Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-08-22

iieateG TO the highly protected interests
"a Is the Republican party. We call
attention TO the significant fast that
the promised relief was postponed un-
Ill after the coming election. an eiec-
ton to succeed In which the Rcpub-
llcan party must have that same sup
port from the beneflciaries of the high
protective tariff as II has always here
tofore received from them, aud TO the
further fact that during years OF I'M
Interrupted power no action whatever
has been taken by the Republican con-
gress to correct the admittedly existing
tariff iniquitles.
We favor immediate revision of tho
tariff by the reduction OF import du-
ties. Articles entering into competition
with trust controlled products should
he placed upon the free list, and mate
rial reductions should lie made In the
tariff upon the neccssarles OF life. ee-
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 a.
may be necessary TO restore the tarirf
10 a revenue basis.
Existing duties have given to the
manufacturers OF paper 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 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 Power resentatives was de-
of Speaker. signed by tho IA
theirs OF the consti-
tuition TO be the popular branch of our
government, responsive TO the public
will
The house of representatives, as con-
trolled In recent years by the Repub-
lican party, has ceased to be n deliber-
alive and executive body, responsive
TO the Will OF majority OF It's mem
bcrs, but has come under the absolute
domination OF the speaker. who has
entire control OF It's deliberations and
powers OF legislation.
We have observed with amaZement
the popular branch OF our federal gov
consideration or enactment of meas
ures desired by a majority of it's mem
bers.
Legislative government becomes
failure when one member in the per
sen OF the speaker is more powerful
than the entire body.
We demand that the house OF repre-
sentatives shall again become n DELHI
erativc body. controlled by majority
of the peoples representatives and not
! by the speaker, and we pledge our
selves to adopt such rules and regula-
tons to govern the house of represent
atives as Will enable majority OF its
members to direct It's 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 sans OF
money wherewith to purchase cleo
tions. they should be allowed to con
tlnue substantially unmoIested In their
efforts to encroach upon the rights of
the people.
Any reasonable doubt as to the ex-
istence of this relation has been for
ever dispelled by the sworn testimony
of witnesses examined In the insurance
| investigation I'm New York and the
open admission. unchallenged by the
Republican national committee. OF n
single individual that he himself. at
the personal request OF the Republican
candidate for the presidency, raised
over S2JO.OOO to be usedsin a single
state during the closing hours OF the
last campaign. In order that this prac-
tice shall be stopped for all time, we
demand the passage OF a statute pun
ishlng with Imprisonment any officer
Of a corporation who shall 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 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
Its failure TO pass the bill, introduced
In 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 lnslncerity. when they
sought by an absolutely irrelevant and
impossible amendment 10 defeat the
passage OF the bill. AS a 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 at Chi
cago refused. when the plank was pre-
seated to II, to declare against such
practices.
We pledge the Democratic party to
the enactment Of law preventing my
corporation contributing TO campaign
fund, and any individual from contrib
uting an amount above reasonable
minimum. and providing for the pub
lication before election Of oil such con
tributions.