The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-07-15

N'N"s0 oA '"'uc thut viii Tenuer the
valuation fair and just. We favor
such legislation as will prohibit the
railroads from engaging In business
which brings them into competition
with their shippers. also legislation
which will assure such reduction In
transportation rates as conditions will
permit. care being taken to avoid
reduction that would compel, q re-
duction In wages. prevent adequate
service or do Justice to legitimate
investments.
We heartily approve the laws pro-
hibiting the pass and the rebate and
we favor any further necessary leg
islation to restrain. correct and pre-
vent such abuses.
Tariff.
We welcome the belated promise
OF tariff reform now affected by the
Republican party In tardy recognition
OF re Righteousness Of the Democrat
ic position on this question: but these
people cannot safely entrust the ex-
ecution Of this important work to q
party which II 20 deeply obligated to
the highly protected interests as is
the Republican party. We call at
tention TO the Significant fact that
promised relief was postponed until
after the coming election-an cleo
ton to succeed in which the Repub-
iicsn party must have that same sup
port from the beneficiaries Of the
high protective tariff az II has always
received from them-and
to the further fact that during years
Of uninterrupted power no action
whatever has been taken by the Re-
publican congress to correct the ad-
mittedly existing tarin iniquities.
We favor immediate revision Of the
tariff by the reduction Of import
duties. Articles entering into COM
petition with trust controlled products
should be placed upon the free list;
and material reductions should be
made In the tariff upon the necessa-
ries Of life. especially upon articles
with such American manu-
factures as are sold abroad more
cheaply than at home; and graduate
reductions should be made In such
other schedules as may be necessary
10 restore the tariff TO a revenue ba-
SIS.
Existing duties have given to the
OF paper a shelter be-
hind which to raise the price Of pulp
and OF paper. thus imposing a tax
upon the. spread Of knowledge. We
demand the immediate repeal OF the
larin on pulp. print paper, lumber.
timber. logs and that these articles
be placed upon the free list.
Trusts. - u
private monopoly Is indefensible
and intolerable. We therefore favor
the vigorous enforcement Of the GRIM
nal law against guilty trust masnates
and ofiicials and demand the enact
ment Of such additional laws as may
be necessary to make 1t impossible
for a private monopoly to exist in the
United Statea Among the additional
remedies we specify three:
First law preventing a duplica-
hon Of directors among competing
corporations second. license sys-
tenn which will, without abridgng the
right OF each state to create corpora
lions or its right to regulate as It will
foreign corporations doing business
within Its limits. make It necessary
Tor a manufacturing or trading cor
engaged In interstate COM
merce to take out federal license be-
fore 1t shall be permitted to control
rs much as 25 per cent. Of the pro-
huction In which It deals. the license
10 protect the public from watered
stock and to prohibit the control by
such corporation OF more than so
per cent OF the total amount of any
product consumed In the United
states; and third, law compelling
such licensed corporations to sell all
In all parts of the
country on the same terms after
due allowance for cost of
Of Campaign Contributions.
We demand federal legislation for
ever terminating the partnership
which has existed between corpora
lions of the country and the Republi-
can party under the expressed and
implied agreement that In return for
the contributions Of great sums Of
money wherewith to purchase cleo
lions they should be allowed to con-
tinue substantially unmolested in