Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1908-08-12


lection. as to make that rarty power.
less TO brlng To the country any ma.
terial relief from the present tarig
burdens.
why No Antitrust legislation
lew gears ago the Republican lr.i :
ers In the house OF re..rsseatitiv..s
were coercSi by public opinion ia;o
the support OF an antitrust law which
mao The endorsement OF th.. president.
bCt the senate refused even TO con-
slider the measure. .Yl si,c,. that tiu,s
no cuort has been made by the 6oni-
nant party TO secure remedial legisla-
ton Upon this subject
Why No Railroad lesisIation7
for ten years the Interstate Com
mercc Commission has been asking for
an enlargement of its powers. that IL
might prevent rebates and Giscrimino-
tons. but Republican senate ana a
Republican house OF representatives
were unmoved by IT'S ent~eatios. In
100 the Republican national conyen-
tion was urged to endorse the demand
Tor railway legislation. but its platform
was silent on the subject Even In
l9Ol the convention gave 40 pledge to
remedy these abuses. When the presi-
dent hnally asked for legislation he
drew his inspiration from three Demo
cratic national platforms ana he re.
ceired more cordial support from the
Democrats than from the Republicans.
The Republicans in the senate deliber-
ately defeated several amendments Of
fcrred by Senator La Toilette anI sun
ported 10y the Democrats-amendn nents
embodying legislation asked by the In.
terstatc Commerce Commission. One
OF these amendments authorized the
asccrtainment OF the value OF rail
roads. This amendment was not only
defeated by the senate. but Il was over.
whelmingiy rejected 10y the recent Re
publican national convention. and the
Republican candidate has sought TO res
cue his party from the disastrous re-
suits OF this act 10y expressing him
self. in qualified way, in favor OF
ascertaining theyalue of the railroads.
over-issue Of Stocks and Bonds.
Mr.. Taft complains OF the ovcr-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 Il president Ia
point out the evil and Republican
congress TO correct II. we lnd nothing
done for the protection OF the public.
Nhyf My honorable opponent has. bv
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 Il large majority OF the
voters Of the Republican party reco--
nize the dcplorable situation which Mr.
Taft describes; they recognize that the
masses have had but little influence
upon legislation or upon the ad.
mlnistration OF the government. and
they are beginning to understood
the cause. For n generation the Re.
publican party has drawn its cam.
paign funds from the beneilciaries OF
special legislation. Privileges have
been pledged and granted I'm return for
money contributed 10 debauch elec-
uons. What can be expected when OF.
fetal authority is turned over TO the
representatives Of those who first fur.
niSh the sincwS Of war and then REIN
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 pOwerlcSs to re-
generate itself. IL can not attack
wrong-doing in high places without dis
graclng many OF its prominent men,
bers, and II, therefore, uses oplates in
stead Of the surgeons knife. Its male
factors construc each Republican vic.
tory as an endorsement Of their con-
duct AMI threaten the party with de-
feat II they are interfercd with. Not
until that party passes through Il pc
riod OF fasting in the wilderness. will
the Republican leaders learn Ia study
public questions from the standpoint
ot the masses. Just rs with mdivid-
uals, 1.-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 10 the cry OF distress
Publicity as to Campaign Contribu-
tions.
An effort has been made To secure
legislation requiring pnh!ici;y as to
campaign co2tlfhutionS ANA eXpendi-
lures; but the Republican leaders, even
in the face OF an Indignant public. re-
fused 10 consent 10 law which would
compel hon, sty in elections. When the
matter was brought up i'm the recent
Republican national convention. the
plank was repudiated ny vote OF $50
70 "a. Here, too. Mr. Taft has been
driven TO apologize for his convention
and to declare himself In favor of
publicity law; and yet IL 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 n law be passed requiring
the filing. in federal office. of n state
mcnt of the contributions received by
committees and candidates in elections
for members Of congress. and i'm such
other elections as are constitutionally
within the control of congress-"
| shall not embarrass him by asking
him upon what he bases his hope of