Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-10-22

clel reductions should be made In the
tariff upon the necessaries OF life. es-
peciaily upon articles competing with
such American manufactures as are
sold abroad more cheaply than at
home. and graduate reductions should
be made In such other schedules as
may be necessary to restore the tariff
to revenue basis.
Existing duties have given to the
manufacturers Of paper a shelter be-
hind which they have organized com
binations TO raise the price OF pulp and
Of paper. thus imposing a tax upon the
spread or knowledge. We demand the
Immediate repeal OF the tariff on pulp.
print paper. lumber. timber and logs
and that these articles be placed upon
the free list.
The house OF rep
Arbitrary Power resentatives was de
of Speaker. signed by the IA
Tiers OF the consti-
tuition to be the popular branch OF our
government. responsive to the public
will.
The house OF representatives, as con-
trolled In recent years by the Repub-
attve and executive body, responsive
to the WIN Of a majority OF its mem
bers. but has come under the absolute
domination OF the speaker. who has
entire control OF its deliberations and
powers OF Legislation.
We have observed with amazement
the popular branch OF our federal gov
eminent helpless to obtain either the
consideration or enactment Of meas
ures desired by majority Of its mem
bers-
Legislative government becomes q
failure when one member I'm the per
son OF the speaker Is more powerful
than the entire body.
We demand that the house of repre-
sentatives shall again become a DELHI
srative body. controlled by majority
Of the peoples representatives and not
by the speaker. and We pledge our.
selves to adopt such rules and regula
lions to govern the house of represent
atives as Will enable a majority OF its
members to direct its deliberations and
control legislation.
We demand fed.
Publicity Of eral legislation for.
Campaign ever terminating the
Contributions partnership which
has existed between
corporations Of the country and the
Republican party under the expressed
or implied agreement that In return
for the contribution OF great sums OF
money wherewith to purchase cleo
lions. they should be allowed To con-
tnue substantially unmolested In their
efforts to encroach upon tho rights of
the people.
Any reasonable doubt as to the ex-
istencs Of this relation has been for
ever dispelled by the sworn testimony
or witnesses examined I'm the insurance
investigation In New York and the
open admission, unchallenged by the
Republican national committee. OF a
single individual that he himself, at
the personal request of the Republican
candidate for the presidency. raised
over $250.000 10 be used In a single
state during the closing hours OF the
last campaign. In order that this prac-
tee shall be stopped for all time, we
demand the passage Of q sta tute pun
ishing with Imprisonment any officer
Of a corporation who shall either con-
tribute on behalf OF or consent to the
contribution by corporation OF any
money or anything of value to be used
In furthering the election OF a presi-
dent or vice president Of the United
States or of any member Of congress
thereof.
We denounce the action Of the Re
ho h.
control OF the federal government for
Its failure to pass the bill. introduced
In the last congress, to compel the pub
lication Of the names of contributors
and the amounts contributed toward
campaign funds. and point to the evil
dence Of their insincerity, when they
sought by an absolutely irrelevant and
impossible amendment to defeat the
passage Of the bill. AS a further evil
dence Of their intention to conduct
their campaign In the coming contest
with vast sums OF money wrested from
favor seeking corporations. we call at
tention to the fact that the recent Re
publican national convention at Chi
cago refused, when the plank was pre-
sented to It. to declare against such
practices.
We pledge the Democratic party TO
the enactment Of a law preventing any
corporation contributing to a campaign
fund, and any Individual from contrib
uting an amount above q reasons BILE
minimum, and providing for the pub
lication before election of all such con
tributions.
We assert the right
Railroad OF congress to exer.
Regulation. else complete con.
troll over interstate
commerce and the right of each state
to exercise like control over commerce
within its borders.
We demand such enlargement of the
powers Of tho interstate commerce
commission as may be necessary to
compel railroads to perform their du.
ties as common carriers and prevent
discrimination and extortion.
We favor the efficient supervision
and rate regulation of railroads en-
gagged In Interstate commerce. To this
end we recommend the valuation OF
railroads by the interstate commerce
commission, such valuation TO take
into consideration the physical value
OF the property, the original cost OF