The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1908-02-07
TO DECEIVE VOTER
REPUBLICAN PROMISES NOT
MADE IN GOOD FAITH.
Pledge TO Reform Tariff after the
Election" Are as VaIueiess as
Past Action Taken Against
the Trusts.

The department OF justice is re-
ported to he about to file suit 10 dis.
solve the combine between the Union
Pacific and Southern Pacific railroads.
il is now some years since Senator
Knox when attorney general, sue
ceeded In dissolvIng the partnership
between the Great Northern and
Northern Pacific railroads, but for any
advantage the public secured from
that decision II might as well never
have been made. In theory the deci.
sion was supposed to again produce
competition between the railroads. but
In fact, rs far as rates are concerned,
the combine still holds good Similar
lack of practical results may be OK.
pectcd If the combine Of the Harri.
man railroads Is decided by the ST..
preme court as illegal
What Is the use of expanding all
the energy of the department of
justice on case that II is known In
advance will produce no relief TO the
public? Not a dollar has been saved
10 the people by these spectacular
suits for the large amount expended
In prosecuting them. II bothers the
railroad managers, but does not pre-.
vent them from charging all the traf
fic viii bear" The administration ~.
pears to think il IS necessary To do
something to show it is the great
modern trustbusting machine.
II the Republican leaders wish to
curb the lawlessness of the railroads
why they do not include the railroad
mamatcs, such as Hartman. who are
the real cunspirators that have dcfed
the law? With Hartman in stripes
the balance of the law breakers would
hasten to mend their ways
Meanwhile the real trusts that have
virtual monopoly such as the steel
trust, which has plundered the people
of millions and is still plundcrinE
thOm, goes unwhipped Of Justice, Il
Is selling its products much cheaper
10 foreigners than to our own people.
The Republican tariff protects II In so
doing and the Republican leaders re.
fuse To oven consider tariff reform
The department of commerce and
labor has the evidence of conspiracy
in restraint OF trade against the steel
trust, and II such evidence ms not
been turned over by President Roos"-
welt 70 his attorney general 1t must
be that political and partisan adyan.
tage has held his hand.
The Republican leaders declare
they viii revise the tariff after cleo.
tion ana viii so promise in 'ncr ma.
ticE&l platform. Can the voters br
fooled again by promises to reform"
with the Lands al the pick pocket H.
the pocket Of his victim would IN
honest man fail Of aid and walt un.i
he caught the thief in the act the sec.
ond - or the thousandth - time?
Would not such delay IN preventing
such thcfts indicate there was either
timidity u" coliusi0n between him and
the plundercr?
The Republican leaders have tie
evidence against the trusts. Congress
has appropriated millions Of the poo.
rle's money to obtain the evidence
ana ~ pay Tor their prosecution. They
acknowledge the tariff has fos;crcd
and protects the trusts. else why
promise 10 reform 1t after election"
II the Republican leaders had not
participated IN the plundcfing oi ;.o
people by the trusts and corporations
and expected further campaign con.
trihutiOns from the same sources.
would they wait until after clection?"
1t would be more reasonable TO believe
they would. for the sake of the DO.
litcaI advantage that real reform will
undoubtedly give them, at once set
the machinery of the law In motion
and not adjourn congress until the
tariff which shelters the trusts waS
radically revised.