Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-08-10


attention 10 the significant fact that
the promised relief was postponed un-
I'll after the coming election, an cleo
ton 10 succeed In which the Rcpub-
lican party must have that same sup
port from the beneiiciarlcs OF the high
protective tariff MS 1t has always here
tofore received from them. ana 70 the
further fact that during years OF un-
interrupted power no action whatever
has been taken 10y the Republican con
gross 10 correct the admittedly existing
tariff iniquItics.
We favor immediate revision of the
tariff dby 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 in the
tariff upon the uecessaries of life. es-
pecially upsn articles competing with
such American manufactures as are
sold abroad moro cheaply than ut
home. and graduate reductions should
be made I'm such other schedules as
may be necessary 10 restore the tariff
to revenue basis.
Existing duties have given 10 the
manufacturers of paper shelter be-
hind which they have organized COM
blnations TO raise the price OF pulp and
OF paper. thus imposing tax upon the
spread OF knowledge We demand the
immediate repeal of the tariff on pulp.
print paper. lumber. timber and logs
and that these articles be placed upon
the free list.
The house of rep
Arbitrary Powss rescntatives was de
Ct Speaker. signed 10y the IA.
Tiers OF the consti-
tuition 10 be the popular branch OF our
government. responsive to the public
Will
The holse of representatives. ms con.
trolled in recent years by the Repub
lican party. has ceased TO bc a delibcr
alive and executive body. responsive
to the Will OF majority OF It's mem.
bers, but has come under the absolute
domination OF the speaker. who has
entlrc control Of It's deliberations and
powers Of legislation.
We have observed with amazement
the popular branch OF orr federal gov
ernment helpless 70 obtnln either the
consideration or enactment of meas
ures desired by n majority OF it's mem
bers.
Legislative government becomes
failure when one member In the per.
son of the speaker is more powerful
than the entire body.
We demand that the house of repre-
sentatives shall again become DELHI
erative body. controlled 10y n majority
of the peoples representatives and not
by the speaker. and we pledge our
selves TO adopt such rules and regula.
tions TO govern the house OF represent.
atives as will enable majority OF its
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 under the expressed
or implied agreement that In return
for the contribution of great sums OF
money wherewith to purchase cleo
lions, they should be allowed TO con.
tinue substantially unmolested in their
efforts TO encroach upon the rights of
/ the people.
Any reasonable doubt as TO the eX-
lstence of this relation has been for
ever dispelled by the sworn testimony
of witnesses examined IN The insurance
investigation in New York aud tho
open admission, unchallenged by the
|
single individual that he himself. ut
the personal request of the Republican
candidate for the presidency. raised
over $2J0OOO TO be used I'm q single
state during the closing hours Of the
last campaign. In order that this prac-
tice shall be stopped for all time, we
demand tho passage OF a statute pun
ishing with Imprisonment any officer
Of corporation who shall either con
tribute on behalf Of or consent to the
contribution by corporation of any
money or anything of value to be used
In fuEthcring the election of q presi-
dent or vice president of the United
States or OF any member OF congress
thereof.
We denounce the action of the Re-
publican party, having the complete
control OF the federal government, for
It's failure TO pass the bill, introduced
In the last congress, TO compel the pub
llcatiOn OF the names Of contributors
and the amounts contributed toward
campaign funds, and point to the evil
dence OF their insincerlty, when they
sought by nm 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 wrcsted from
favor seeking corpoCations. we call at
tcntion to the fact that the recent Re
publican national convention nc Chi
cago refused, when the plank was pre-
sented to It, TO declare against such
practices.
We pledge the Democratic party to
the enactment Of Jaw preventing any
corporation contributing to n campaign
fund, and any Individual from contrib
utlng an amount above reasonable
minimum, and providing for the pub
licatiOn before election Of all such con
tributiOns.
We assert the right
Railroad Of congress TO exer.
Regulation. else complete con