Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-10-01

pecinny upon articles competing with
sush American manufactures az are
sod abroad more ehsaply than at
home. and graduate reductions should
be made In such other schedules an
may be necessary TO restore the tariff
20 = revenue basis.
Existing duties have given to the
manufacturers OF paper shelter be-
hind which they have organized com
btnations TO raise the price OF pulp and
OF paper. thus imposing tax upon the
spread OF knowledge. We demand tho
Immediate repeal OF the tariff on pulp.
print paper. lumber. timber and logs
and that these articles be placed upon
the free list
The house OF rep
Arbitrary Power resentatives was de
Of Speaker. signed by the fn-
theirs OF the consti-
tuition TO be the popular branch OF our
government, responsive TO the public
will.
The house or representatives. Us con-
trolled In recent years by the Repub-
ucan party. has ceased to be n dellber-
alive and executive body. responsive
to the will OF a majority OF fits men,
bers, but has come under the absolute
entire control of it's delibera tons and
powers OF legislation.
We have observed with amazement
the popular branch OF our federal gov
eminent helpless to obtain either the
consideration or enactment of meas
ures desired by a majority of it's mem
bers.
Legislative government becomes 4
failure when one member In the per
son OF the speaker Is more powerful
than the entire body
We demand that the house OF repre-
sentatfves shall again become a DELHI
eratve body. controlled by majority
OF tho peoples representatives and not
BY the speaker, and we pledge our
selves to adopt such rules and regula.
tons to govern the house OF represent.
atives as will enable a majority OF its
members to direct its deliberations and
control legislation.
We demand fed
Publicity of eral legislation for
Campaign ever terminating the
Contributions partnership which
has existed between
corporations OF the country and the
Republican party under the expressed
or implied agreement that In return
for the contribution OF great sums OF
money wherewtth to purchase cleo
lions. they should be allowed to con-
tnue substantially unmolested In their
efforts to encroach upon the rights OF
the people.
Any reasonable doubt as to the ex-
istencs OF this relation has been for
ever dispelled by the sworn testimony
Of witnesses examined In the insurance
Investigation In New York and the
open admission. unchallenged by tho
Republican national committee, OF
angie individual that he himself. at
the personsl request Of the Republican
candidate fer the presidency, raised
over $4,000 - b used IN q single
STATE during the oloaing hours OF the
hsSt campaign La order that this prac-
tee ahan be slapped for all time, wo
demand the passage OF a statute pun
ishing with Imprisonment any officer
OF corporation who shall either CON
tribute on behalf OF or consent to the
contribution by q corporation Of any
money or anything OF value to be used
In furthering the election Of presi-
dent or vice president OF the United
States or of any member OF congress
thereof.
We denounce the action OF the Re
publican party, having the complete
control OF the federal government, for
Its failure TO pass the bill, introduced
In the last congress, to compel the pub
LEGATION or the names of contributors
and the amounts contributed toward
campaign funds. and point to the evil
dence OF their insincerity, when they
sought by an absolutely irrelevant and
impossible amendment to defeat the
passage OF the bill. AS further evil
dence Of their intention to conduct
their campaign in the coming contest
with vast sums OF money wrested from
favor seeking corporations, we call at
tention to the fact that the recent Re
publican national convention at Chi
cago refused, when the plank was pro-
sented to It. to declare against such
practices.
We pledge the Democratic party to
the enactment Of law preventing any
corporation contributing to a campaign
fund. and any individual from contrib
uting an amount above a reasonable
minimum, and providing for the pub
hcation before election Of all such con
tributions.
We assert the right
Railroad OF congress to exer-
Regulation. else complete con-
troll over interstate
commerce and the right of each state
to exercise like control over commerce
within its borders.
We demand such enlargement OF the
powers Of the interstate commerce
commission as may be necessary 20
compel railroads to perform their du-
ties as common carriers and prevent
discrimination and extortIon.
We favor the efficient supervision
and rate regulation Of railroads en-.
gagged In Interstate commerce. To this
and we recommend the valuation OF
railroads by the interstate commerce
commission, such valuation TO take
Into confederation the physical value
or the property, the original cost OF
reproduction and all elements Of value
that Will render the vaIuafion made