Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-07-22

iignted 70 the highly protected interests
rs Is the Republican party. We call
attention to the significant fact that
the promised relief was postponed un-
I'll after the coming election. an cleo
ton to succeed In which the Repub-
lean party must have that same sup
port from the beneficiaries OF the high
protective tariff as It has always here
tofore received from them, and TO the
further fact that during years OF un-
Interrupted power no action whatever
has been taken by the Republican con-
gress to correct the admittedly existing
tarif lniQuities.
We favor immediate revision of the
tariff by the reduction OF import du-
ties. Articles entering into competition
with trust controlled products should
be placed upon the free list. and mate
rial reductions should be made I'm the
tariff upon the necessaries of life. es-
pecially upon articles competing with
such American manufactures as are
sold abroad more cheaply than at
home. and graduate reductions should
be made I'm such other schedules as
may be necessary to restore the tariff
to a revenue basis.
Existing duties have given to the
manufacturers OF paper a shelter be-
hind which they have organized com
binations to raise the price OF pulp and
Of paper. thus imposing tax upon the
spread OF knowledge. We demand tho
Immediate repeal u the tariff on pulp.
print paper. lusber, timber and logs
aud that these articles be placed upon
the free list.
The house O. rep.
Arbitrary Power rcsentatives was de-
Of Speaker. signed by the ia
theirs OF the eonsti-
tuition to be the popular branch OF our
government, responsive to tho public
will.
The house OF representatives, as con-
trolled In recent years by the Repub-
iican party. has ceased to be n deliber-
alive and executive body, responsive
to the will OF majority OF its mem
bers, but has come under the absolute
domination OF the speaker. who has
entire control OF Its deliberations and
powers OF legislation.
We have observed with amn1ement
the popular branch OF our federal gov
ernment helpless to obtain either the
consideration or enactment OF meas.
ures desired by q majority OF its mem
bers.
Legislative government becomes a
failure when one member I'm the per-
son OF the speaker Is more powerful
than the entire body.
We demand that tho house OF repre-
sentatives shall again. become DELHI
erat1ve body. controlled by a majority
OF the peoples representatives and not
by the speaker. and we pledge our
selves to adopt such rules and regula
lions to govern the house OF represent
atves as will enable n majority OF it's
members to direct its deliberations and
control legislation.
We demand fed
Publicity Of eral legislation for
Campaign ever terminating the
Contributions. partnership which
has existed between
corporations OF the country and the
Republican party snder the expressed
or implied agreement that I'm return
for the contribution Of great sums Of
money wherewith TO purchase cleo
tons. they should DO allowed to con.
tinue substantially unmolested In their
efforts to encroach upon the rights OF
the people.
Any reasonable doubt as to the ex-
tQfannA NJ hoo %
ever dispeiied by the sworn testimony
Of witnesses examined I'm the insurance
investigation I'm New York and the
open admission, unchaHenged by the
Republican national committee, OF n
single individual that he himself. mt
the personal request OF the Republican
candidate for the presidency, raised
over $25O,oO0 to be used I'm q single
state during the closing hours of the
last campaign. In order that this pras-
tice shall be stopped for all time, we
demand the passage of n statute pun
ishing with Imprisonment any officer
or corporation who sbak either con
tribute on behalf Of or consent TO the
contribution by a corporation OF any
money or anything OF Value to be used
In furthering the election Of n presi-
dent or vice president OF the United
States or OF any member OF congress
thereof.
We denouBce The action OF the Re-
publican party, having the complete
control OF the federal government, for
Its failure to pass the bill. introduced
Ia the last congress, to compel the pub-
lication OF the names OF contributors
and the amounts contributed toward
campaign funds, and point to the evil
dence OF their insincerity, when they
sought by an absolutely irrelevant and
impossible amendment TO defeat the
passage OF the bill. AS further evil
dence Of their intention to conduct
their campaign I'm the coming contest
with vast sums OF money wrested from
favor seeking corporations. we call at
tention to the fact that the recent Re
publican national convention Mt Chi
cago refused, when the plank was pre-
sented to II, to declare against such
PRACTICES.
We pledge the Democratic party to
the enactmento OF a law preventing any
corporation contributing to n campaign
fund. and any Individual from contrib
uting an amount above a reasonable
minimum, and providing for the pSb-