The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1908-08-14

lection. as to make that party power
less TO bring to the country any ma
terial relief from the present tariff
burdens.
Why No Antitrust Legislation?
A few years ago the Republican lead
ers in the house OF representatives
were cOerced by public opinion into
the support Of an antitrust law which
had the endorsement Of the president,
but. the senate refused even 10 con-
slider the measure, and since that time
no effort has been made by the domi-
nant party TO secure remedial legisla-
ton upon this subject.
Why No Railroad legislation?
For ten years the Interstate Com
merce Commission has been asking for
an enlargement of its powers, that it
might prevent rebates and discrimina-
tons, but Republican senate and
Republican house of representatives
were unmOved by its entreatieS. In
1900 the Republican national conven-
ton vas urged 10 endorse the demand
for railway legislation, but its platform
was silent on the subject. Even in
1901 the convention gave no pledge to
remedy these abuses. When the presi-
dent finally asked for legislation he
drew his inspiration from three Demo
cratic national platforms and he re-
ceived more cordial support from the
Democrats than from the Republicans
The Republicans in the senate deliber-
ately defeated several amendments of
ferred by Senator La Toilette and sup
ported by the Democrats amendments
embO1ying legislation asked by the In
terstate Commerce Commission. One
of these amendments authorized the
ascertainment of the value of rail
roads This amendment was not only
defeated by the senate, but it was over
whelmingly rejected by the recent Re
publican national convention, and the
Republican candidate has sought to res
cue his party from the disastrous re-
suits of this act by expressing him
self. in a qualified way, in favor of
ascertainina the value Of the railroads
Over-issue Ct Stocks and Bonds.
Mr.. Taft complains of the over-issue
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 Republican
congress to correct it, we lind 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 admits
the condition and he can not avoid the
logical conclusion that must be drawn
from the admission. There is no doubt
whatever that Il large majority of the
voters Of the Republican party recog-
nize the deplorable situation which Mr.
Taft describes: they recognize that the
masses have had but little influence
upon legislation or upon the adj
they are beginning to understand
the cause. For generation the Re
publican party has drawn its cam
paign funds from the beneficiaries of
special legislation. Privileges have
been pledged and granted in return for
money contributed to debauch cleo
tons. What can be expected when of
fetal authority is turned over to the
representatives of those who first fur
nish the sinews of war and then REIN
burse themselves out of the pockets of
the taxpayers?
Fasting In Wilderness Necessary.
So long as the Republican party re-
mains In power, 1t is powerless TO re-
generate itself 1t can not attack
wrong-doing in high places without dis
grazing many of its prominent mem
bers, and it, therefore, uses opiates in
stead of the surgeons knife Its male
factors construe each Republican vic
tory as an endorsement of their con-
duct and threaten the party with de-
feat If they are interfered with. Not
until that party passes through a pc
Rod of fasting in the wilderness, will
the Republican leaders learn TO study
public questions from the standpoint