ming. In = federal once. of . statement
of the contributions received by com
nittees and candidates In elections for
~VxA In lrh
elections aa are constitutionaiiy within
the control of congrsas."
How can the people hope to rule. II they
are not able to learn until after the cleo
ton what the predatory interests are do
ingI The Democratic party meets the
issue honestly and courageousiy. II says:
We pledge the Democratic party to
the enactment of . Law prohibiting any
corporation from contributing to cam
paiRn fund. and any individual from con-
tributinE an amount above . reasonable
maximum. and providing for the publ
cation. before election. of all such con-
tributions above . reasonable minimum"
The Democratic national committee i'm
mediateiy proceeded to Interpret and ap-
ply this plank. announcing that no con-
tributions would be received from cor
porations, that no individual would hs al
lowed to contribute more than $1,000 and
that all contributions above 800 would
be made public before the election-those
received before October IL to be made
public on or before that day. those re-
ceived afterward to be made public on
the day whom received. and no such con-
tributions to be accepted within three
days of the election. The expenditures
arc to be published after the election.
Here IL . plan which IL complete and
effective.
Popular Election Of Ssnaters.
Next to the corrupt use Of money. the
present method of electing United States
senators IL most responsible for the OBJ
struction Of reforms. For 100 years after
the adoption or the constitution. the de-
mand for the popular election of senators.
while finding ins reased exprcssion. did
not become a dominant sentiment.
constitutional amendment Ind from time
to time been suggested and the matter
had been more or less discussed In . few
OF the states. but the movement had not
reached a point where II manifested IT.
self through congressional action. In the
fifty-second congresa. however. reso-
luton was reported from a house COM
mittee proposing tho necessary constitu-
tionai amendment. and this resolution
passed the house of representatives by
a vote which was practically unanimous.
In the Fifty-third congress- similar res
olution was reported to. AMI adopted by
the house OF representatives. Both the
Fifty-second and Fifty-third congresses
were Democratic. The Republicans gained
control OF the house ~ n result OF the
election of 1894 and in the Fifty-fourth
congress- the proposition died In commit
tee. As time went on. however. the SEN
timent grew among the people. until II
forced a Republican congress to follow
the example set by the Democrats, and
then another and another Republican
congress acted fsvorably. State after
state has indorsed this reform. until near
ly two-thirds of the states have recorded
themselves in Its favor. The United
States senate. however. impudentiy and
arrogantly obstructs the passage of the
resolution. Notwithstanding the fact that
the voters of the United States. by an
overwhelming majority, demand It. And
this refusal is the more significant when
II Is remembered that number of SEN
ators owe their elections TO great corpor-
ate interests. Three Democratic nation
al platforms-the platforms of 1900. 1904