The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-08-12

| had the endorsement OF the president, |
but the senate refused even TO consid-
er the measure. and since that time no
effort has been made by the dominant
party TO secure remedial legislation
upon this subject. m
Why NO railroad Lexi.Iationf
For ten years the interstate com
merce commission has been asking for
an enlargement Of Its powers. that AZ !
| might prevent rebates and discriniinn- I,
| tons. but u Republican senate anu ,
| Republican house or representatives !,
1900 the Republican national CONVEX
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 pleuge .
10 remedy these abuses. When the ,
president finally asked for legislation, ,
| he drew his inspiration from three /
| Democratic national platforms ana ne !
! received more cordial support from the /
| Democrats than from the Republicans.
The Republicans In the senate deib- ,
erately defeated several amendments
offered by senator LaFollett and sup
ported by the Observation-Disclosures
embodying legislation asked by the IN ,
| terstate commerce commission. One or I
these amendments authorized the as ,
| certainment OF the value OF railroads. ,
This amendment was not only defeat !
ed by the senate. but II was over ,
publican national convention. and the
Republican candidate has sought to ,
rescue his party from the disastrous {
self. In qualified way in favor of |,
ascertaining the value OF the railroads.
Over-Issue Of stocks and Bonds.
| Mr.. Taft complains of the over-issue
of stocks and bonds OF railroads. for
the unlawful enriching OF directors and I
Tor the purpose of concentrating the {
agement." and the complaint Is well
founded. But. with president To I
point out the evil and hspnoilesn
done for the protection of the public. 1
Why? My Honorable opponent has, by !
cessity OF furnishing proof: he admits a,
the condition and he can not avoid the Z
logical conclusion that must be drawn
whatever that large majority OF the (
voters Of the Republican party recos [
nize the depiorabie situation which Mr..
! Taft describes they recognize that the
masses have had but little influence
upon legislation or upon the admins
are beginning to understand the cause.
| For a generation. the Republican par
~ has drawn It's campaign funds from
Privileges have been pledged and ,
granted in return for money contribut- I
ed to dsbanch elections What ca; can pc
turned over to the representatives OF
those who first furnish the sinews Of /
OF the pockets OF the taxpayers?
Fasting in Wilderness Necessary. /
So long as the Republican party re- I
mains nssa In p9 ivn' II is p0weriesS to re-
wrongdoing in high places with 5
out disssracing many of its 9
ss ases ms% opasss and 'Asre
the surgeons knife. Its malefac- /
tors construe each Republican victory I
threaten the party with defeat II they
are interfered with: Not until that
Ing / In p the wilderness. viii III thu the Repub-
| lican leaders learn to study public =
questions will the Republican leaders l
| Ion. .lxl
the standpoint OF the masses. Just as .
with individuals, "the cares OF this '
world and the decetfuiness OF riches i
choke the truth" so in politics when :
party leaders serve far away from
home and not I'm constant contact ]
with the voters continued party sue '
cess blinds their eyes to the needs OF =
the people and makes them deaf to the I
cry OF distress q
Publicity rs to Campaign Contributions G
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 law which would
compel honesty in elections. When tn: {
Republican national convention, the
plank was repudiated by vote OF $50 !
to 81 Here. too. Mr. Taft has been :
and to declare himself In favor of a I
publicity law: and yet IL you VIII read !
wi and S tSat p hs promise tails far
short OF the requirements Of the situa-
ton He says ..,o. ...u
urge upon congress, with every hope
OF success, that a law be passed re- I
curing the Ming. In federal oihce,
ceived by committees and candidates
in elections for members OF congress.
and in such other elections as are con-
! additionally within the control OF con- /
| gress."
shall not embarrass him by ask
l.x. Ll .IAt hA ~ hi hnv. l
OF success; II Is certainly not on any I
encouragement he has received from
Rep1biiea,p9 leaders 1t Is snfi,sient to
in spite OF the adverse action OF his
convention, he should succeed In Sc
curing the enactment OF the very law !
which he favors. II would give but par
tiai relief. He has read the Demo- I
cratic platform; not only his language.
he has read II carefully He even had ,
before him the action OF the Democrat
&c national Somm'stse IN an nd pre-
fails to say that he favors the publ {
cation OF the contributions before the /
election. OF course. 1t satisfies a nat
urai curiosity to ind out how an cleo
tion has been purchased. even when the /
knowledge comes too late to be Of SER {
kept in darkness until the election Is
past? why should the locking OF the
door be delayed until the horse Is
An Election Il Public AFFAIR.
| An election Is public affair. The
| people, exercising the right to select
| their officials and to decide upon the
| policies to be pursued, proceed to their
| several polling places on election day I
and register their Will What excuse
can be given for secrecy as to the IN
| fiuences at work? IL man. pecuniar- |
lily interested in concentrating the :
| control OF the railroads In one man
| agement." subxcribcs a large sum 20
aid In carrying the election, why should
his part In the campaign be concealed .
| until he has put the officials under OBJ
! legation tn him? IL a trust magnate
| contributes 100000 to elect political
! friends to office. with a view to pre-
venting hostile legislation, why should
| that fact be concealed until his fricnus
are securely seated In their official
positions?
| This is not a new question; IL is a
question which has been agitated--a {
question which the Republican leaders
! fully underestimate question which the |
| Republican candidate has studied. and
yet he refuses to declare himself In
necessary. namely. legislation requir- /
ing publication before the election.
Democratic Party Promises Publicity.
How can the people hope to rule. IL
| they are not able to learn until after
the election what the predatory inter- ,
ests are doing? The Democratic party J
meets the issue honestly and courage :
| ously. II says:
we pledge the Democratic party To , |,
the enactment OF law prohibiting any ,
| corporation from contributing to q ,
| campaign fund. and any individual :
from contributing an amount above