Woodruff County news. [volume] (McCrory, Ark.) 1901-1910, 1908-08-13

campaign fund and who in return have
framed the tariff schedules has been
sufficient to prevent tariff reform AS the
present campaign approached, both the
president and Mr.. Taft declared in favor
OF tariff revision, but set the date of
revision after the election. But the pres
sure brought to bear by the protected
interests has been great enough to pre-
vent any attempt at tariff reform before
the election; and the reduction prom
ised after 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 Republican party
Will be so obligated by campaign con-
tributions from the beneficiaries of pro-
lection, as to make that party poweress
to bring to the country any material re-
lief from the present tariff burdens.
Why No Railroad Legislation?
For ten years the Interstate Commerce
Commission has been asking for an en-
largement of its powers, that it might
prevent rebates and Determinations, but
Republican senate and a Republican
house of representatives were unmoved
by its entreaties. In 1900 the Republican
national convention was urged to indorse
the demand for railway legislation, but
its platform was silent on the subject.
Even in 1904, the convention gave no
pledge to remedy these abuses. When
the president finally asked for legislation,
he drew his inspiration from three Demo-
cratic national platforms and he received
more cordial support from the Democrats
than from the Republicans. The Republi-
cans in the senate deliberately defeated
several amendments offered by Senator
LaFollette and supported by the Demo-
observation-disclosures embodying legislation
asked by the Interstate Commerce Com
mission. One of these amendments au-
thorized the ascertainment of the val
lie of railroads. This amendment was not
only defeated by the senate, but it was
overwhelmingly rejected by the recent
Republican national convention and the
Republican candidate has sought to res
cue his party from the disastrous results
of this act by expressing himself, in
qualified way, in favor of ascertaining
the value of the railroads.
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 man
agement" and the complaint is well
founded But, with president to point
out the evil, and a Republican congress
to correct it, we find nothing done for
the protection of the public. Why? My
honorable opponent has, by his confess
sion, relieved me of the necessity of fur
nishing proof; he admits the condition and
he can not avoid the logical conclusion
that must be drawn from the admission.
Publicity as to Campaign Contribu-
tions.
An effort has been made to secure legis
lation requiring publicity as to campaign
contributions and expenditures; but the
Republican leaders, even in the face of
an indignant public, refused to consent
n q a w would honesty
elections. When the matter was brought
up in the recent Republican national
convention, the plank was repudiated by
a vote of $50 to 81 Here. too, Mr.. Taft
has been driven to apologize for his con-
vention and to declare himself in favor
of 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 am elected president I shall urge
upon congress, with every hope of sue
cess, that law be passed requiring the
filing in a federal office. of statement
of the contributions received by COM
mittees and candidates in elections for
members of congress, and in such other
elections as are constitutionally within
the control of congress"
How can the people hope to rule, if they
are not able to learn until after the cleo
ton what the predatory interests are do
ing? The Democratic party meets the
issue honestly and courageouSly. 1t says:
1--WE pledge the Democratic party to
the enactment of a law prohibiting any
corporation from contributing to a cam
paign fund, and any individual from con-
trbuting an amount above a reasonable
maximum, and providing for the publ
cation, before election, of all such con-
tributons above a reasonable minimum. -
The Democratic national committee inn
mediately proceeded to interpret and ap-
ply this plank announcing that no con-
trbutons would be received from cor
porations, that no individual would be al
lowed to contribute more than $4,000. and
that all contributions above $lO0 would
be made public before the election-those
received before October 10 to be made
public on or before that day, those re-
ceived afterward to be made public on
the day when received, and no such con-
tributions to be accepted within three
DAYS of the election. The expenditures
are to be published after the election
Here is a plan which is complete and
effective.
Popular Election of Senators.
Next to the corrupt use of money, the
present method of electing United States
senators is most responsible for the OBJ
struction of reforms. For 100 years after
the adoption of the constitution, the de-
while finding increased expression, did
not become a dominant sentiment. A
constitutional amendment had from time
to time been suggested and the matter
had been more or less discussed in few
of the states. but the movement had not
reached a point where it manifested it.
self through congressional action. In the
Fifty-second congress, however, a reso-
luton was reported from a house COM
mittee proposing the necessary constitu-
tional amendment, and this resolution
passed the house of representatives by
vote which was practically unanimous.
The subject was ignored by the Republi-
can national convention in 1900; it was ig
nored in 1904 and the proposition was
explicitly repudiated in 1908, for the re-
cent Republican national convention, by
vote of 500 to ia. rejected the plank
indorsng the popular election of SEN
ators-and this was done in the conven-
ton which nominated Mr.. Taft, few dele
gates from his own state voting for the
plank
The Gateway to Other Reforms.
shall the people rule?" Every remedial
measure of national character must run
the gauntlet of the senate. The presi-
dent may personally incline toward a
reform; the house may consent to it;
hut as long as the senate ObStructS the