The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1908-08-21

whom they raise to power 81 unscru.
pulous methods? 5s32S
President's indictment Of Party. 3
In message sent to congress last
January, President Roosevelt said:
"The attacks by these great corpora
lions on the administrations actions
have been given a wide circulation
throughout the country, in the news.
papers and otherwise, by those writ
ers and speakers who, consciously or
unconsciously, act as the representa-.
tives of predatory wealth Of the
wealth accumulated on giant scale
by all forms Of iniquity, ranging from
the oppression Of wage earners to un-
fair and unwholesome methods Of
crushing out competition, and to de-
frauding the public by stock jobbing
and the manipulation Of securities"
Is the presidents indictment true?
And, if true, against whom was the in
dictment directed? Not against the
Democratic party.
| Mr.. Taft Endorses the Indictment.
Mr.. Taft says that these evils have
crept in during the last ten years. He
declares that during this time some
prominent and influential members
of the community, spurred by financial
success and in their hurry for greater
wealth, became unmindful of the com.
mon rules of business honesty and
fidelity and of the limitations imposed
by law upon their actions;" and that
4f h~ 10
trusts, the disclosures as to rebates
and determinations by railroads, the
accommodating evidence Of the viola
tions of the antitrust laws by a num-
Der of corporations, and the overissue
| of stocks and bonds of interstate rail-
roads for unlawful enrichment of d.
rectors and for the purpose of concen-
trating the control of the railroads UNI
der one management''-all these, he
charges, "quickened the conscience of
the people and brought on moral
awakening"
During all this time, beg to REMIND
you, Republican officials presided in
the executive department, filled the
cabinet. dominated the senate, con-
.trolled the house of representatives
and occupied most of the federal
judgeships.
Why No Tariff Reform?
The presidents close friends have
been promising for several years that
he would attack the iniquities of the
tariff. We have had intimation that
Mr.. Taft was FESTIVE under the de-
mands of the highly protected indus
tries. And yet the influence of the
manufacturers, who have for twenty
five years contributed to the Repub-
lican campaign fund and who in re-.
turn have framed the tariff schedules,
has been sufficient to prevent tariff
reform.
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 Republican senate and a
Republican house of representatives
were unmoved by its entreaties.
Mr.. Taft complains of the overissue
of stocks and bonds of railroads, "for
the unlawful enriehing of directors
and for the purpose of concentrating
the control of the railroads under one
management" and the complaint is
we'll founded. But, with president to
point out the evil and a Republican
congress to correct it, we find nothing
done for the protection of the public.
Why?
The Publicity Issue.
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 pub
lie, refused to consent to law which
would compel honesty in elections.
When the matter was brought up in
the recent Republican national con-
vention, the plank was repudiated by
a vote Of $50 to "a. Here, too, Mr..
Taft has been driven to apologize for
his convention and to declare himself
in favor of publicity law.
I'VE pledge the Democratic marty
to the enactment of a law prohibiting
any corporation from contributing to
campaign fund, and any individual
from contributing an amount above
a reasonable maximum, and providing
for the publication, before election, of
all such contributions above a reason
able minimum"
Next to the corrupt use of money,
the present method of electing United
States senators is most responsible
for the obstruction of reforms.
Through Democratic victory, and
through a Democratic victory only,
can the people secure the popular cleo
! ton of senator's.
House Rules Despotic.
The third instrumentality employed
to defeat the will Of the people is
found in the rules of the house Of rep
resentatives. Our platform points out
that 'the house of representatives was
designed by the fathers of the Con.
stitution to be the popular branch of
! our government. responsive to the pub.
lie will.''
Our party demands that the .shouse
! Of representatives shall auoin haoo,,o