The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1908-08-14
Why No Anti.tru.. LeaisIat;on2

the support Of an antitrust law which
had the endorsement Of the president,
but the senate refused even to con-
slider the measure, and since that time
no effort has been made by the domi-
nant party to secure remedial legisla-
ton 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 diScrimina-
tons, but a Republican senate and
Republican house Of representatives
were unmoved by its entreaties. In
1900 the Republican national conven-
ton was urged to endorse the demand
for railway legislation, but its platform
was silent on the subject. Even in
1904 the convention gave no pledge to
remedy these abuses. When the presi-
dent finally asked for legislation he
drew his inspiration from three Demo-
cratic national platforms and he re-
ceived more cordial support from the
Democrats than from the Republicans.
The Republicans in the senate deliber-
ately defeated several amendments Of
ferred by Senator La Toilette and sup
ported by the Democrats amendments
embodying 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 over
whelmingly rejected by the recent Re
publican national convention, and the
cue his party from the disastrous re-
suits Of this act by expressing HIM
self, in a qualified way, in favor Of
ascertaining the value of the railroads.
over-issu of Stocks and Bonds.
Mr.. Taft complains of 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
management" and the complaint is
well founded But, with president to
point out the evil, and a Republican
congress to correct 1t, we find nothing
done for the protection of the public
Why? My honorable opponent has, by
his confession, relieved me of the ne
cessity 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 large majority of the
voters of the Republican party recog-
nize the deplorable situation which Mr.
Taft describes; they recognize that the
masses have had but little influence
upon legislation or upon the adj
ADMINISTRATION of the government, and
they are beginning to understand
the cause. For a generation the Re-
publican party has drawn it's cam
paign funds from the beneficiaries of
special legislation. Privileges have
been pledged and granted in return for
money contributed to debauch cleo
tons. What can be expected when Of
fetal authority is turned over to the
representatives Of those who first fur
nish the sinews Of war and then reim-
burse themselves out of the pockets Of
the taxpayers?
Fasting In Wilderness Necessary.
So long as the Republican party re-
mains in power, it is powerless to re-
generate itself. 1t can not attack
wrong-doing in high places without dis
grazing many Of its prominent men,
bers, and it, therefore, uses opiates in
stead Of the surgeons knife. Its male
factors construe each Republican vic
tory as an endorsement of their con-
duct and threaten the party with de-
feat If they are interfered with. Not
until that party passes through Pc
Rod of fasting in the wilderness, will
the Republican leaders learn to study
public questions from the standpoint
of the masses. Just as with individ-
uals, "the cares of this world and the
deceitfulness of riches choke the truth"
so in politics, when party leaders serve
far away from home and are not in
constant contact with the voters, con-
tinued party success blinds their eyes
to the needs of the people and makes
them deaf to the cry of distress.
Publicity as to Campaign Contribu-
tions.
An effort has been made to secure
legislation requiring publicity as to
campaign contributions and eXpendi-
lures: but the Republican leaders, even
in the face of an indignant public, re-
fused to consent to a law which would
compel honesty in elections. When the
matter was brought up in the recent
Republican national convention, the
plank was repudiated by 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; and yet, If you will read
what he says upon this subject, you
will find that his promise falls far short
Of the requirements Of the situation.
He says:
'If l am elected president, / shall
urge upon congress, with every hope of
success. that law be passed requiring
the filing, in a federal Office, of a state
ment of the contributions received by
committees and candidates in elections
for members of congress, and in such
other elections as are constitutionalfy
within the control of congress"
I shall nat ON, ha hin, hv osi.;pD