Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1908-08-21

mGttcr Wnlcn way We ,IHn; no Liaytcr
to what subject we address ourselves.
the same question confronrs us: Shall
rho people control fhcir own govern.
hieGt, anu use that government for the
protection of their rights an Tor the
promotion of their welfare: or shall
the representatives OF predatory wealth
prey upon Il defenseless pIblic, while
the offenders secure immunity from
to power by uns, ,'rupulo,Is methods?
This is the issue raised hy the known
abuses" to which Nh Tart refers.
Presidents Indictment Against this
Party.
In a message sent t. con- rc.;s last
January. President Roosevelt said
THE attacks by these great corpora
tions on the administrations actions
have been given Il wide circulation
throughout the country. In the news
and speakers who. consciously or un
consciously, act as the representatives
Of predatory wealth-of the wealth ac
cumulated on giant scale by all forms
Of iniQuity, ranging from the oppres
sion of wage earners to unfair and un
wholesome methods of crushing out
competition. and to Lefrauding the
public by stock -jobbing and the man!p
ulation Of securities. Certain wealthy
men Of this stamp. whose condutt
should be abhorrent to every man Of
ordinarily decent conscience. and who
commit the hideous wrong Of teaching
our young men that phenomenal busl
ness success must ordinarily be based
on dishonesty. have. during the last
few months. made 1t apparent that
they have banded together to work for
reaction. Their endeavor Is to
overthrow and discredit all who hon
eStly administer the law, to prevent
any additional legislation which would
check and restrain them. and TO secure.
II possible, freedom from all re-
straint which will permit every un-
scrupulous wrong-doer to do what he
wishes unchecked. provided he has
enough money."-What an arraignment
oI Tue IreudtOry interests.
Is the presidents indictment true?
And, II true. against whom was the
indictment 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. lie
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 Hie COM
mon rules Of business honesty and
fidelity. and Of the limitations imposed
by law upon their actions" and that
''the revelations Of the breaches Of
trusts the disclosures as to rebates
and determinations by railroads, the
accommodating evidence Of the viola
tiOns Of the antitrust laws. by num-
Der OF corporations. and the over issue
OF stocks and bonds Of Interstate rail-
roads for the unlawful enrichlng of d.
rectOrs and for the purpose OF conccn-
trating the control Of the railroads un-
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, filed the cab
met, dominated the senate. controlled
the house Of representatives and Occu-
pied most Of the federal judgeships.
Four years ago the Republican plat
form boastfully declared that since
1S60-with the exception Of two years
the Republican party had been In con-
troll Of part or Of all the branches OF
the federal government; that for two
years only was the Democratic party In
position to either enact or repeal u
law. Having drawn the salaries; hav-
Ing enjoyed the honors: having secured
the prestige. let the Republican party
accept the responsibility
Republican Party Responsible.
Why were these known abuses"
permitted to develop? Why have they
not been corrected? II existing laws
are sufficient. why have they not been
enforced? All Of the executive ma
chinery Of the federal government Is
/ In the hands Of the Republican party.
Are new laws necessary? Why have
they not been enacted? With Re
publican president to recommend. with
Republican senate and house to carry
out his recommendations. why does the
Republican candidate plead for further
time In which to do what should have
been done long ago? Can Mr.. Taft
promise TO he more strenuous In the
prosecution Of wrong-doers than the
present executive7 Can he ask for q
larger majority In the senate than his
party now has1 Does he need more
, Republicans in the house Of represent.
| atives or speaker with more unlim.
/ tied authority.
Why No Tariff Reform3
The presidents close friends have
been promising for several years that
ne would attack the iniQuities Of the
tarin. We have had intimation that
Mr.. Taft was restive under the de-
mands Of the highly protected in
dustries. And yet the influence Of the
manufacturers. who have for twenty
five years contributed to the Republican
campaign fund, and who in return
have framed the tariff schedules, has
been sufficient to prevent tariff reform.
As the present campaign approached,
both the president and Mr.. Taft de-
clared In favor Of tariff revision. but
set the date Of revision after the elec.
Hon. But the pressure brought to bear
by the protected interests has been
great enough to prevent any attempt at
tariff reform before the election; and
the reduction promised after the cleo
ton Is so hedged about with qualify
Ing phrases. that no one can estimate
with accuracy the sum total of tariff
reform to be expected in case Of Re
publican success. II the past can bs
taken as guide, the Republican party
will be s" obligated by campaign CON
lributions from ths beneaciaries of mo
lection, as to make that party mower.
oD to bring to the country any ma