The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1908-08-12

Grant Copeland
and republican house Of representa-
tives We're unmoved by it's entreaties
In 1900 the republican national con-
vention was urged to endorse the de-
mand 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 legisla-
ton, he drew his inspiration from
/ three democratic national platforms
and he received more cordial support
from the democrats than from the re-
publicans. The republicans in the SEN
ate deliberately defeated several
amendments offered by Senator LaFol-
lette and supported by the democrats,
amendments embodying legislation
asked by the interstate commerce
commission. One Of the amendments
authorized the ascertainment of the
value of railroads. This amendment
was not only defeated by the senate
but it was overwhelmingly rejected by
the recent republican national conveE-
| ton, and the republican candidate has
sought to rescue his party from the
disastrous results of this act by ex-
pressing himself, in a qualified way in
favor of ascertaining the value of the
! railroads.
Overissue Of Stocks and Bonds,
"Mr. Taft complains of the over is
sue 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 a 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 confession, relieved me Of the ne
cessity of furnishing proof; he adj
mits the condition and he cannot avoid
| tho logical conclusion that must be
| drawn from the admission. There is
TO doubt whatever that a large MAORI
| ty recognize the deplorable situation
which Mr. Taft describes; they recog-
mis-, the deplorable situation which Mr..
Taft describes; they recognize that
| the masses have had but little influence
upon legislation or upon the admins
| tr2tiCn of the government, but they
are beginning to understand the cause.
For a generation the republican party
has drawn its campaign funds from
the beneficiaries of special legislation
| Privileges have been pledged and
granted in return for money contribut-
ed to debauch elections. What can be
expected when official authority is
turned over to the representatives of
those who furnish the sinews of war
and then reimburse themselves out CT
the pockets of the taxpayers?
| Fasting In Wilderness Necessary.
| $50 long as the republican party
1Cmains in power it is powerless to re-
generate itself. 1t cannot attack
wrongdoing in high places without dis
2racing many of it's prominent men,
lCrs, and it, therefore, uses opiates
instead of the surgeons knife. It's NAL
e actOrs cOnstrue each republican vic
Tory as an endorsement of their con-
| duct and threaten the party with de-
f, feat if they are interferred with. Not
until that patty passes through a pc
Iii of fa3+'rs in the Wilderness will
the republican leaders learn tc study
public questions from the standpoint
Of TIE masses. Just as with ildivid-
uals, the cares of this world and the
deceitfulness of riches choke the
TRUTH so in politics when party lead
ers serve far away from home and are
not in constant contact with the voters,
| continued party success blinds their
eyes to the needs of the people and
makes them deaf to the cry Of distress.
Publicity as to Campaign Contributions
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 a law which would
compel honesty in elections. When the
matter was brought up in the recent
republican national convention, the
Wv
to "a. Here, too, Mr.. Taft has been
driven to apologize for his convention
and then 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 promises falls
far short of the requirements Of the
situation. He says: If / am elected
president, l shall urge upon congress,
with every hope of success, that law
be passed requiring the filing, in a
federal office, Of a statement of the
contributions received by committees
and candidates in elections for mem
bers of congress, and in such other
elections for members of congress, and
in such other elections as are constitu-
tionally within the control Of congress.
| 4 shall not embarrass him by ask
| ing him upon what he bases his hope
! of success; it is certainly not on any
encouragement he has received from
republican leaders. 1t is sufficient to