Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-07
of the triumvirate will not repeat
Progressive Hepublicanism.

Progressive Aepubiican1sm.
There need he no concern about the
attitude Of the insurgents and tneir
friends. They will do their best to nomi-
nate candidates who believe in pro-
gressive republican party. When they
succeed they will rejoice. because a
step will have been taken In the path
OF reform. When they fail they will be
republicans still, for II there ever was
a time when there was absolutely no
reason for transferring any branch OF
the government to democratic hands
this is the time"
senator Cummins said he had never
advocated a general revision OF the TAR.
liz and never would The CRUSADE,
said he, (which i intend to strengthen
with all my power. 10 a crusade Tor
tariff commissioner permanent. digniheo
and independent tariff commission:
tariff commission that will gather togetn-
err the facts as to the cost of production
and lay them before Congress and the
country.
There are millions Of republicans who
believe that tarin duties should not sub
stantially exceed the difference between
the cost OF producing things here and
elsewhere with fair profit added. 1
believe they constitute a E99 majority
of the party. but II they do not. they
will In the near future. Let us silence
at once and forever the discordant cry
from the party ranlls. There Is no
power on earth that cAn drive them out,
and no power on earth that can prevent
them eventually from faithfully applying
the doctrine which won the confidence
and secured the support of the voters Of
the United States I'm the last national
campaign
Discusses Currency Issue.
Senator Cummins then took up the cur
rcncy question. He alluded TO the fact
that Senator Aidrich was In the city dis
cussing this subject. He said he wac
unfamiliar with the views or plans oil
Senator Aldrich regarding the matter. but
earnestly hoped to be able to give Sen
ator Aldrich's plan the support OF MS
vote in the Senate.
II fear. however" continued Mr.. Cum
minis, that it will involve one OF two
things, both Of which ] look upon as
hostile to the welfare OF the American
people. Any plan which SUBJECTS .ns
volume Of our currency to the power ana
Judgment Of a few men. who may become
selhshly interested In either expanding
IL or reducing II. In bad. and, II car
ried into execution, would enslave the
financial world as completely as some
parts OF the industrial field are new hsid
in bondage Such scheme. whether
called a central bank or any other name.
is intolerable. Likewise. we must avoid
a financial institution with the power
to control the monsy of the country, the
possession or management of which
would be an issue between political par
ties Any system which takes away
from q commercial community the power
to measurabiy take care Of itself during
periods Of stress and storm Will DO re-
dictionary rather than progressive.
Regulation Of Common Carriers.
There are some very good men who
think that we have completed all that
ought to be done in the way OF regula-
ton Of railways and other common car
riers. These are the conservatives OF
whom I have spoken. As / view the
subject, we have scarcely made a fair
beginning. We ought to Immediately
provide that hereafter there shall be no
capitalization that does not represent In,
dependent investment, and by that 1
mean that neither surplus earnings nor
increase In the value OF property should
be capitalized. When these provisions
are made, and rates are under considera-
ton. there can be an intelligent opinion
with respect to their adequacy.
But the railway problem is not the
only one which is insisting upon solu-
ton. We must make up our minds quick
~ whether II Is worth while to use the
power Of the government and save COM
petition as the controlling force in COM
merce."
Mr. Cummins said that the so-called
antitrust law. which IL the only federal
prohibition against monopolies and COM
binations, is a miserable failure.
81 am In favor OF strengthening the
antitrust Law so that any concentration
of capital. whether 1t be in corporate
form or otherwise. that will have the eff
feet Of destroying or impairing substan-
TALLY competition. shall be unlawful. and
am In favor Of a graduated tax that
will make II Improbable to so enlarge
a business that ii will occupy the entire
field to which il belongs.