Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1908-08-12

sion. Is shall the people rulef-. No
mat'er which way we turn: no matter
10 what subject we address ourselves
tne same question confronts us: Shall
the people control their own govern.
ment. and use that government for tho
projection or their rights and for the
promotion or their welfare? or shall
the representatives OF predatory wealth
prey upon defenseless public while
'ne onenders secure immunity from
subservient officials whom they ra,se
10 power by INSCRIPTIONS mc.hods >
MS Is the issue raised 10y the known
buses to which Mr.. Taft refers
residents indictmsnt Aoains. tho
Party.
In message sent to congress last
January. President Roosevelt said
Tile attacks by these great corpora-
lions on the ADMINISTRATORS actions
nave been given Il wide circulation
throughout the country, in the news
papers ana otherwise, by those writer's
anu speakers who. consciously or un-
consciously. act MS the representatives
OF predatory wealth-of the wealth nc-
or iniquiiy. ranging from the olpres-
Sion OF wage earner5 TO unfair and nm
Wholesome methods OF crushing ont
competition. and TO dcfraudlag the
public by stock -jobbing aad tie .,a.ip-
ulaiion OF securities. Certain wealthy
men OF this stamp. whose coudu, Z
should be abhOrrent to every man of
ordinarily decent conscience. and who
commit the hideous wrong OF teaching
our young men that phenomenal bust
ness success must ordinarily be based
on dishonesty. have. during the last
Few months made Il apparent that
they have banded together 10 work for
reaction. Their cndeavor Is TO
overthrow and diScre,llt all who hon
estly administer the law. TO prevent
any additional legislation which would
check and restrain them. ami TO secure
II possible. freedom from all re-
straint which viii permit every un-
scrupulous wrong-doer TO do what he
wishes unchecked. provided he has
enough moncy"-What nn arrairnment
OF the predatory interests.
Is the presidents Indictment true?
And. II 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 this time. some
prominent and influential members
OF the community. spurred by financial
success and in their hurry for greater
wealth. became unmlniful of the COM
mon rules of buslless honesty and
fidelity and ~ the limitations imposed
10y law upon thc;= arjllns." and that
"the revelations ~ the breaches of
trusts. the - lor re- - 10 rebates
and Discrimination - railroads. the
accumCla,!"r c.: cuce OF the viola
tions cf the antitrust laws. by a num-
Der OF corporations. ard the over.issue
or stocks AID bonds Of Interstate rail
roads for the unlawful enriching OF di-
rcctors and FOR tho purpose Of concen-
trating the control of the railroads un-
der one mSu. ~c'Nent. all these. he
charges. ''Qc! tcrcl the conscience OF
the people ard brought on n moral
Weakening"
During NIL this time. beg 10 remind
you. Republican otnclalS presided In the
executive IV"Grl-.ra.. Tiled the cab
met. domira ed t.c senate. controlled
the house &c representatives and occu-
pied most go tia federal ludgcships.
Four years .;,o she Republican plat
form hoa s.fr.'y declared that since
lS00-with t'g exception az two years
the Republican party hal leea I'm con.
troll of part or of nil the branches OF
the federal government: that for two
years only was the Democratic party In
a position q either enact or reucaI Il
law. Haviag Cr,wn the salaries: hav-
ing enjoyed 'Se hono~s: having secured
the prys;''-' ~ tAc Eenuhican party
accept go eSponsiAili;y,
Republican Party Responsible.
Why "c:S these known abuses
permitted 10 develop? Why have they
not h,cu c1.~cc.cl: II existing laws
are Su. c',''i. why have ;hey not been
enforvet< NJ of the executive ma
chincry &C the fCdscal government is
in the hands cf The Republican party.
Are new laws necessary? Why have
they not been enacted? With a Re
y" !Can president to recommend, with
a ..cgublican senate and house 10 carry
out his recommendations why does the
Republican candidate plead for further
time in which 10 do what should have
been done long ago? Can MIR. Taft
promise 10 he more strenuous in the
prosecution of wrong-doers than the
present executive? Can he ask for a
larger majority in the senate than his
party now has? Does he need more
Republicans in the house of represent
atives o. speaker with more unlim-
tied authority
Why No Tariff Reform?
The presidents close friends have
been promising for several years that
he would attack the iniqultics of the
tariff. We have had mtimation that
Mr.. Taft was reStive under the de
mands OF the highly protected in-
dustries. And yet the influcace OF the
manufacturers. who have for twenty
five years &, at.iiuted tO the Republican
campaign fund. ana who in return
have framed the tariff schedules. has
been sufficient to prevent tariff reform
AS the present campaign approached
both the president and Mr. TAFT de-
clared In favor of tariff revision. but
set the date OF revision after the cleo
ton. But the pressure brought to bear
by the protected interests has been
great enough IN preVpnf any a nffcn,nt nj