Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-03-04
Regulation of Transportation Issue
of the Hour.
REPUBLICANS ON MIDDLE GRoUNr
They Advocate Practical Constructive
Legislation That VIII Protect All
Rights OF individuals and
Corporations.

COLUMBUS, o., March s-The republican
convention was today called by Chairman
Walter Brown Of the state central commit
tee at 4i15. After the offering of a prayer,
Chairman Brown introduced as temporary
chairman OF the convention James r. Gar
field, secretary of the interior. Mr.. Gar
field spoke as follows:
This year we engage in a national cam
paign. Eighty millions Of people will peacs-
fully determine which OF the great par les
shall for the next four years control their
destinies. The issues involved are OF tre-
mendous and vital Importance.
For more than forty years, excepting a
few short intervals, the republican party
has been responsible for the political life Of
our nation During that period we have
changed from a people depending almost
entirely upon agriculture to a nation fore
most in manufacture and diversified com
mercisl interestsi we have received NIL
lions OF foreigners and are gradually but
certainly making them useful, law-abiding
citizens; we have outgrown the simpler
life OF small communities for the complex
political and social organization of the great
cities; we have, by the fertility Of our In
ventive and business genius, opened the
bound own country togsther by permanent
lines OF transportation and communication;
we have abandoned the isolation of our
forme- position among our sister nations
and assumed our share Of the worlds bur-
dens; we have, with the spirit, strength,
and eourage and s unstrammelsed s,1 y9Sn1h, ySata
phases of political and industrial chan Q,
and overtaken the older nations which had
many years the start.
The republican party has boldly faced
each successive problem, and stood for
policies and measures which nave MADE
progress possible. The party spirit has
never faltered. As our leaders won their
battles, those who took their places have
faced the front and carried on the work
not forgetting the deeds and experience OF OF
aggressive patriotic action that filled the
minds and hearts of the men who created
our party and won its first great victory
TRANSPORTATION companies and favored
shippers have been guilty OF granting and
receiving rebates and determinations. Or
flCSrs OF corporations engaged in interstate
uou .neerce have misused the powers ana
fuads of the corporations; have by means
ot stock jobbinE and stock watering trans
actions imposed upon the public as well as
UPON the stockholder, for whom they are
y y fact strslstssA Tue public mas been iit. Se.
upon the public domain. Such facts have
been exposed and the offenders convicted.
has been shaken by reason of these diselos-
ures ana necessarily legitimate business
has suffered TO SOME extent. but such loss
and suffering was necessary in order TO
root out the evils that were sappng our
industrial life. fortunate indeed are we
that The. exposure came when ~ dl9' ~ rs
imminent danger In which we stood. Ex-
posura OF WRONGS has cleared the air and
legitimate business Is today stronger and
JC1eauer because Of what has been done.
Tho great majority of our laboring and
business men are honest and the interests
thcv represent are fairly conducted, but
that doea not excuse us for failing to ex-
poeN and punish the wrongdoer where
ever found; he cannot be shielded nor par
doned for fear Of injuring his Innocent
associates
Middle Ground Taken.
On tho other hand, as to those who say
we have not gone far enough; the man
WHO would destroy corporations because
some OF their managers have misused their
powers who would prohibit labor unions
because OF the evil deeds ofs some of their
leaders who, would confiscete property
would have the government own and oper-
ate all public utilities because some have
Been III or corruptly managed, is as wrong
In his Judgment OF present conditions as
arc those who cry that We have gone too
The republican party with the president
stands opposed to both these extremes.
We have chosen the middle ground OF
sane, practical, constructive legislation.
those proposed for carrying out the poli-
cles. hereafter while remedying the evils,
likewise have fer their purpose the pro-
lection OF the man or corporation who has
acquired wealth lesitimately and is using II
beneficially; and the preservation of con-
Aitians l'nder which all classes OF men will
nave equal oppoftI Atty for the development
Of tsNir Individual capacities TO the high
Under this record of things done with
confidence We mako our pledges for future
action