Jasper County Democrat, Volume 8, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 July 1905 — RECORD OF DEMOCRATS [ARTICLE]

RECORD OF DEMOCRATS

Beyond Reproach on Control of Corporations Question. REPUBLIOANB DIVIDED ON ISSUE. President Roosevelt Has Adopted the Democratic Policy of Fixing Maximum Rates—Honest Voters of All Parties Must Join to Curb Rapacity of Railroads and Trusts. The Democratic record on control of tailroad rates Is beyond reproach from the people’s standpoint. Not only has the Democratic party declared continually In its platforms for control of public monopolies, but the votes of Democratic members of congress have been uniformly cast for controlling the power of railroad corporations to charge exorbitant rates. In the last congress the Democratic members were unanimous for the Davey bill, which provided that the interstate commerce commission should have the power to fix maximum rates, but this bill was voted down by the Republican majority. The Esch-Townsend bill, which was passed by the house of representatives and which the Democrats voted for, in lieu of a better measure, was much more complex than the Davey bill. It had some good provisions, but lacked the plain and direct conditions of the bill that tlxp Democrats proposed. Why the Republicans forced a bill That "was complex and uncertain in many of its provisions can be judged by their past position on railroad legislation.

For ten years the Interstate com merce commission lias asked congress to grant it more power to deal with tlie railroads, especially the power to fix maximum rates. During all these years the Republicans have controlled congress, but beyond passing the Elkins bill, which has done more harm than good to the people, which bill the railroad combinations favored, no legislation for the relief of the people has been accomplished President Roosevelt has taken up the fight for the people against the railroads and has declared substantially for the Democratic contention, but a large faction of his party with a majority of the United States senate are secretly opposing the legislation he recommends. This opposition of many of the Republican leaders to controlling the railroads was to be expected, for they and their party have been receiving campaign funds from the corporations and in many states it is notorious that tlie railroad attorneys, agents and lobbyists have dictated the nominations for state and federal officers in most of the Republican conventions. As the Democrats in the last congress proposed the policy which the president has adopted, so they will continue this policy In the coming congress. As long as President Roosevelt continues to recommend legislation that agrees with Democratic platforms and principles he may rely upon the support of all true Democrats. The problem of the coming congress Is how many Republican members will be found honestly aiding the Democrats and the president to control the railroads. The exultant Democracy of Chicago, through the Iroquois club, promised to stand by the president even to the end of aiding in giving him a third term. If such is necessary to complete the reforms he has initiated. That extraordinary statement from political opponents shows how strongly the business men and other voters of the country feel on this paramount issue of controlling railroads and other corporations. Whatever course the Republican majority In congress may take the Democracy may be relied upon to vote for any plain, straightforward bill that will give the Interstate commerce commission power to fix maximum rates and will co-operate with the president and the faction of his party that he represents in passing such legislation.