Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-11

~ ~ 'ANNA NA1N
this practice shall be stopped for all time,
we demand the passage OF a statute punish
ing with imprisonment any officer Of a cor
p~oration who shall either contribute on be-
half OF. or consent TO the contribution by,
a corporation OF any money or thing OF
value TO be used In a furtnering Of the
election Of q president or vice president OF
the United states or Of any member OF
the congress thereof
We denouLCe the action OF the republican
party having complete control Of tho federal
government, for It's failure to pass the bill,
introduced In the las congress, to compel
the publication 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 irrelevent and impossible amend
ment to defeat the passage Of the bill. As
a further evidence OF their Intention TO con-
duct their campaign n the coming contest
with vast sums OF money wrested from
favor-seeking corporations, we call atten-
ton to the fact that the recent republican
rational convention at Chicago refused,
when the issue was presented TO il, TO de-
clare against such practices.
We pledge the democratic party to the
enactment Of q law prohibiting any corpora
ton from contributing to a campaign fund
and any Individual from contributing an
amount above a reasonable minimum and
providing for the publication before cleo
ton OF all contribution above a reasonable
Rights of the states.
Believing with jefferson in the support
Of the state governments in all their tights
as lle most competent ADMINISTRATION lot
our domestic concerns and the surest bull
Uark agsins. anti republican tendencies,
and in the preservation. " the general
government II its whole constitutional
vigor, as the sheet anchor Of our peace
at home and safety abroad. We are OPP
posed to the centEaltzation implied In the
suggestions, now frequently made, that
the powers of the general government
should be extended by executive and legis-
lative action and by judicial construction.
There is no twilight zone between the
nation and the state, In which exploiting
interests can take refuge from both, aud
1t is as necessary that the federal govern
mont shall exercise the powers delegated
TO it "a II is that the state governments
shall use the authority reserved to them.
but we insist that the federal remedies for
the regulation Of interstate ard
for the prevention Of private monopoly
shall be added to, not substituted for
state remedies.
Revision of Tariff.
We welcome the belated promise of tariff
reform now offered by the republican party
in tardy recognition OF the righteousness Of
the democratic position on this question,
Blu the people cannot safely entrust the
execution of this important work to a party
which is so deeply obligated to the highly
protected interests as is the republican
party. We call attention to the significant
fact hat the promised relief was postponed
until after the coming electIon-an election
to succeed In which the republican party
must have the same support from the bene-
f~iciaries OF the high protective tariff as II
has always heretofore received from item:
and to the further fact that during years
of Uninterrupted power, no action whatever
has been taken by the republican congress
TO. correct the admittedly existing tariff
iniquities.
We favor immediate revision of the tariff
by the reduction of import duties. Articles
entering into competition with trust-con-
trolled products should be placed upon the
free list, and material 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
graduated reductions should be made In
such other schedules as may be necessary
to restore the tariff to a revenue basis.
Existing duties have given to the manu-.
they have organized combinations TO raise
the price of pulp and of paper, thus impos.
We demand the immediate repeal of the
tariff on wood pulp, print paper, lumber
timber and logs and that these articles bt
placed upon the free list.
trusts.
A private monopoly is indefensIbIe and
intolerable. We, therefore, favor the vigor
Gus enforcement of the criminal law agains
guilty trust magnates and officials, anc
demand the enactment Of such additions
legislation as may he necessary to make 1
in the United states. Among The add
tional remedies, we specify three: Firss
a law preventing a duplication of directors
among competing corporations; second.
license system which will. without abrldg
ing right OF each state to create corpora
tions, or Its right to regulate as 1t vii
foreign corporations doing business withiI
It's limits, make It necessary for a manu-
featuring or trading corporation engaged
in interstate TO take out a fed
eral license before II shall be permitted Il
control as much as 25 per cent OF tn,
product in which It deals, the license L
protect the public from watered stock anC
to prohibit the control by such corporation
Of more than 80 per cent Of the tota
amount of any product consumed in thu
United States; and third, a law compelling
such licensed corporations to sell to al
purchasers in all parts Of the country oil
the same terms. after making due allow
ance for cost of transportation.
Income Tax.
We favor an income tax as part of gu
revenue system, and we urge the submis
sion of q constitutional amendment speclfi
cally authorizing congress to levy and col
lect e tax upon the individual and corpor
ate incomes, to the end that wealth ma!
bear its proportionate share of the bur
dens of the federal government.
Railroad Regulation.
We assert the right oil congress TO ex
ercise complete control over interstate
m and the right OF each state Il
exercise like control over commerc'
within it's borders.
We demand such enlargement OF tn
powers of the Interstate com
mission as may be necessary to com
pei railroads to perform their duties a
common carriers and prevent discrimina
We favor the efficient supervision an
rate regulation of railroads engaged II
interstate m To this end W,
recommend the physical valuation o
railroads by the Interstate Commerce
commission, such valuation to take int
consideration the physical value of tin
property, the original cost of production
and all elements Of value that Will rem
der the valuation fair and just.
We favor such legislation as will pre-
vent the railroads from engaging II
business which brings them into compe
tition with their shippers; also Legislation
which VIII assure such reduction 4
transportation rates as conditions vii
tion that would compel a reduction o
wages, prevent ~dequate service or d
injustice to legitimate investments.
We heartily approve the laws pro
hibiting the pass and the rebate and W
favor any further necessary legislatio
TO restrain, correct and prevent sue.
abuses.
we favor such legislation as will in
crease the power OF the Interstate Com
merce commission. giving to II tn
: initiative with reference to rates an
transportation charges put into effect b
the railroad companies, and permittin
the Interstate Commerce commission, o
its own initiative, to declare a rate lille
gal and as being more than should b
charged for such service. That the pres
| ent law relating thereto Is inadequate d
!: WAKEFIELD'