The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-13

wishes unchecked, provided he has
enough money" What an aTTaign-
ment of the predatory interests,
Is the presidents indictment true2
| And, if true, against whom was the
indictment directed? Not against the
democratic party.
Mr.. Taft Endorses the Indictment
Mr.. Taft says that these evils have
crept in during the last ten years.
He declares that, during TINS time,
SOME prominent and influential mem
| bers of the community, spurred by
financial success, and in their hurry
for greater wealth, became unmind-
full of the common rules of business
honesty and fidelity. and of the limi-
tations imposed by law upon their &C
tons; and that "the revelations OF
the breaches of trust, the disclosures
as to rebates and determinations by
railroads. the accommodating evidence
of the violations of the antitrust laws.
by a number of corporations. and the
over-issue of stocks and bonds of in
teTstate railroads for the unlawful en-
riching of directors and for the pur-
poses of concentrating the control of
the railroads under one management"
all these. he charges 'quickened the
conscience of the people and brought
on a moral awakening"
During all this time, l beg to re-
mind you. republican officials pre-
sided in the executive department,
filled the cabinet, dominated the SEN
ate, controlled the house Of represent
atiyes and occupied most of the fed
eral judgeships. Four years ago the
republican platform boastfully declar-
ed that since 1S60-with the excep-
ton of two years-the republican par
ty had been in control of part or of
all the branches of the federal gov
eminent; that for two years only was
the democratic party in a position TO
either enact or repeal law. Having
drawn the salaries; having enjoyed
the honors; having secured the pres
tige, let the republican party accept
the responsibility,
Republican Party Responsible
Why were these known abuses per-
mitted to Develop Why have they
not been corrected? If existing laws
are sufficient. why have they not been
enforced? All of the executive ma
chinery OF the federal government is
in the hands of the republican party.
Are new laws necessary Why have
they not been enacted? With a re-
publican president to recommend,
with a republican senate and house to
carry out his recommendations, why
does the republican candidate plead
for further time in which to do what
should have been done long ago? Can
Mr.. Taft promise to be more strenu-
Gus in the prosecution of wrong-doer5
than the present executive2 Can he
ask for larger majority in the SEN
ate than his party now has2 Does he
need more republicans in the house
Of representatives or a speaker with
more unlimited authority?
Why No Tariff Reform2-The presi-
ident's close friends have been prom
ising for several years that he would
attack the iniquities of the tariff. We
have had intimation that Mr.. Taft |
was FESTIVE under the demands of the |
highly protected industries. And yet |
the influence of the manufacturers.
who have for twenty-five years con-
tributed to the republican campaign |
fund, and who in return have framed |
the tariff schedules, has been Suffic- |
lent to prevent tariff reform. As the |
present campaign approached, both /
the president and Mr.. Taft declared !
in favor of tariff revision. but set the |
late of revision after the election But |
the pressure brought TO bear by the /
protected interests has been great |
enough to prevent any attempt at tar
n reform before the election: and the
reduction promised after the election
IS so hedsed about with qualifying
phrases, that no one can estimate /
With accuracy the sum total of tariff !
reform to be expected in case of re- |
publican success II the past can be !
-aken as guide. the republican party 1
will be so obligated by campaign con- |
-ributions from the benef1ciaries of
protection. as to make that party DOW
arless to bring 10 the country any ma
fer1al relief from the present tariff
burdens.
Why No Antitrust IegIsIation?-I
A few years ago the republican lead
ers in the house of representatives /
we're coerced by public opinion into
the support of an antitrust law which 1
had the endorsement of the president
but the senate refused even to con-
slider the measure, and since that time
no effort has been made by the dom
Dant party TO secure remedial IeeiS-
atiou upon this subject.
Why No Railroad LeqisIation?-For
Ten years the Interstate Commerce
Commission has been asking for an
of fits powers. that It
might prevent rebates and diScrimi-
nations, but a republican senate and
4 republican house Of Representatives
we're unmoved by its entreatieS- In
1900 the republican national conven-
ion was urged TO endorse the demand
Tor railway legislation, hut its plat
'orm was silent on the subject. Even
n 1904 the convention gave no pledge
10 remedy these abuses When the
president finally asked for legislation.
ne drew his inspiration from three
democratic national platforms and he
received more cordial support from /
he democrats than from the repuhIi-
,ans. The republicans in the senate (