Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1908-08-18

disclosures 5 to rebates and discrimiua-
tons By railroads, the accommodating evil
dence of the violations of the antitrust
laws. by a number of corporations. and
the over-issue of stocks and bonds OF in
terstate railroads for the unlawful en-
riching of directors and for the purpose
of concentrating the control of the rail-
roads under one management."-all these,
he charges, ..Quickened the conscience
of the people and brought on a moral
awakening"
During all this time, beg to remind
you, Republican officials presided In the
executive department. filled the cabinet,
dominated the senate, controlled the
house of representatives and occupied
most of the federal judgeships. Foux
years ago the Republican platform boast
fully declared that since 1S6o-with the
exception of two years-the Republican
party had been in control of part or of
all the branches of the federal govern
ment; that for two years only was the
Democratic party in position to either
enact or repeal law. Having drawn the
salaries having enjoyed the honors;
having secured the prestige. let the Re-
publican party accept the responsibility.
Republican Party Responsible.
Why were these known ab-ses'. sris.s
mitfed to develop? Why hsye they not
been corrected? II existing laws are
sufficient. why have they not BEEN en-
forced? All of the execLtiye machinery
of the federal government is IL The hands
of the Republican party. Are new laws
necessary? Why have they not been
enacted? With Republican president
to recommend, with a Republican senate
and house to carry out his recommended
tons, why does the Republican candi-
date plead fer 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
doors than the present executive? Can
he ask for larger majority in the SEN
ate than his party now has? Does he
need more Republicans in the house of
representatives 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 demands of the highly
protected industries. And yet the infiu-
ence of the manufacturers. who have for
Is years contributed to the Republican
campaign fund.- and who in return have
framed the tariff schedules, has been
sufficient to prevent tariff reform. AS the
present campaign approached, both the
president and Mr.. Taft declared in favor
of tariff revision, but set the date of
revision after the election. But the pres
sure brought to bear by the protected
interests has BEEN great enough to pre-
vent any attempt at tariff reform before
the election; and the reduction prom
ised after the election is so hedged about
with qualifying phrases. that no one can
estimate with accuracy the sum total of
tariff reform to be expected in case OF
Republican success. If the past can be
taken a guide, the Republican party
will be obligated by campaign con-
tributions from the benedciaries of pro-
lection, as to make that party spowerless
to bring to the country any material re-
lief from the present tariff burdens.
Why No Antitrust legislation
few years ago the Republican lead
ers in the house of representatives were
coerced by public opinion into the sup
port of an antitrust law which had the
Endorsement of the president. but the
senate refused even to consider the meas
ure, and since that time no effort has
been made by the dominant party to Sc
cure remedial legislation upon this sub
ject.
Why No Railroad legislation
For ten years the Interstate Commerce
Commission has been asking for an en-
largement of its powers, that it might
prevent rebates and Determinations but
Republican senate and a Republican
house of representatives were unmoved
by its entreaties In 1900 the Republican
national convention was urged to indorse
the demand for railway legislation, but
its platform was silent 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 the Republicans The Republi-
cans in the senate deliberately defeated
several amendments offered by Senator
LaFolette and supported by the Demo-
crats-amendments embodying legislation
asked by the Interstate Commerce Com
mission. One of these amendments au-
thorized the ascertainment of the val
ne of railroads. This amendment was not
only defeated by the senate, but it was
Overwhelmingly rejected by the recent
Republican national convention and the
Republican candidate has sought to res
cue mis- party from the disastrous results
of this act by expressing himself, in a
OF Allied way, in favor of ascertaining
the value>of the railroads.
overlssue of Stocks and Bonds.
Mr. Taft complains oe the over-issue
of stocks and bonds of railroads. for
the unlawful enriching of directors and
for the purpose of concentrating the
control of the railroads under one man
founded. But, with a president to point
out the evil, and a Republican congress
to correct it, we find nothing done for
the protection of the public. Why? My
honorable opponent has, by his confess
sion, relieved me of the necessity of fur
nishing proof; he admits the condition and
he not avoid the logical conclusion
that must be drawn from the admission
There is no doubt whatever that a large
majority of. the voters of the Republi-
can party recognize the deplorable stu-
alton which Mr. Taft describes; they rec
ognize that the masses have had but lit
tie influence upon legislation or upon
the administration of the government,
and they are beginning to understand the
cause For a generation, the Republic
s..n party has drawn its campaign funds
from the beneiciaries OF special legisla-
ton. Privileges have been pledged and
granted in return fer money contribut-
ed to debauon elections. What can be
expected when official authority is
turned over to the representatives of
those who first furnish the sinews Of war
and then reimburse themselves uut of
the pockets of the taxpayers?
Fasting in Wilderness Necessary.
So long the Republican party re-
mains In power, It is ptwerless to re-
generate itself. 1t can not attack wrong
ooins IN nlgh places without disgracfng
many of its prominent members, and It,
therefore. uses opiates instead of the
surgeons knife. Its malefactors cor.strus
each Republican victory as an indorse-
ment of their conduct and threaten the
party with defeat If they are interfered
with. Not until that party passes through
period of fasting In the wilderness.
viii the Republican leaders learn to
study public questions from the stand
point of the masses. Just as with in
dividuals, the cares of this world and
the deceitfulness OF riches choke the
truth, SO in politics. when party lead
ers serve far away from home and are
not in constant contact with the voters,
continued party success blinds their eyes
TO the needs of the people and makes
them deaf to the cry OF distress.
Publicity rs to Campaign contribu-
tions.
An effort has been made to secure legis-
iation requiring publicity as TO campaign
contributions and expenditures; but the