The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-07-07

is devoted to corporate abuses and
evils. He insists that the Democratic
party is not the enemy of property, nor
| the enemy Of all corporations and that
| it is unjust to accuse the Democratic
party of waging an indiscriminate war
against corporations. 1t has waged
and will wage, he says, war against
the abuse of corporate power and viii!
seek to eliminate this abuse. Mr.. Bell
deplores the fact that the control of
corporations has been made a political
concern. It's his idea that it should be
a common concern and handled as
such. But inasmuch as it has been
thrown into the political arena Mr..
Bell declares that it is up to the peo-
pie to choose between the Democratic
party that will, and the Republican
party that will not, place some re-
strictions on Incorporated greed
Mr.. Bell argues that the Republican
platform and the proceedings of the
Republican convention are glaringly
| insincere in that they are made up OF
a lot of promises to do the very things
which the Republican party has not
done. And he scorches the Repubh-
cans for the rather ambiguous anti
injunction plank in their platform. At
the same time he insists that the
Democrats should put an adequate one
in theirs.
He calls upon his party to take firm
stand for a revision of the tariff laws
in the interests of the whole people.
He declares that publicity in campaign
contributions are essential and says
that the failure of the Republicans to
favor such a proposition is confess
sion of the debasing and corrupt use
of moneys in it's campaigns. He asks
the convention to define the Democrat
ic attitude toward the regulation OF
transportation companies and calls at
teution to the fact that the Demo-
Gratis are in a great measure RESPONSE
BILE for the power that has been given
the interstate commerce commission
over the control Of railroad rates for he
says that President Roosevelt would
have been unable to have forced the
Hepburn rate act through congress if
it had not been for Democratic help.
1t would be a good plan, according
to Mr.. Bells ideas for the Democratic
party to come out strongly for govern
ment supervision over the issuance OF
railroad stocks and bonds and also for
the physical valuation of the property
of the railroads as a basis on which to
establish equitable rates. Mr.. Bell also
thinks it is about time that there was
retrenchment and reform in the adj
ministration of the ordinary affairs OF
the government. He strongly urges the
direct election of United States sena-
tors and argues that so long as we main
tain the present method of electing Uni
ted States senators, We cannot hope
that the upper chamber of congress
will reflect the popular will. He also
calls attention to the fact that the
house of representatives on five differ
ent occasions has passed a constitu-
tional amendment for the direct cleo
ton of United States senators but the
proposition has been sandbagged in
the senate on each occasion.
Because he believes that the great
commercial struggles of the future will
be enacted on the Pacific Mr.. Bell
thinks that great portion; of the navy
should be kept in those waters for the
protection of the Pacific coast. He says
also that the workers on that coast
have been protected to some extent by
the exclusion of the Chinese. He adds
that this evil is but half met if the
immigration Of other Asiatic people is
not prohibited.
He admits that the Democratic party
realizes that America must inevitably
play an important part in the settle
ment of all the world problems and de-
clares that American weight and in
fuence must ever be on the side of
peace, Justice and the oppressed. And
he concludes by saying that If the
Democratic party is placed in power it
will use it for the realization of the
high American ideals that raise our
own people to loftier and better things
and through our precepts and exam
pies contribute to the well being and
happiness of al mankind.
Mr.. Bells speech is not long as
speeches Of this sort go but it is a
dignified and admirable assertion of
old-fashioned Democratic principles as
well as a sober exposition of new pub
lie and political questions that have
arisen. And if the Democratic con-
yention follows the lead taken by Mr.
Bell its platform and proceedings will
be of such a conservative nature as
to make a strong appeal to all factions
of the party and to the people of the
country.