The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1908-08-21

fluid, and who in return have
framed the tariff schedules, has
been sufficient to prevent tariff re-
form. As the present campaign ap-
proaches, both the president and
Mr.. Taft declared in favor of tariff
revision, but set the date of revis-
ion after the election. 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 election is so hedged about with
qualifying phrases. that no one can
estimate accurately the sum total of
tariff reform TO be expected in case
of Republican success. If the past
can be taken as a guide, the Repub-
lican party will be so obligated by
campaign contributions from the
benefciaries of protection. as to
make that party powerless to bring
to the country any material relief
from the present tariff burdens.
WHY No ANTITRUST LEGISLATION?
A few years ago the Republican
leaders in the house of representa-
tives were coerced by public opinion
into the support Of an antitrust
law which had the endorsement of
the president. but the senate refus-
ed even to consider the measure,
and since that time no effort has
been made by the dominant party
to secure remedial legislation 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
discrimination, but a Republican
senate and a Republican house of
representative were unmoved by
it's entreaties. In 1900 the Repub-
lican national convention was urged
to endorse the demand for railway
legislation, but its platform was 81
lent on the subject. Even in 1904.
the convention gave no pledge to
remedy these abuses When the
president finally asked for legisla-
ton, he drew his inspiration from
three democratic national platforms
and he received more cordial sup
port from the Democrats than from
the Republicans. The Republicans
in the senate deliberately defeated
several amendments offered by SEN
ator LaFollette and supported by
the Democrats amendments en-
bodying 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 overwhelmingly rejected by the
recent Republican national conven-
ton, and the Republican candidate
has sought to rescue his party from
the disastrous results of this act by
expressing himself, in a qualified
way, in favor of ascertaining the
value of railroads.
OVER ISSUE OF STOCKS AND BONDS.
Mr.. Taft complains of the over
issue of stocks and bonds of rail-
roads, for the unlawful enriching
of directors and for the purpose of
concentrating the control of rail
roads under one management, and
the complaint is well founded. But
with president to point at the
evil, and a Republican congress to
correct it, we find nothing done for
the protection of the public Why?
My honorable opponent has. by his
confession, relieved me of the neces-
sity of furnishing proof; he admits
the condition and he cannot avoid
the logical conclusion that must be
drawn from the admission. There
is no doubt whatever that a large
majority of the voters of the Repub-
lican party recognize the deplorable
situation which Mr. Taft describes,
they recognize that the masses have
had but little influence upon legis-
lation or upon the administration
of the government, and they are
beginning to understand the cause.
For a generation, the Republican
party has drawn it's campaign funds
from the benefciaries of special leg
islation. Privileges have been
pledged and granted in return for
money contributed to debauch cleo
tons. What can be expected when
official authority is turned over to
the representatives of those who
first furnish the sinews of war and
then reimburse themselves out of
the pockets of the taxpayers?