The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1908-08-20

and the manipulation of securities"
Is the presidents indictment true?
And, If true, against whom was the in
dictment directed? Not against the
Democratic party.
Mr.. Taft says that these evils have
crept in during the last ten years. He
declares that during this time some
prominent and influential members
of the community, spurred by financial
success and in their hurry for greater
wealth, became unmindful of the com
mon rules Of business honesty and
fidelity and of the limitations imposed
by law upon their actions" and that
the revelations of Il breaches of
trusts, the disclosures as to rebates
and determinations by railroads, the
accommodating evidence of the viola
tons of the antitrust laws by a mum
Der of corporations, and the overissue
or stocks and bonds of interstate rail.
roads for unlawful enrichment Of di-
rectors and for the purpose Of concen-
trating the control of the railroads un-
der one management"-all these, he
kbarges, "quickened the conscience of
people and brought on a moral
ipg."
this time, | beg to remind
blican officials presided in
Etive department, filed the
dominated the senate. con-
he house of representatives
and Occupied most Of the federal
judgeshps.
Why No Tariff Reform?
The residents 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 de-
mands of, the highly protected indus
tries. And yet the influence of the
manufacturers, who have for twenty
five years contributed to the Repub-
lican campaign fund and who in re-
turn nave famed the tariff schedules,
has been sufficient TO prevent tariff
reform.
A few ye;rs ago the Republican
leaders in thehouse of representatives
NtkSC OC W puDllC oplhlol lhlo IhC
support of an antitrust law which had
the Endorsement of the president, but
the senate refused even to consider
the measure, AID since that time no
effort has been made by the dominant
party to secure remedial legislation
upon the subjec.
Why No Railroad Legislation?
For ten years the n Interstate COM
merce commiss.oI has been asking for
an enlargement o its powers that it
might prevent rebtes and discrimina-
lions, but a Republican senate and a
Republican house of representatives
were unmoved by Is e%ntreaties.
Mr.. Taft complains of the oyerissue
of stocks and bond of railroads, for
the unlawful enrihing of directors
and for the purpos of concentrating
the control of the nilroads under n
management" and the complaint is
well founded. But, With a president to
point out the evil nd a Republican
congress to correct /, We find nothing
done for the protection of the public.
Why?
The Publicly Issue.
An effort has beer made to secure
legislation requiring publicity as to
campaign contributions and expendi'
lures; but the Republican leaders,
even in the face Of an indignant pub
lie, refused to consen, to a law which
would compel honest' in elections.
When the matter was brought up in
the recent Republican national con-
vention, the plank was r~epudiated by
a vote of $50 to "a. Here, too, Mr..
Taft has been driven to apologize for
his convention and to declare himself
in favor Of a publicity law.
How can the people hope to rule If
they are not able 10 learn until after
the election what the predatory inter
ests are doing? The Democratic party
meets the issue honestly and courage
ously. 1t says:
I'VE pledge the Democratic party
to the enactment or q law prohibiting
any corporation from contributing to
a campaign fund, and any individual
from contributing an amount above
a reasonable maximum, and providing
for the publication, before election, OF
all such contributions above a reason
able minimum"
Next to the corrupt use of money,
the present method of electing United
States senator's is most responsible
for the obstruction of reforms.
Through a Democratic victory, and
through a Democratic victory only,
| can the people secur the popular cleo
ton Of senators.
House Rules Despotic.
The third fundamentally employed
to defeat the will Of the people is
found in the rules of the house Of rep
resentatives. Our platform points out
that 1.-The house Of representatives was
designed by the fathers of the Con-
stitution to be the popular branch OF
our government, responsive to the pub.
lie will"
Our party demands that the house
Of representatives shall again become
a deliberative body, controlled by a
majority of the peoples representa-
tives and not by the speaker" and is
pledged to adopt such rules and reg
uIations 20 govern the house of repre-
sentatives as will enable a majority of
its members to direct its deliberations
and control legislation"