Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-08-13
W. j. BRYAN'S NOTIFICATION SPEECH

cumulating evidence of the violation
of the antitrust laws, by number OF
corporations, and the over-issue of
stocks and bonds of interstate rail
roads for the unlawful enriching of
DIRECTORS and the purpose Of colcen-
traiins the control of the 'ailroadS nm
Ter one management. - all these, he
cha, gea "auickened the conscience of
1.-THE i,ople and brought on a moral
awakening
During all this time, beg TO re-
raiild on. Republican officials prcsd-
ed i'll the executive departments, filed
the cabinet, dominated the senate.
controlled the house of representa-
tives and occupied most of the federal
judgeships. Four years ago the Repub-
lican platform boastfully declared
that since 1860 with the exception of
two years-the Republican party had
been in control of part or all the
branches of the federal government;
that for two years only was the Dem
ocratic party in a position to either
enact or repeal law. Having drawn
the salaries; having enjoyed the hon
ors; having secured the prestige, let
the Republican party accept the re-
sponsibility!
Republican Party Responsible.
Why were these known abuses
permitted to develop? Why have they
! not been corrected? If existing laws
are 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.
Ava ,,a1 1or I,
they not been enacted? With Repub-
lican president to recommend, with a
Republican senate and house to carry
out his communications, why does
the Republican candidate plead for
| further 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 larger majority of the senate
than his party now has? Does he need
more Republicans in the house of rep
resentatives or a 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 FESTIVE under the de-
mands of the highly protected indus
tries. And yet the influence of the
manufacturers, who have for 25
years contributed to the republican
campaign fund, and who in return
have framed the tariff schedule, has
been sufficient to prevent tariff reform.
AS the present campaign approached,
both the president and Mr.. Taft de-
cIared in favor Of tariff revision, but
set the date of revision after the cleo
ltion. But the pressure brought to bear
by the protected interests has been
great enough to prevent any attempt
at tariff reform before the election;
and the reduction promised after the
election is so hedged about with quail
flying phrases that no one can esti-
mate with accuracy the sum total OF
tariff reform to be expected in case of
republican success. If the past can
be taken as a guide, the republican
party will be so obligated by campaign
contributions from the benef1ciaries of
protection as to make that party pow
erless to bring to the country any ma
terial relief from the present tariff
burdens.
Why No Antitrust Legislation.
A few years ago the republican
leaders in the house of representa-
tives were coerced by public opinion
into the support of an antitrust law
which had the endorsement of the
president, but the senate refused even
to consider the measure, and since
that time no effort has been made by
the dominant party to secure remedial
, legislation upon this subject
Why No Railroad Legislation?
For ten years the Interstate com
merce commission has been asking
for an enlargement of it's powers, that
it might prevent rebates and discrimi-
nations, but republican senate and
a republican house of representatives
were unmoved by it's entreaties. In
1900 the republican national conyen
ton was urged to endorse the demand
for railway legislation, but its plat
form 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
democratic national platforms and he
received more cordial support from
the democrats than from the republic
cans. The republicans in the senate
; deliberately defeated several amend
ments offered by Senator LaFollette
and supported by the democrats
amendments embodying Legislation
asked by the interstate commerce
commission. One of these amend
ments authorized the ascertainment
of the value of railroads. This amend
|, ment was not only defeated by the
senate, but it was overwhelmingly re
jected by the recent republican ma
tional convention, and the republican
candidate has sought to rescue his
party from the disastrous results O
, this act by expressing himself, in F;
qualified way, in favor of ascertain
+ ing the value of railroads.
, Over-lssue Of Stocks and Bonds.
Mr.. Taft complains of the over issue
} of stocks and bonds of railroads
! "for the unlawful enriching Of direc
l tors and for the purpose of concentrat
D ing the control of railroads under on