The Oskaloosa herald., 1912-07-11

b.
be accorded every American industry.
and the wage scale of American labor
maintained on high level
49, Honor to DotIiver. s
Farenthetically, l might add, that
the report of the present tariff board
on wooden schedule FKn justifies the
great fight which was. made against
this schedule by our own beloved Sen
ator Dolliver. The last year of Sem
ator Delivers life was saddened by
unjust criticism leveled at him. be-
cause of the stand he took on the
Payne Aldrich bill. The sorrow he
felt should have been alleviated by
the knowledge that his brilliant fight
for justice earned him the lasting
gratitude of the people.
The laws regulating commerce be-
tween the states have been the sub
ject of much discussion. Every step
in advance has been made by re-
publican congress. The Dolliver-Hep-
burn Act of the seth congress restored
to the interstate commerce commits
sion some of the needed power, OF
which the commission had been de-
prived by court decisions.
The law was practically rewritten
in the 61st congress That it remain
ed, after amendment by this congress,
a breathing instrument for public
good, was largely due to the unwaver-
ing courage and the persistent fight
put up by Senator Cummins. The
amendment to the interstate COM
merce act providing that the burden
is upon the railroads to justify any
increase in rates is the most benefi-
cent piece of legislation of the decade.
The man who drew the amendment
and secured its passage was Iowa's
distinguished senior senator, Albert
B. Cummins.
| would hesitate to say how great
was the service Senator Cummins
rendered in formulating this legisla-
ton, but I remember that it called
forth a, letter from Iowa's grand old
man. Ex-Governor VIM. Larrabee, in
which he said: This amendment
would save the people of the country
one hundred million dollars each
year"
Honor For LaFollette.
Who is better able to judge of such
matters than this veteran in the fight
against special privilege? He was one
Of the pioneers who blazed the way.
Allow me to add here, that in the fight
for great principles, one of our neigh
boring states has furnished cour-
ageous, uncompromising champion of
the peoples cause. We congratulate
Wisconsin on having produced pub
lie servant of the calibre of Robert
NJ. LaFollette. All honor to such
staunch souls of progress.
The interstate commerce law is
calculated to operate so as to assure
just rates in transportation, but there
is a wheel within the wheel that should
be removed. Ey abolishing the COM
merce court the whole machinery of
the law would be sensibly simplified,
and more nearly respond to the ext
gencies of present day conditions.
The antitrust law should stand. But
inasmuch as it was intended to pre-
vent combinations, trusts and mon
opolies, and to preserve reasonable
competition, we think there is need of
supplemental legislation defining the
status of large corporations doing an
interstate business. The main con-
ditions to be imposed should
Prevent one company from hold
ing the stock of another company;
2-Contain prohibition against
common officers and directors of any
companies competing with each 9TH
er;
3-Contain prohibition against
continuous selling below cost in order
to destroy competition;
4-Demand honest capitalization;
Provide for a limitation upon the
capital that can be employed in any
one business. Not a limitation that
will stife big business carried on to
secure all the advantages of econ
omy in production, but limitation
that will require more than one COM
Ipany of substantially the same size,
in order to occupy the field. Pro-
gressive republicans are not against
big business" They are against
big crooked business" and partici-
patton of corporations in the affairs of
government.
Our attitude on all questions of ma
ltional Importance is plain and
straightforward.
Want Income Tax.
We believe in a just income tax law
as the fairest measure of taxation. 1t
is one of the principles embodied in
the forward movement of our party.
We advocate an intelligent, with.
out fear or favor" conservation policy.
A federal law providing for prim-
aries in the selection of candidates
for the Offices of president and vice.
president.
Direct election of United States
senators.
As matter of party procedure, 1t
would seem only fair that in the
future, representation in national con.
iyentions, from the various states