Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1908-07-16


ing with imprisonment any officer Of a
corporation who shall either contribute
on behalf OF or consent to the contri-
or thing OF value to be used In further
Ing the election OF president or vice.
president OF the United states or OF any
We denounce the action OF the Re-
publican, party. having complete CON
failure TO pass the biIinlrni ntrodueed In IN
the last congress TO compel the publi-
cation OF the names OF contributors and
the amounts contributed toward cam
paign funds, and point TO the evidence
OF their insincerity when they sought
by an absolutely Irrelevant and impos-
OF the bill. As n further evidence OF
their intention to conduct their cam
palgn IN the coming contest with vast
seeking corporations. we call attention
TO the fact that the recent Republican
national convention at Chicago refused
When the plank was presented TO IL 20
declare against such practices.
We pledge the Democratic party to
the enactment OF n law preventing any
corporation contributing to a campaign
:und and any individual from contrib
uting an amount above n reasonable
cation before election OF all such con-
tributlons above reasonable mini
mum.
Rights OF the states.
Believing with Jefferson, in "the
support OF the state governments In
all their rights as the most competent
administration for our domestic con-
Germs and the surcst bulwark against
nnti-Rcpublican tendencies" and in
the preservation OF the general gov.
crnment N its whole constitutional
vigor as the sheet anchor OF our peace
at home and safety abroad" we are op.
posed To the Capitalization implied In
made thn Ts tss btresSsny
mcnt should be extended by judicial
construction. There Is no twilight zone
between the nation and the state In
which exploiting interests can take
refuge from both; and IL In as neces-
sary that the federal government shall
II II that the state governments shall
use the authority reserved to them. but
we insist that federal remedies for the
regulation OF Interstate commerce and
for the prevention OF private monop.
oily shall be added to, not substituted
for. state remedies.
Tariff.
We welcome the belated promise of
tariff reform now affected by the Re-
publican party In tardy recognition Of
the Righteousness OF the Democratic
people cannot safely intrust the exc
cutiOn OF this important work to "A
party, which is SO deeply obligated TO
the highly protected interests as liz the
Republican party. We call attention TO
the significant fact that the promised
relief was postponed until after the
coming election--an election TO succeed
In which the Republican party must
have that same support from the
bcnenciaries OF the high protective
tarirf as 1t has always heretofore re-
ceived from them; and to the further
fact that during years OF uninterrupt-
ed power no action whatever has been
taken by the Republican congress TO
correct the admittedly existing tariff
inlquitles.
We favor Immediate revision OF the
tarin by the reduction OF import duties.
Articles entering into competition with
trust -controlled products should be
n he lEN N nd mi NnF 10
reductions should be made In the tariff
upon the necessaries OF life. especially
upon articles competing with such
American manufactures as are sold
abroad more cheaply than at home; and
graduate reductions should be made in
such other schedules as may be neces-
sary to restore the tarin to a revenue
basis.
Existing duties have given to the
manufacturers OF paper a shelter be-
hind which they have organized COM
binations TO raise the price OF pulp and
OF paper, thus imposing n tax upon the
spread OF knowledge.
We demand the Immediate repeal OF
the tarin on pulp print paper. lumber,
timber ana logs and that these articles
be placed upon the free list.
Trusts.
4 private monopoly Is Indefensiblo
and intolerablc We. therefore favor
the vigorous enforcement of the Grim
and officiais. and demand the enactment
of such additional legislation ms may
be necessary to make II impossible for
ted states. Among the additional rem
edies we specify three. First. law
preventing duplication of directors
among competing corporations; second,
a license system which will, without
abridging the right of each state to
create eorporations, or its right TO reg
doing business within its limits. make
IL neceBsady for manufacturing or
trading corporation engaged in inter-
"A federal
license before u shall be permitted to
control as much as % per cent. OF the
protect the public from watersd stock
and TO prohibit tho control by such COR
poration OF more than so per. cent. OF
s sS sGh se United SesS SSS Ta
law compelling such licensed corpo-
ration TO sell to all purchasers in all
after making due allowance for cost OF
Railroad Regulations.
We. assert the right Of congress to
state commerce and the right of each
state 20 exercise like control over COM
meree within its borders.
We demand such enlargement OF the
powers of the interstate commerce COM
mission as may be necessary 20 compel
r caa6S capr,s pi Spa invent ai.er,ns
ination and extortion.
We favor the efficient supervision and
rnIc feRulnNou OF EAlEOAuA tukakcu
in interstate commerce. and 70 this
end we recommend the valuation OF
railroads by the Interstate commerce
commission, such valuation TO take into
consideration the physical value OF the
property, the original cost. cost OF pro-
duetion and all elements of value that
viii render the valuation made fair and
Just.
We favor such legislation as will pro-
hiblt the railroads from engaging In
business which brings them into compe-
tition with their shippers, also legislation
which will assure such reduction In
transportation rates as conditions will
permit care being taken to avoid reduc-
lions that would compel n reduction OF
wages. prevent adequate service or do
| injustice 20 legitimate Investments, We
heartily approve the laws prohibiting
the pass and the rebate, and we favor
any further necessary legislation 20 re-
strain, control and prevent such abuses.
We favor such legislation as Will In
| crease the power OF the interstate COM
merce commission. giving 20 II the initia-
| tive with reference 20 rates and trans
| portatlon charges put into effect by the
| railroad companies, and permitting the
| Interstate commerce. commission on its
own initiative 20 declare rate Illegal