The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-08-12

all who honestly administer the law,
to prevent any additional legislation
| which would check and restrain them,
| and to secure, IL possible, a freedom
! from all restraint which will permit
| every INSCRIPTIONS wrong-doer to do
what he wishes unchecked, provided
he has enough money."-What an ar
! raignment of the predatory interests!
Is the presidents indictment true?
| And. il true. against whom was the
| indictme Mt directed? Not against the
democratic party.
Taft Endorses 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 finan-
| cial success and in their hurry for
| greater wealth. became unmindful of
| the common rules of business honesty
| and fidelity, and of the limitations i'm
posed by law upon their actions;" and
| that the revelations of the breaches
| of trusts. the disclosures as to re-
bates and determinations by railroads,
the accommodating evidence of the vio-
| lations of the antitrust laws, by a
number of corporations, and the over
| issue of stocks and bonds of inter-
state railroads for the unlawful en-
| riching of directors and for the pur-
pose Of concentrating the control of
| the railroads under one manage
| ment, all these, he charges, quick
ened the conscience of the people and
| brought on a 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. Four years ago the re-
| publican platform boastfully declared
| that since 1S60-with the exception of
two years-the republican party had
| been in control of part or OF all the
| branches of the federal government;
that for two years only was the demo-
| cratic party in a position to either en-
| act or repeal a law. Having drawn
| the salaries; having enjoyed the hon
| ors; having secured the prestige, let
| the republican party accept the re-
sponsibility!
| G. o. p. Responsible.
Why were these known abuses"
| permitted to develop? Why have
they not been corrected? If existing
laws are sufficient, why have they
not been enforced? All of the execu-
tive machinery of the federal govern
ment is in the hands of the republican
| party. Are new laws necessary?
| Why have they not been enacted?
With republican president to recon-
mend, with a republican senate and
house to carry out his recommends
lions, why does the republican candi-
| date plead for further time in which
to do what should have been done
long ago? Can Mr.. Taft promise to
be more strenuous in the prosecution
OF wrong-doers than the present execu-
tive? Can he ask for larger major
ity in the senate than his party now
has? Does he need more republicans
In the house of representatives or a
speaker with more unlimited author
ity?
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 republi-
can campaign fund, and who in return
have framed the tariff schedules, has
been sufficient to prevent tariff re-
form. AS the present campaign ap-
proaches. both the president and Mr..
Taft declared in favor of tariff revis-
lon, but set the date Of revision after
the election. But the pressure brought
to bear by the protected interests has
been great enough to prevent any at
tempt at tariff reform before the cleo
ton; and the reduction promised af-
ter the election Is so hedged about
with qualifying phrases. that no one
can estimate with accuracy the sum
total OF tariff reform to be expected
In case OF republican success. If the
past can be taken as a guide, the re-
publican party will be so obligated by
campaign contributions from the bene-
ficiaries Of protection, as to make that
party powerless to bring to the coun.
try any material relief from the pres.
ent tariff burdens.
Antitrust Legislation.
/ few years ago the republican lead.
ers in the house of representatives
were coerced by public opinion into
the support Of an antitrust law which
had the Endorsement of the president
but the senate refused even to consid.
er the measure. and since that time
:. no effort has been made by the dom.
inant party to secure remedial egis
lation upon this subject.
Railroad Legislation.
For ten years the Interstate Com
merce Commission has been asking
for an enlargement of it's powers, that
1t might prevent rebates and discrim
nations. but a republican senate and
a republican house of representatives