The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-06-26

| re VINO runs may read the danger
o. the country ruled by such man.
Traditions Not Sufficient.
"Cnquestionably we have been
wrong in assuming that a tradition
against a third term constitutes a
SUFFICIENT safeguard against unscrupu-
lous ambition Tor unlimited power
We need definite constitutional
limitation which shall prevent i'm
pcrialistic souls from forcing personal
continuation i'll office for long periods
OF for life and the personal selection
OF a successor in office And the con-
stltutional provision should limit to a
single term.
I'm this great country which boasts
OF wealth OF $4,000, 100000 as
against $50. 100000 for Great
Britain and Ireland; $4,000. 600. 900
tor France and 500 600. oo0O 900 for
Germany, all are conscious that too
large part of our wealth has been
secured by small percentage OF our
population and that the cost of living
rises faster than the average income.
The principal cause of all this is
10 be found in the tariff statutes and
In tho combinations restraining trade
and competition. created for the pur-
pose of wringing from tho public
every dollar which the tariff statutes
make possible.
The average of duties under the
tariff of 1882 was sl-2 per cent. Now
the average is nearly so per cent
Protected intrests benefited by two
increases during the war the FIRST to
an average of 3Il-2 per cent, the
second TO Al per cept. That high aver
age then excused only by the cNigen-
cies of the war is exceeded now. as
the average is nearly 90 pr cent.
Ihe Republican party has thus
Eeared the machinery OF government
TO enrich the few at the expense of
the many.
AN awakening of the people led the
Republican National Convention of
isoS by its platform to promise re.
vision.
Get Their Pound OF Flesh.
In vain did the people demand or
Congress the mulfllmcnt OF the Re-
publican pledge, for the masters Of
sisted upon the pound of flesh nom
mated In the bond. And il was yield
"a. Congress passed and the Pres
ident signed the Paync-Aldrich bill
one outcome of this breach of faith
was n Democratic house which has
acted so wisely and so coura cously
as to arouse the enthusiasm of tho
people ana inspire the mocratic party
with justifablc hope OF carly oppor-
tunity to render a public service sore
i ~ needed.
i The Presidents use OF the veto
mower has postponed. however. the
hour when the people shall enter the
enjoyment of the relief proposed until
after inauguration Of the next Pres
idcnt
The temporary failure owing to the
), action of the electorate of Canada OF
the effort TO effectuate reciprocity with
that country, Is rcErettable. The
agreement proposed was In the inter
est of the people of both countries.
! AN honor TO the Democratic House
which stood for the good OF the nation
as whole and prevented the repeal
t..v reciprocity act thus leaving
the door 'pen TO Canada II her people
shall later elect TO accept our proposal.
Mr. Taft said in a speech In 1905
that during the preceding ten years
nine tenths of the combinations to re-
strain trade had come into existence
During nearly all that time the Re
publican party was N control Of
every Northern. Eastern and Western
state. as well as of the Federal gov
! eminent.
reason Is PlnIn.
The reason for the enCoura EinE in
activity OF the Republican officials is
plain The tariff benciiciarics were
!. and for many years had been CON
tributing to campaign funds OF the
party, which, in turn protected the
Special privileges enjoyed by the
donors. But competition prevented in
some instances the collection from the
people of the full sum stipulated in
the tariff To secure IT all tempted
the cupidity and stimulated the in
Senuity Of the bencnciarics But one
: way could he found-combination to
control tho price up to the point where
the statute let in foreign competitions
the same party which shut out foreign
> competition was found willing TO per
nit the formation of combinations
u r. 80 al 49, 1T.
petition. The common law on the sub
: ject and the Sherman act were treated
:! by Republican officials as repealed by
lmplicatlon Need il be said that the
protected interests for these larger
privileges made larger contributions?
= We arc indebted to the President
Tor the evidence that his predecessors
having first enjoyed an interview with
George w. Perkins. restrained his At
: torneN-General from bringing suit
against the harvester combination.
For the steel Corporation he went
further, for he wrote his Attorney
General in advance of its absorption
of the Tennessee Coal and IRON Com
rhny that he had decided to intcrposc
| no objection
Indeed. he apparently stood ready
: TO perform similar kindly offices for
= All corporations, for he advocated this
rassaS" Of statute permitting volun-
tary submission Of ali engaged in in
tcrstatc commerce to Federal authority
with the advantage to them of i'm
munity from prosccut' or because of
contracts made if stamped in advance
with executive approval as reason
able
"N hatever of cXcuse may be offered
the ugly truth is that tho Republican,
national machine mas received the
moneys Of the corporate and individual
bcnctciarics of the tariffs and conhi-
n i,.e