, 1908-08-12

now abuses to which Mr.. Taft re.
fers.
Presidents Indictment.
In a message sent " congress last
January, fresldenl Roosevelt saIu:
'ine ATTACKS by these corporations on
the Administrators actions have been
gwen q VIDE circulation Throughout TAI.
country, In the newspapers aud other
wise, by those writer's and speakers
VINO, consciously or unconsciously, act
as the representatives OF preaalory
wealtn-or the wealth accumulated on
a giant scale by all forms OF iniquity,
ranging from the oppression of wage
earners to unfair. and unwholesome
methods Of crushing out competition,
and to ~defrauding the public by stock
jobbing. and the manipulation Of securi-
ties. Certain wealthy men Of this
stamp, whose conduct should be abhor-
rent to every man of ordinarily decent
conscience, and who commit the hide
GUS wrong of teaching our young men
that phenomenal business success must
ordinarily be based on dishonesty,
have, during the last few months, made
apparent that they have banded togeth-
er to work for a reaction. There en-
deavor Is to overthrow and discredl
all who honestly administer the law, to
prevent any additional legislation
which would check and restrain them,
and to secure, If possible, a freedom
from all restraine which will permit
every interruptions 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, II true, against whom was the Iii
dictment directed? Not against the
democratic party.
Taft Endorses Indictment.
Mr.. Taft says that these evils have
crept in during the last ten years. H.
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 unmindIul of the COM
nom 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, tbs
accommodating evidence of the viola
tons OF the ANTITRUST laws, by a num-
Der of corporations, and the over-issue
| of stocks and bonds of interstate rail
| roads for the unlawful enriching Oh
directors and for the purpose of con-
centrating the control of the railroads
under one management,"-all these,
he charges, 'Quickened the conscience
Of the people and brought on a moral
awakening"
Republicans Everywhere.
During all THIS time, / beg to re
mind you, republican oficials presided
in the executive department, filed the
cabinet, dominated the senate. control
led the house Of representatives and
occupied most of the federal judge
ships. Four years ago the republican
platform bo~astfully declared that since
1860; with the exception OF two years,
the republican party had been in con
troll Of part OF all the branches of the
federal government; that for two years
only was the democratic party in a
| position to, either enact or repeal a
law. Having drawn the salaries; hav-
ing enjoyed he-honors; having secured
the prestige, let the republican party
accept the responsibility.
Republican, Party Responsabiea. :.
Why were there 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
he hands of the republican party. A. r
new laws necessary? Why have they
not been enacted? With a republican
president to recommend with a repub-
lican senate and house to carry out has
recommendations, why does the .repub-
lican candidate 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 prosecu-
ton of wrong-doers than the present
executive? Can he ask for a larger
majority In the senate than his party
now has? Does he need more repub-
licans in the house of representatives
or a speaker with more unlimited au-
thority?
Why No Tariff Reforma
The presidents close friends have
promising for several years that he
would attack the iIiQuities OF the tariff.
We have had intimation that Mr. Taft
was FESTIVE under the demands Of the
highly protected industries. And yet
the iuenc 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 pre-
vent tarif reform. As the present
campaign approached, both the presi-
dent and Mr.. Taft declared in favor Of
tariff revision, but set the date of re-
vision after the election. But the pres
sure brought to bear by the protected
interests has been great enough to
prevent any attempt at tariff reform
beforei the election; and the reduction
promised after the election Is SO hedg-
ed about with qualifying phrases, that
no one can estimate with accuracy the
sum total OF tariff reform to be expect
ed in cas- Of republican success. II
the past can be taken as a guide, the
republican party will be SO obligated
by campaign contributions from the
b~eneficiaries of protection. as to make
that party powerless to bring to the
country any material relief from the
present tariff burdens.
Why no Antitrust LeQislAtionf,
A 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 hal
the endorsement of the president, but
the senate refused even to consider the
measure, and since that time no effort
has been made by the dominant party
to secure remedial legislation upOn this