The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-10-02

which arOuSeS preJudlGe ana Grass leelihB
and which is fed by misrepresentation.
We agreed TO provide for the makingsOf
limited traffic agreements between inter-
state railways. subject to the approval OF
the commission.
Then there is the badly needed legisla-
ton for additional safety appliances l
refer 10 the bills pending in Congress for
the government inspection of locomotive
boilers and for the elimination of govern
ment direction OF danger to employees
from overhead and sideway projections.
We need the enactment of laws author
izing the disposition of coal. phosphate.
oil. and gas lands of the government and
the water-power sites owned by the gov
eminent along streams in which there
is valuable water power, now uncon-
trolled and unappropriated, under leases
or grants which shall induce investment
OF privats capital in the development Of
these lands, but shall continue the gov
eminent as ultimate controller Of the
properties, with an equitable provision
for readjustment OF terms at compare
lively short periods Indeed. the afiirma-
tive part of the whole policy OF eonserva-
ton awaits action. and the Republican
party is pledged to give this subject the
attention IL deserves.
We need a new government for Alaska,
with laws properly protecting the gov
eminent domain IN that vast empire.
We agreed 10 supplement and strengthen
the antitrust law in so far as It might
seem necessary. Existing antitrust laws
have been vigorously enforced
We are hoping for a readjustment OF
our relations with Canada that shall
bring the two countries into a closer COM
mercial union. beneficial to both.
Finally, we are committed to an elimi-
nation of the defects in our banking and
currency system. with respect to which
the monetary commission has accumu-
lated much material.
No one can read the list of measures
actually passed and those proposed by
the national Republican party and not
admit that the party is progressive in
the highest degree. II is a list to be
proud of. The extraordinary achieve
ments of this Congress may fairly be
said 10 be part of great Republican
movement II Is not the work of the
Executive alone or of Congress alone.
1t is not the work of one man, or of one
factions AS all shared in the work, so
we all must share in the satisfaction of
accomplishment. II is the work OF Re-
publicans. 1t marks the rising tide of
progress that began at the end of a
Democratic panic when William McKin-
ley was our leader, and that continued
throughout the two administrations OF
Theodore Roosevelt
Progressive Described.
A party of true progress is not party
OF radicalism. 1t is not party OF ultra
conservatism. A progressive Republican
is one who recognizes existing and con-
crete evils and who is in favor of pra
teal and definite steps to eradicate them
Now, what are the specific evils tn.
have reused our people? I believe that
they have been growing in this country
for years and years, and they :. can be
briefly stated thus:
First. The corrupt control OF legislative
and governmental agencies for the estab-
lishment. maintenance, and enjoyment of
unjust privileges by individuals or corpo-
rate wealth.
To make this control effective. there
have been organized and maintained cor
rupt machines within both parties which
break the current of communication and
responsive action between the people and
those who are elected to serve and repre-
sent them.
Second. Combinations of capital in in
dustrial business, generally brought to-
gether for the ostensible and commend
able purpose of reducing the costs of
production and distribution. have too
often had the real purpose of suppresslng
competition. controlling prices, and main
tanning monopoly.
What Has Been Done.
Every one who is frank must admit
that great progress has been made in
fighting these evils, Fifteen years ago
the rights of the people to our natural
resources were freely disregarded. The
natural resources of the nation are now
in TIE way of being conserved for the
people. who are the ultimate owners Of
such resources, and ought to remain so.
Fifteen years ago one of the commonest
forms of corporate abuse was the man
agement of our railways in the interest
of favored individuals by secret rebates.
That day has passed. Our new railway
act goes much further and greatly in
creases the powers and duties of the In
terstate Commerce Commission. The
discretion of the commissioners. not with
in judicial control by appeal. is now very
wide, and they have in their hands for
the veal or woe of general business q