Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1908-08-20

crushing out competition, and to de-
/ frauding the public by stock iobbing
and the manipulation Of securities.
1 Is the presidents Indictment true?
And if true, against whom was the in
dictment directed? Not against the
Democratic party.
| Mr.. Taft Endorses the Indictment.
1 Mr. Taft says that these evils have
crept in during the last ten years. He
declares that during this time some
1 prominent and influential members
of the community, spurred by financial
success and in their hurry for greater
| wealth, became unmindful of the com
mon rules of business honesty and
| fidelity and of the limitations imposed
by law upon their actions;" and that
1.-THE revelations of Tic breaches of
| trusts, the disclosures as to rebates
and determinations by railroads, the
accommodating evidence Of the viola
tons of the antitrust laws by num-
Der of corporations, and the overissue
| or stocks and bonds of interstate rail
| roads for unlawful enrichment OF di-
rectors and for the purpose of concen-
trating the control of the railroads I'M
der one management"-all these, he
charges, "quickened 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, filed the
cabinet, dominated the senate. con-
trolled the house of representatives
and occupied most of the federal
judgeships.
Why Nc 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 Repub-
lican campaign fund and who in re-
turn have framed the tariff schedules,
has been sufficient to prevent tariff
yeform
n iCN cOGiS dSO lhC IeSpuU1lCoA
leaders 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 consider
the measure, and since that time no
effort has been made by the dominant
party to secure remedial legislation
upon the subject.
Why No Railroad Legislation?
For ten years the interstate COM
merce commission has been asking for
an enlargement Of its powers that it
might prevent rebates and discrimina-
lions, but Republican senate and a
Republican house of representatives
were unmoved by it's entreaties.
Mr.. Taft complains of the overissue
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
we'll founded. But, with president to
point out the evil and Republican
congress to correct it, We find nothing
done for the protection of the public
Why?
The Publicity Issue.
| 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 pub
lie, refused to consent to law which
would compel honesty in elections.
When the matter was brought up in
the recent Republican national con-
vention, the plank was repudiated by
vote of $50 to 81. Here, too, Mr..
Taft has been driven to apologize for
his convention and to declare himself
in favor OF a publicity law.
How can the people hope to rule if
they are not able to learn until after
the election what the predatory inter-
ests are doing? The Democratic party
meets the issue honestly and courage
ously. 1t says:
I'VE pledge the Democratic party
to the enactment of a law prohibiting
any corporation from contributing to
a campaign fund, and any individual
from contributing an amount above
a reasonable maximum, and providing
for the publication, before election, of
all such contributions above a reason
able minimum
Next to the corrupt use of money,
the present method of electing United
| States senators is most responsible
for the obstruction of reforms
Through a Democratic victory, and
through a Democratic victory only,
can the people secure the popular cleo.
| ton OF senators.
4 House Rules Despotic.
The third fundamentally employed
| to defeat the will of the people is
| found I'M the rules of the house of rep
resentatives. Our platform points out
that the house of representatives. was
designed by the fathers of the Con
stitution to be the popular branch Of
our government responsive to the pub
lie will
Our party demands that the house
of representatives shall again become
a deliberative body, controlled by 8
j majority of the peoples representa-
4 {ivnr ond3uot Nv the Sneakers1 and &c