Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-08-20

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form was silent on the subject. Even
in 1904, the convention 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 democrats than from the republI-
cans. The republicans in the senate
deliberately defeated several amend
ments offered by Senator LaFollette
and supported by the democrats
amendments embodying legislation
asked by the interstate commerce
commission. One of these amend
ments authorized the asecertainment
of the value Of railroads. This amend
ment was not only defeated by the
senate, but it was overwhelmingly re
iected by the recent republican ma
tional convention and the republican
candidate has sought to rescue his
party from the disastrous results of
this act by expressing himself, in a
qualified way. in favor Of ascertaining
me value OF the rdllTOdQS.
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
for the purpose of concentrating the
control of the railroads under one
management and the complaint is
well founded. But, with a president
to point out the evil, and a republican
congress to correct it, We find nothing
done for the protection of the public
Why? My honorable opponent has by
his confession, relieved me of the nee
essity of furnishing proof; he admits
the condition and he can not avoid
the logical conclusion that must be
drawn from the admission. There is
mo doubt whatever that a large major
ity of the voters of the republican
party recognize the deplorable situa
ton which Mr. Taft describes; they
recognize that the masses have had
but little influence upon legislation Or
upon the administration of the govern
ment, and they are beginning to I'M
derstand the cause. For generation,
the republican party has drawn its
campaign funds from the benefciaries
of special legislation. Privileges have
been pledged and granted in return for
money contributed to debauch cleo
tions. What can be expected when
officials authority is turned over to the
representatives of those who first fun
nish the sinews of war and then retm-
burse themselves out of the pockets IF
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 mem
bers, and it, therefore, uses Opiates
instead Of the surgeons knife. It's
lmalefactors construe each republican
victory as an Endorsement of their con
| duct and threaten the party with de
feat if they are interferred with. Mo-
iod of fasting in the wilderness, will
the republican leaders learn to study
public questions from the standpoint
of the masses. Just as with indivij-
uals the cares of this world and the
deceitfulness of riches choke the
truth so in politics when party lead
ers serve far away from home and are
mot in constant contract with the vot-
ers continued party success blinds
their eyes to the needs of the people
and makes them deaf to the cry of
distress.
Publicity of Contributions.
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 Wheel
the matter was brought up in the re
cent republican national convention,
the plank was repudiated by vote
u
been driven to. apologize for his con-
vention and to declare himself in IA
vor of a publicity law; and yet, if you
will read what he says upon this SUI
ject, you will find that his promise
falls far short of the requirements of
the situation. He says:
IF I am elected president, I shall
urge upon congress, with every hope
of success, that law be passed requir-
ing the filing, in a federal office, of a
statement of the contributions re-
ceived by committees and candidates
in elections for members of congress,
and in such other elections as are con-
stftutionally within the control of con-
gress.'
L shall not embarrass him by ask
ing him upon what he basas his hope
OF success; it is certainly not on any
encouragement he has received from
republican leaders, 1t is sufficient to
say that if his hopes were realized
if, in spite of the adverse action Of his
convention, he should succeed in Sc
curing the enactment of the very law
which he favOrS. it would give but
partial relief He has read the demo
cratic platform; not only his language.
but his evident alarm, indicates that
he has read it carefully. He even had
before him the action Of the democra
tic national committee in interpreting