The daily sentinel., 1908-08-12


ernment is in the hands of the re-
publican party. Are new laws neecs-
sary? Why have they not been en-
acted? With a republican president
to recommend, with a republican
senate and house to carry out his
recommendations, why does the re-
publican 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 a
larger majority in the senate than his
party now has? Does he need more
republicans in the house of repre-
sentatives 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
MIR. Taft was restive under the de-
mands of the highly protected indus
tries. And yet the influence of the
I manufacturers, who have for twenty
five years contributed to the repub-
lican campaign fund, and who in re-
turn have framed the tariff sched-
ules, has been sufficient to prevent
tariff reform. AS the present cam
paign approached, both the president
and Mr.. Taft declared in favor of
tariff revision, but set the date of
revision after election. But the pres
sure brought to bear by the protected
| interests has been great enough to
prevent any attempt at tariff reform
| before the election; and the reduc-
tion promised after the election is so
hedged about with qualifying phrases
! that no one can estimate with accu-
racy the sum total of tariff reform
| to be expected in case of republican
success If the past can be taken
as guide, the republican party will
| be so obligated by campaign contri-
buttons from the beneficiaries of pro-
lection, as TO make that party power
less 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 Sc
cure remedial legislation upon this
subject.
Why No Railroad Legislation?
For ten years the Interstate Com
merce Commission has been asking
| for an enlargement of its powers,
that it might prevent rebates and
determinations, but a republican
senate and republican house of rep
| resentatives were unmoved by its en-
| treaties. In 1900 the republican ma
tlonal convention was urged to en-
| dorse the demand for railway legis-
| lation. but its platform was silent on
the subject. Even in 1904, the con-
vention 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 demo-
Gratis than from the republicans. The
| republicans in the senate deliberately
defeated several amendments offered
by Senator LaFollette and supported
by the observation-disclosures en-
bodyins legislation asked by the In
terstate Commerce Commission. One
OF these amendments authorized the
| ascertainment of the value of rail-
roads. This amendment was not only
| defeated by the senate, but it was
overwhelmingly rejected by the re-
| cent republican national convention,
| anu the republican canQlQate mas
sought to rescue his party from the
disastrous results of this act by ex-
pressing himself. in a qualified way.
in favor of ascertaining the value of
the railroads.
Over-Issue of Stocks and Bonds.
MIR. Taft complains of the over
| issue of stocks and bonds of rail-
roads. for the unlawful enriching of
directors and for the purpose of con-
centrating the control of the rail-
roads under one management and
the complaint is we'll founded. But
with president to point out the evil,
and a republican congress to correct
it. we find nothing done for the pro-
lection of the public. Why? My
honorable opponent has. by his con-
fession, relieved me of the necessity
of furnishing proof: he admits the
condition and he can 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 republican party
recognize the deplorable situation
which Mr.. Taft describes; they rec
ognize that the masses have had but
little influence upon legislation or
upon the administration of the gov
ernment, and they are beginning to