Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1908-02-06
TO DECEIVE VOTER
REPUBLICAN PROMISES NOT
MADE IN GOOD FAITH.
Pledges to Reform Tariff "After the
Election" Are as valueless as I
Past Action Taken Against
the Trusts. \

The department of justice is re-
ported to be about to file a suit to dis
solve the combine between the Union
Pacific and Southern Pacific railroads
It is now some years since Senator
Knox, when attorney general, sue
ceeded in d~issolving the partnership
between the Great Northern and
Northern Pacific railroads, but for any
advantage the public secured from
that decision it might as well never
have been made. In theory the deci-
sion was supposed to again produces
competition between the railroads, but.
in fact, as far as rates are concerned,
the combine still holds good. Similar
lack of practical results may be ex-
pected If the combine of the Harri-
man railroads is decided by the SUI
preme court as illegal.
What is the S of expanding all:
the energy of the department OF
justice on q case that it is known in
advance will produce NO relief to the
public? Not a dollar has been saved
to the people by these spectacular
suits for the large amount expended
in prosecuting them. 1t bothers the
railroad managers, but does not pre-
vent them from charging "all the traf-
fc will bear" The administration ap-
pears to think it is necessary to do
something to show it is the great
modern t~rust-busting machine.
If the Republican leaders wish to
curb the lawlessness of the railroads,
why they do not include the railroad
m%agnates, such as Hartman, who are,
the real conspirators that have defieda
the law? With Hartman in stripes
the balance of the law breakers would
hasten to mend their ways.
Meanwhile the real trusts that have
a virtual monopoly, such as the steel
trust, which has plundered the people
of millions and is still plundering.
them, goes unwhipped of justice. It.
is selling its products much cheaper
to foreigners than to our own people.
The Republican tariff protects it in so
dolng and the Republican leaders re-
fuss to even consider tariff reform.
The department of and
labor has the evidence of conspiracy
in restraint of trade against the steel
trust, and If such evidence has not
been turned over by President Roose-
welt to his attorney general, it must
be that political and partisan adVan-
tage has held his hand.
The Republican leaders declare
they will revise the tariff after cleo
ton and will so promise in their ma
tional platform. Can the voters be
fooled again by promises to reform?
With the hands of the ~pickpocket in
the pocket of his victim would an
honest man fail of aid and wait until
he caught the thief in he act the sec
ond or the thousandth - timer
Would not such delay in preventing
such thefts indicate there was either
timidity or collision between him and
the plunderer?
The Republican leaders have the
evidence against the trusts. Congress
has appropriated millions of the peo-
pies money to obtain the evidence
and to pay for their prosecution. They
acknowledge the tariff has fostered
and protects the trusts, else why
promise to reform it after election? 2"
If the Republican leaders had not
participated in the ~plundering of the
people by the trusts and corporations
and expected further campaign con-
tributions from the same sources,
would they wait until after election? ~
1t would be more reasonable to believe
they would, for the sake of the DO
litical advantage that real reform will
undoubtedly give them, at once set
the machinery of the law in motion
and not adjourn congress until the.
tariff which shelters the trusts was.
radically revised.