Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1908-08-12
ton upon this subject.
Why No Railroad LssisIation7

SC'Cu AAOic COAuIdI support from the
Democrats than from the Republicans.
The Republicans in the senate deliber.
ately defeated several amendments Of
ferred by Senator La Toilette and sup
ported by the Democrats amendments
embodying legislation asked by the In.
terstate Commerce Commission. One
of these amendments authorized the
ascertainment of the value of rail-
roads. This amendment was not only
defeated by the senate, but it was over
whelmingly rejected by the recent Re
publican national convention. and the
Republican candidate has sought to res
cue his party from the disastrous re-
suits of this act by expressing him.
self, in qualified way, in favor of
ascertaining the value of the railroads.
over-issue Of Stocks and Bonds.
Mr.. Taft complains of the over-issue
Of stocks and bonds of railroads, "for
the unlawful enriching of directors
and for the purpose of concentrating
the control of the railroads under one
management" and the complaint is
well founded. But, with a president to
point out the evil, and Republican
| congress to correct it, we find nothing
| done for the protection Of the public
Why? My honorable opponent has, by
his confession, relieved me of the ne
cessity Of furnishing proof; he admits
the condition and he can not avoid the
logical conclusion that must be drawn
from the admission. There is no doubt
whatever that a large majority of the
voters Of the Republican party recog-
nize the deplorable situation which Mr..
Taft describes; they recognize that the
masses have had but little influence
upon legislation or upon the adj
ministration of the government, and
they are beginning to understand
the cause. For a generation the Re-
paign funds from the beneficiaries Of
; special legislation. Privileges have
been pledged and granted in return for
money contributed to debauch cleo
! tons. What can be expected when Of
fetal authority is turned over to the
| ASpA N'oIiitN u CS VI I1lCioC " III IlSL Lul
nish the sinews of war and then reim-
burse themselves out of the pockets Of
the taxpayers?
Fasting In Wilderness Necessary.
So long as the Republican party re-
mains in power, it is poWerless to re-
generate itself. 1t can not attack
wrong doing in high places without dis
gracing many Of it's prominent men,
bcrs, and it, therefore, uses opiatcs in
stead of the surgeons knife. It's male
! factors cOnstrue each Republican vic
tory. as an endorsement Of their con-
duct and threaten the party with de-
| feat if they are interfered with Not
until that party passes through Pc
Rod Of fasting in the wilderness, will
the Republican leaders learn to study
+, public questions from the standpoint
| OF the masses Just as with individ-
| uals, "the cares of this world and the
; deccitfulness of riches choke the TRUTH
SO in politics, when party leaders serve
far away from home and are not in
constant contact With the voters, con-
tinued party success blinds their eyes
to the needs Of the people and makes
them deaf to the cry of distress.
Publicity as to Campaign Contribu-
tions.
An effort has been made to secure
legislation requiring publicity as to
campaign contributions and expendi-
lures; but the Republican leaders, even
in the face of an indignant public, re-
fused to consent to law which would
compel honesty in elections. When the
matter was brought up in the recent
Republican national convention, the
plank was repudiated by vote Of $50
to 04. Here, too Mr. Taft has beer
driven to apologize for his convention
and to- declare himself in favor of a
publicity law; and yet, if you will read
what he says upon this subject, you
will find that his promise falls far short
of the requirements of the situation
He says:
"If l am elected president, I shall
urge upon congress, with every hope of
success, that 4 law be passed requiring
the filing, in federal Office, Of state
ment of the contributions received by
committees and candidates in elections
for members of congress, and in such
other elections as are constitutiOnally
within the control of congress-"
shall not embarrass him by asking
him upon what he bases his hope of
success; it is certainly not on any en-
couragement he has received from Re
publican leaders. 1t is sufficient to say
that if his hopes were realized-if, in
spite of the adverse action of his con.
vention, he should succeed in securing
the enactment of the very law which
he favors, it would give but partial re.
lief. He has read the Democratic plat
form; not only his language but bis
evident alarm, Indicates that he la
read it carefully. He even had before
him the action of the Democratic ma
tional committee in interpreting an(
applying that platform; and yet, hi
fails to say that he favors the publica
ton of the contributions before thu
election OF course, it satisfies a nat
ural curiosity to find out how an cleo
ton has been purchased. even whe1
the knowledge comes too late to be O.
service, but why should the people b.
kept in darkness until the election i:
past? Why should the locking Of thu
door be delayed until the horse is gone
An Election Public Affair.
An election is public affair." Thu
people, exercising the right to selec
IT,: II. 9: Il 4 IL.