The Democrat-sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1906-1935, 1908-08-20

if possible, freedom from all re-
straint which will permit every un-
scrupulous wrong-doer to do what he
wishes unchecked, provided he has
enough money."-What an arraignment
of the predatory interests!
Is the presidents indictment true?
And, ie 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 Dy financial
success and in their hurry for greater
wealth, became unmindful of the COM
mon rules of business honesty and
fidelity, and of tho limitations imposed
by law upon their actions" and that
"the revelations Of the breaches of
trusts. the disclosures as to rebates
and determinations by railroads, the
accumulating evidence of the viola
tions of the antitrust laws, by num-
Der of corporations, and the over-issue
of stocks and bonds of interstate rail-
roads for the unlawful enriching of di-
fectors and for the purpose of concen-
trating the control Of the railroads ur-
der one management, all these, he
charges, "quickened the conscience Of
the people and brought on moral
awakening"
During all this time, beg to remind
you, Republican officials presided In the
executive department, filled the cab
met, dominated the senate, controlled
the house Of representatives and occu-
pied most of the federal judgeships.
-Four years ago the Republican plat
form boastfully declared that since
186O-with the exception of two years
the Republican party had been in con-
troll Of part or of all the branches of
the federal government; that for two
years only was the Democratic party in
position to either enact or repeal a
law. Having drawn the salaries; hav-
ing enjoyed the honors; having secured
the prestige, let the Republican party
accept the responsibility!
Republican Party Responsible.
Why were these known abuses"
pSi ihiitLCu W uCNCioP' ny thCy
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
II 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 strenuous in the
prosecution of wrong -doers than the
present executive? Can he ask for q
larger majority In the senate than his
party now has? Does lie need more
Republicans IN the house of represent
atives or speaker with more unlim-
tied authority.
Why No Tariff Reform7
The presidents close friends have
been promising for several years that
he would attack the iniquities of the
tariff. We have had intimation that
MI. Taft was restive under the de-
mands of the highly protected In
dustries. And yet the influence of the
manufacturers, who have for twenty
five years contributed to the Republican
campaign fund, and 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-
<Ia In fnx Of ta nj -iein h,1t
set the date of revision after the cleo
ton. But the pressure brought to bear
by the protected interests has been
great enough to prevent any attempt at
tariff reform before the election; and
the reduction promised after the elec-
tion is SO hedged about with qualify
ing phrases, that no one can estimate
with accuracy the sum total of tariff
reform to be expected in case of Re-
publican success. If the past can be
taken as u guide, the Republican party
will be 30 obligated by campaign con
tributions from the beneticiaries of pro-
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 10y public opinion into
the support Of an antitrust law which
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 domi- :.
nant party to secure remedial legisla-
tion upon this subject.
Why No Railroad Legislation2
For ten years the Interstate Com
merce Commission has been asking for
an enlargement of its powers, that 1t
might prevent rebates and discrimina-
tlons, but Republican senate and
Republican house of representatives
were unmoved by its entreaties. In
1900 the Republican national conyen-
tion was urged to endorse the demand
for railway legislation, but its platform
was silent on the subject. Even In
1904 the convention gave no pledge to
remedy these abuses When the presl-
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