The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1908-06-26
THE, REPUBLICAN PLATFORM.

Wore II not for the first paragraph
in DR. NJ. Pietrzyckfs letter IN liie
current issue Of the Columbia Chroni-
Gle. one would surely insist that tile
worthy dictor was a democrat CT the
dved-ir-the- wool variety. But the dc
tor effectively disposes of such pre-
sumntion and establishes his right 10
discuss the republican platform from
the standpoint of one who should DIT
least. have been its friend.
The doctors letter, which Is COM
mended to the careful perusal OF al
republicans. follows:
promising that l am at heart re-
nublican on national politics; that L
have been and am an admirer and sup
porter of Roosevelt policies and nave
been one of the earliest, enthusiastic
and persistent advocates of Wlillam
Howard Taft's candidacy for president
of the United States; that L nave at
tended as chairman Of the republican
county delegation. the state convention
and assisted there in forming Our state
republican platform, and was honored
by being elected as alternate delegate
to the national convention at Chicago,
l trust that my comments on the plat
form adopted by the national conven-
ton will be taken with sincerity and
! good faith, as being dictated from a
desire for public good.
THE platform in some portions gives
one the impression that the republican
/ v,f in
! fuence of predatory wealth and selfish
| interests. 1t is a timid declaration, too
conciliatory and conservative where
we expected firmness and steadfast ad-
vance in outlining reforms generally
spoken Of as Roosevelt policies
| Admitting that the emergency
currency measure passed on the last
! day of the session Of congress will be
efficient in preventing the repetition of
stringency such as the country has re-
Gently experienced and that the cur
! rency issued under it would be safe.
yet it is an unnecessarily complicated
measure class legislation giving un-
due privileges to banking interests and
continuing the practice of government
deposits with the banks. The mixing
up of the currency question with bank
ing is bound to confuse both and does
not add anything to the safety Of the
currency.
The law clothes the secretary OF
the treasury with great and even ar
bitrary power. tempting to favOritisn
and corruption. 1t is admitted. however
that the necessity to pass some eff
cient measure was great. and even the
writer if a member of congress- woulJ
have probably voted for this bill soonrl
than expose the country to the dange'
7 of another financial disturbance which
could readily be caused by financial
manipulators. Yet bill like that is not
credite5le to the party in power and the
monetary commission appointed by con
sresS Is not such as would promise vel
for the future in this respect.
The direction is good and we hope
: that comprehensive laws will be enact.
ed for the national chartering of al
; corporations doing interstate business
and that they be strictly controlled b,
= requiring them to account for all re
ceipts and disbursements and repor
periodically to the government and tn,
stockholders. They should be prohibited
from using the corporate funds for an,
other purpose than legitimate needs
and should not be allowed to- undu.'
accumulate the funds. but should be re
9 CURED to pay. periodically. DIVIDEND
: from the earnings. The officers CT cor
poratlons should be held personally re
srCnsible for false statements and D.
: required under proper supervision, t
Q conduct the business on sound princi