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OCTOBER 4, 1907
The Commoner.
5
I . v
sacred DIngley rates, while those who hearkened
to the popular domand Insist that there should
bo no revision until after the presidential elec
tion of 1908. When men who have felt the
burden of tariff taxation havo preached reduc
tion or havo pleaded for a rovonue tariff they
have been called free traders by the gentlemen
editing the republican papers belonging to the
American Newspaper Publishers' Association.
But what do we find these republican editors
doing now? In their editorial columns they are
either protesting against tariff revision or insist
ing upon postponing revision until after the
presidential election while in their newspaper
association they are demanding upon the pro
duct most vitally affecting their own business
not a reduction of the tariff but a repeal of all
the duty absolute free trade; and they do not
propose that this relief be postponed until after
the presidential election; they propose that it
' shall be "immediately repealed."
Why, then, deny the same boon to consum
ers generally?
oooo
THERE ARE OTHERS
President Roosevelt announces that he will
"approve" the admission of Oklahoma, although
' his opinion of the constitution "is not fit for
publication." That is much more of a compli-
ment to Oklahoma's constitution than it is to
' the presidential train of thought. Others be
' sides the president hold of the Oklahoma con-
stitution "opinions, not fit for "publication."
' Among -them 'might be named every predatory
corporation, every- corrupting combine, every
carpetbagger and every-grafter who fattens and
battens upon the public. All these have been
' shackled by the Oklahoma constitution. The
opinion of their constitution held by Okla
homans is fit for publication, and they publicly
expressed it when they "adopted it by a majority
closely approaching 100,000.
OOOO
WHY?
The St. Louis Globe-Democrat says:. "The
protective principle has been steadily main
tained everywhere under the flag for a decade,
and nowhere in any branch of American affairs
has it been connected with any conditions save
those of phenomenal good times."
But what about the resolution adopted by
the American Newspaper Publishers' Association
calling for the "immediate repeal" of the tariff
on everything tha goes to make up white
paper?
The Globe-Democrat is, we believe, a mem
ber of that association. If "nowhere in any
branch of American affairs has it (the protec
tive tariff) been connected with any condition
save those of phenomenal good times" why does
the American Newspaper Publishers' Associa
tion seek to interfere with this excellent con
dition? OOOO
SURRENDERED!
The Philadelphia North American has a
double column editorial entitled "The Arch
Criminal Surrenders." Prom this editorial this
extract is taken: "The most powerful criminal
combination in the world's commercial history
announces a surrender to the will of the people.
Standard Oil promises publicity of Its dealings
in future."
The confidence of tho Philadelphia North
American would be sublime if it were not pa
thetic. The Idea of the Standard Oil or any
other trust surrendering at a time when im
munity baths are so easily obtained!
OOOO
WORSE THAN EVER
A Washington dispatch to the Sioux City
(Iowa) Journal says: "Allegations that the
great western packers, known as the beef trust,
areonce more operating in violation of the Sher
man' ajiti-trust law, the Elkins act and the rate
regulation law are made by firms and persons
engaged in the meat and provision business in
Washington."
Is it any wonder that, judging from their
,. experience with prosecution by federal authori
ties, and from the ease with which trusts gen
erally escape conviction either through the im
munity bath or through "punishment" that doe3
not restrain Is it any wonder that the beef
trust magnates continue to defy the law? In
deed does not every consumer of beef know
that there has not been a moment since the beef
trust received its immunity bath or say during
the past ten years when the beef packers were
not conspiring in restraint of trade and fixing
the price at which (he farmer must surrender
his cattle and the price which the consumer
must pay for his food. Out of all tho noiso and
bombast of trust prosecution (he people havo
obtained not tho slightest rolior; the same old
prices if not higher ones have been fixed at
(he i5.mio old stand. . And with all this lnwlrnM
ness (he criminal clauso of the Sherman anti
trust law providing for prison sentence has re
mained unenforced.
It is not unfair to say that at this very
moment the exactions of the trusts aro. greAfur
and more keenly felt by the Amorican peoplo
than at any time in the history of our country,
greater bv far than when, speaking as vice presi
dent in the city of Minneapolis, Mr. Roosevelt
said that it might bo necesary in tho future
to shackle cunning as in tho past wo havo
shackled force.
DISGRACEFUL
This editorial from tho Richmond Va.)
Times-DIspaMi ought to set some people to
thinking: "The recent railroad disnster on tho
Boston and Maine railway, by whieh fifty per
sons were killed or injured, directs attention
to statistics recently given out by the Inforstato
commerce commission. During the fiscal yoir
1906 10.618 persons wore killed and 97.706
injured by the railroads of the United States,
as acainst 6,335 killed and 29.027 Injured In
1890. During our war with Spain our total
losses in killed and wounded amounted to loss
than fiOO or, to be exact, 290 killed and 65
wounded. During the war between Japan and
Russia, the Japanese casualties on land amount
ed to 153.652. Yet railroad casualties In (ho
United States in a single year wore 108.32-1.
That is a disgraceful exhibit for the United
States, and goes to show that we set a low esti
mate upon the value of human life."
OOOO
GEORGE Ij. LOOMIS
George L. Loomls, tho candidate of tho
democrats and populists of Nobraska for justice
of the supremo court, is a lawyer of acknowl
edged ability, whose high standing In his homo
community is an index to his character. Mr.
Loomis has served two terms In tho legislature
of Nebraska and in both session he stood square
ly for the rights of the peoplo and against tho
aggresions of corporate greed. As a member
of the highest court of the state he would add
credit to the annals of that tribunal.
OOOO
CLEVELAND, TOO
The Boston Herald, urging the election of
Mr. Burton as mayor of Cleveland, says encour
agingly "San Francisco found a man of tho
right ideals in her present mayor."
And if tho editor of the Boston Herald will
put his ear to the ground he will learn that
Cleveland found a man of the right ideals in
her present mayor.
OOOO
SETTLED!
The New York Press (rep.) has settled
the republican nomination so far as Messrs.
Roosevelt and Taft are concerned, saying: "Tho
republican party is going to take President
Roosevelt at his word. This in itself, is a con
trolling reason for putting the president out of
all calculations for 1908. If Mr. Roosevelt
should want to nominate himself he would be
unworthy of the public confidence, and if he
wants to run again in spite of his pledge ho
probably can not nominate himself, and he cer
tainly could not be elected if he were nominated.
Nor can tho president dictate a "candidate of
his own choice, unless that man appeals to the
party and has powerful claims upon the popular
suffrage."
OOOO
A HINT
An indication that there is considerable
thinking just now and that it Is not all along
partisan lines Is found in an editorial which re
cently appeared in the Lincoln (Neb.) Journal
(rep). The editorial follows: ."Not the least
remarkable part of Judge Lochren's rather re
markable decision in the Minnesota rate cases
is his gratuitous decision in favor of the author
ity of congress to control all railroad rates, intra
state as well as interstate, where intrastate ship
ments run over avenues of interstate commerce.
That in the present state of concentrated rail
road control, means practically ovory mil of
railroad In th country. Put the rulo into ofTect
and state ownorehip of fntrastata lino will be
come an issue In many status. That thoro must
bo certain conflict and inconsistencies when ono
authority makes Interstate and another governs
intrastate rates seems Inevitable-. Yet In No
braska, fcr Instance, the people would fool that
this difficulty wolghod little In comparison with
the danger in having to wait on the asslsinnco
of New York, Connecticut, California, Now Jer
sey or other railroad ridden states for permis
sion to lowor an excessive freight rate afrectlng
Nebraska alone."
OOOO
TRY EXISTING LAW
In an address boforo tho national prison
congress, Attorney General Bonaparte Intimated
that ho would mako tho fourth ofTcnse In the
crime of the trust magnateor other major
crimes punishablo by death.
Well, let's talk about that later. In tho
meantime, Mr. Donapart6 might send a few of
them to Jail. That would do pretty woll as a
starter.
OOOO
GOOD ADVICE TO MIL ROOSEVELT
Tho St. Louis Ropubllc gives good advice
to Mr. Roosevelt when It says: "The sweeping
victory won by tho democrats was a natural re
sult of republican opposition to statehood. If
the result had boon in doubt, Secretary Taft's
advice to republicans to vote against tho consti
tution would havo made it certainly democratic.
We havo yet to learn what conclusion Presi
dent Roosevelt will draw frbm his studies of
tho census taken by his order. Tho Guthrio
convention had not tho guidance of that Informa
tion and can not bo held responsible for possible
errors duo to tho lack of It. The president will
make a costly mistake If he does not promptly
issue his statehood proclamation when tho re
sults of the election are ofilclally certified to
him."
THE BATTLEFIELD
A mother's heart Is a battlefield,
A mother's heart Is a neat '.
Where love loans down with snowy nhold"
And lips that sing to rest. V -
A mother's heart is tho plain where moot '
Through all her days of life
Tho legions of the childhood feet,
Tho glittering ghosts of strife.
A mother's heart is a field of war
Where none may know, may see,
Tho wounds that bleed, the guns that roar,
Tho anguished hours that be.
A mother's heart is battle's home,
But, oh, so few have knelt
With her whore shadows fill tho gloam,
Havo felt what she has felt!
A mother's heart Is warfare's realm, "' ;
In it, unseen of time, ' 1
Rage the grim wars that overwhelm ' Jx''
But for her faith sublime. r - 'MM
A mother's heart is where sho hides ' ,f
So much she never tells.
So much that in her soul abides
And conquering lovehood quells.
A mother's heart oh, sacred place,
Oh, templed fane, how fair
To kneel beside Its shrine of grace,
To kneel and worship there.
A mother's heart is calm retreat,
Is rest and love and songfl
And round it, oh, how tender-sweet
The shades of memory throng! ;
A mother's heart has seen so much,
Has felt and borne and known
The rugged blow, the tender touch, ,v
Within its wardering zone; 'r' .
Has borne so much for those that lean
Upon its help and trust,
Has done so much to keep them clean,
To lift them from the dust!
A mother's heart is a battlefield
Where sacred strife has been,
Where spear on spear and shield on shield '
Hath raged the battle's din!
O holy shrine, inviolate spot,
Where love and memory como
When all the rest of life's forgot,
When all the rest is dumb!
Baltimore Sun.
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