The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-08-15

In referring to reforms that have
come under his administration, he
confines himself to a few and these
are not the most important. Why
does he ignore the popular election
of United States Senator's? 1t is
the greatest reform in methods Of
government that has come since the
adoption of our constitution; why
does he overlook it? Is it because
it came without his aid?
Why does he fail to mention the
income tax amendment to the con-
stitution? He urged it in mes
.dge; but he did it to defeat statu-
tory income tax, and he has never
said a word since to encourage its
ratification by the states. He even
appointed Governor Hughes to the
supreme bench after the latter had
sent message to the New York leg
islature opposing the ratification Of
the income tax amendment.
Why is he silent on the publicity
law, passed in the interests of pure
politics? Was it because the pub
licity before the election, provided
for in the law which he was COM
PEELED to sign, rebuked his utter
ances of 1908 when he insisted that
contributions should not be made
public until after the election?
Here are three great reforms that
have come during his administra-
ton and yet he cannot claim credit
for any of them, although, but for
his reason of recommending it, he
might claim some credit to the in
come tax amendment.
He defends the Payne-Aldrich bill,
and says, 1T has vindicated itself. -
He praises the supreme court de-
cision writing the word "unreason-
able into the antitrust lava de-
cision which made every trust mag
nate rejoice; he eulogizes the dis
solution (falsely, so called)-of the
oil and tobacco trust-a dissolution
that leaves the trusts undisturbed
and has already increased the value
of their stock; and he advocates
federal incorporation of big bust
ness-the one thing that the trusts
still need to complete their control
of the industries of the country.
What program at a time like this
when three-fourths of the voters of
the country are up in arms against
the plunderbund!
Not content with an Endorsement
of everything reactiOnary that Wall
street has had the courage to sug-
gest, he threatens panic IT anything
is done to disturb those who fatten
on governm entail favoritism and leg
islative privilege. He even appeals
to democrats to join him Gin an
ao nffnrt n ovnrf tho nN1ifi0o1
and economic revolution and bust
ness paralysis which republican de-
feat would bring about"
The presidents defense of his re-
fusal to intervene in Mexico is the
best thing in his speech but his re-
ference to China gives weight to the
rumor that recognition of the Re-
public of China is being withheld as
a means of forcing upon China the
acceptance of an American loan.
He says, on this subject, 1--WE have
lent our good offices in the negotia-
ton of loan essential to the con-
tinuance of the republic and which
we hope that China will accept, etc. -
If this is an admission that his ad-
mi1istration is attempting to compel
China to borrow from our tinanciers
as a condition precedent to the re-
cognition of the republic, he confess
es to an unexcusable degradation OF
the department of state.
Democrats will resent the preSi-
dents action in associating them
for denunciatory purposes, with the
progressive republicans. In reply
ing to the former republicans"
ho 1o {bnyr1 n, n1oao on1 tN
those who have left the republican
party" as he calls them in another
place in his speech-he replies to
democrats also and accuses both
groups of going in direction they
do not definitely know, toward an
end they can not definitely describe,
with but one chief and clear object,
and that is of acquiring power for
their party by popular support
through promise of a change for
the better
This is very unfair statement
of the democratic position in view
of the fact that the democratic plat
form is the only one that is spe-
cific in pointing out abuses and in
proposing remedies, and in view of
the further fact that the democratic
party has shown it's fidelity to the
people by it's willingness to suffer
defeat in it's advocacy of the reforms
which are now being accepted by
the entire country.
This president pays himself high
compliment when he offers himself
to the voters as the only exponent
of constitutional government. He
AYERS that the democratic party, as
well as the Roosevelt party, is not
to be trusted to preserve the con-
stitution-and he declares that this
is to him 1.-The supreme ISSUE" 1.-THE
republican party he declares, sis
the nucleus of that public opinion
which favors constant progress and
development along safe and sane
lines and under the constitution as
we have had it for more than one
hundred years, etc."
Here, then, is the paramount is
sue. Shall the constitution be pre-
served, by President Taft, with such
aid as he can secure from Root, Pen
rose, Barnes, Lorimer and the other
self-appointed custodians of consti-