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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 20, 1907)
KsaLa PPWVM rir ;" "?! 2 The Commoner. -- :- VOLUME 7, NUMBER 49 I W $ at i t opolies and this is tho point at which the demo cratic party has for years drawn the line. Dem ocrats do not oppose production on a large scale, hut they do oppose private monopoly. They are in favor of enforcing the criminal law against trusts and trust magnates, and in their platform of 1900 the democratic party proposed tho very license system to which the president now gives an alternative endorsement. Ho favors the char ter of interstate corporations, hut he says that "if a corporation law is not deemed advisable" a licenso act for big interstate corporations might bo enacted. He insists, and that rightfully, that "congress can close the channels of interstate commerce" against private monopolies. Let the republican party be put to the test on this prop osition, for surely no democrat will reject today a position which the democratic party announced more than seven years ago. Sentiment has been growing against tho trusts all these years, and the democrat who has not yet reached the posi tion which the democratic party announced in 1900 is lagging behind the army. A federal license for big corporations could not !bo 'invoked against a state! it would simply be permission from the federal government to enter interstate commerce upon such terms as the various states might prescribe. If for in stance the democratic party proposes a measure .requiring a license to be taken out by corpora tions desiring to control as much as twenty-five per cent of the total product, such measure will be in harmony with the democratic platforms of 1900 and 1904, and in harmony also with tho president's recommendation. If the meas ure also provides that no licensee shall be per mitted to control more than fifty per cent of the total product, it will make a private monopoly impossible, and by withdrawing the interstate use of the railroads, tho mails and the tefegraph lines from any corporation which, being required to take out a license, refuses to do so, it can confine the corporation to the state of its origin and tlius protect the' public. Such a measure is ' thoroughly democratic, and "yet the republicans can hot oppose it without opposing the president. The president admits the necessity for tariff' reformi although he does so in language less forcible and direct than he usually employs. He says that no tariff legislation shouia be attempt ed until after the next election, but there are many republicans who differ from him on this proposition, and the democrats ought to give these tariff reform republicans a chance to ex press themselves. The democratic party is united on the tariff question, and it requires the vote of only about twenty-eight republicans acting with the democrats to pass a measure through the house. AreTthere twenty-eight tariff reform republicans in the house? The question can be tested by a caucus measure putting upon the free list imports that come into direct com petition with trust-controlled products. For in stance, the democrats' might prepare a measure providing for the free importation of articles which come into direct competition with articled fifty per cent ol the total consumption of which is uuuiruuuu uy one corporation or combination 01 corporations. Such a measure would enforce itself and every importer would be watching for combinations in restraint of trade. If it is im possible to get enough republicans to favor a measure putting the limit of control at fifty per cent, they should be tested upon a measure fixing the maximum control at sixty, seventy ana seventy-five per cent. If they are not will ing to use the free list to prevent any monopoly however complete, they will be on tho defensive ail ma uo.i uuiujjuigu. similar measures can be brought forward free-listing particular art icles or reducing tne tariff upon the necessaries of life or fixing a maximum tariff. Congress mart Williams, of Mississippi, introduced such u muuaure in me last congress but it ought to be re-introduced and urged by a party caucus. The republican tariff reformer should bo given a chance to express himself, and if he refuses to "WD utiuHoii, ho win ue compelled to explain his position when he comes before his constit- UVJULH. It might be well to nrpsont n vaoni,,un unending the constitution so as to specifically authorize the lew and enllnnHrm nf i.v,i (tax whenever congress shall rioo ai, 3xpedient. Tho nresident linn rAnnmn.an,i income tax, and the democratic party stands for m iiiuuuiu tux. xne income tax measure wmiiri )0 Ob.1ected to bv Rnmn rn Tm n,.n i.i. u. rould be held unGnnRtltuHrmni i .u... tional amendment specifically authorizing an in come tax would bring the fight on tho principle rather than on details and would enable us -to iu out now mnnv rnniitiiinnna o. .,n i ,, - x. v. .i,n,uu cug XKMliy IU favor of the principle involved in an income tax. Tho president asks that the interstate com merce commission be authorized to ascertain the present value of the railroads whenever it de'emg the matter important. Would it not be well for the democratic caucus to prepare and pre sent a measure authorizing and instructing the interstate commission to ascertain the value of the railroads? If the republicans refuse to sup port a measure authorizing the commission to ascertain the value of all the railroads, let an other measure be framed in exact accordance with the president's recommendation authorizing the commission "to make a physical valuation of any railroad whenever in its judgment it is necessary." The republican party must either accept such a measure or confess its opposition to the president's recommendation. In recom mending the enlargement of the scope of the interstate commerce commission the president has simply followed the democratic platform, and the democratic party ought not to hesitate to urge the fulfillment of a doctrine set forth in the democratic platforms of 189 G, 1900 and 1904. The president recommendb that the inter state commerce commission shall be given power "to pass upon the future issue of securities" of railroad companies. This is not only democratic but it is eminently just, and now while the peo ple are smarting over the effects of vast issues of watered stock, public attention should be drawn to the subject, and the republican leaders should be forced to accept the president's recom mendation or reject it. The republican leaders will not take the initiative in these matters be cause the republican leaders take their inspira tion from the great corporations, but they can be put upon the defensive if the democratic party by united action forces them to take a ' position. The railroad managers would be glad to get national incorporation of railroads, but this the democratic party Can and ought to oppose to the very end. We do not need national in corporation; the constitutional power of con gress regulating interstate commerce is ample. National incorporation is not desired by the railroads in the interest of better regulation but as a .means of avoiding state regulation, and the democratic party will not for a moment countenance any surrender of- tho power that the state now has to protect its own people in all matters relating to commerce within the state even-when that commerce is carried on by a railroad that runs through several states. On the subject of arbitration the democratic party should in caucus advocate a measure which provides a board of arbitration, the findings of the board not to be binding upon either party but to be a guide to public opinion and a means of conciliation between labor and capital. If this board contains five members say, and then two members are added in each dispute, one to be selected by each side, both sides will be in sured a fair hearing, and the chances are that a full investigation will lead to an amicable set tlement of differences and thus protect the public from the inconveniences of a strike, the employes from the hardships involved in a strike and the employers from the bitterness and ill will that often accompany a strike. If the democrats will present such a measure and such a measure is in harmony with the democratic platforms of 1896, 1900 and 1904 the republicans have to accept the measure or place themselves on record as opposed to the president's recommendation. On the subject of government by injunc tion the democrats can also make use of the president's recommendation and compel the re publican, leaders to consent to the necessary legislation or-confess their opposition to it. This test could be made by the introduction of a caucus measure giving to the accused in con tempt cases the right of trial by jury when the contempt complained of is not committed in the presence of the court and must be established by evidence. The same test can be made in the matter of the eight hour day and in other matters re lating to the welfare of the laboring man. The president intimates in his message that the suspension of state laws by injunctions Issued by fedoral judges has been carried too far. This also gives the democrats an opportunity to force action by the republicans Upon a very important question. This can be done by a caucus .measure which will expressly deny to circuit and district judges of the United States courts the right to suspend stato laws, leaving those laws to be passed upon first by the state courts with the right of appeal to the United States supreme" court if any constitutional right is denied to the corporations. Surely the corporations which in business in a state and rely upon the atit courts for the condemnation of land and for tho protection of their property from criminal act ought to be .compelled to give the state courts -the benefit of the presumption and test their rights in these state courts first before their an peal to the federal courts. Now is the time for the democratic party to lay down the lines of the coming campaign The president's recommendations have given the democrats their opportunity. If the republi cans are willing to go as far as the president has gone, several democratic measures will be enacted by the present congress. If on the con trary the republican leaders refuse to follow tho president's recommendations, the breach between the president and his party will be shown and the differences of opinion emphasized. Besides urging the democratic measures which the president has wholly or partially en dorsed, the democrats should also force a vote upon the popular election of United States sen ators. That measure has already been endorsed five times by the house of representatives but the senate has five times obstructed the passage of the necessary resolution. Let the matter bo brought up againand let the republican senators be put on record that their, constituents may be able to identify them in the senatorial elec tions which are near at hand. The president has as yet failed to endorse the election of sen ators by the people, probably because he takes the Hamiltonian rather than 'the Jeffersonian view of government, but among the rank and file of the republican party this is the most pop ular reform now before the country, and the democrats should insist upon a vote. The re publicans of the house do not dare to oppose it, and the opposition of the republican senators ought to be exposed. The democrats have a great opportunity. Will they improve it? i oooo . MINORITY LEADERS CHOSEN The democrats -of the senate have chosen 'Senator Charles A. Culberson as the chairman of their caucus; which makes him the leader of the senate during this congress. It was a wise choice, for Senator Culberspn is well equipped for the position. After a' large experience in his own state, ending with his election as governor, he entered the United States Senate and has from the first taken a prominent part in the shaping tif legislation. He is a skillful debater as well as a sagacious counselor, and the minor ity in the senate is likely to make the most of its ppportunities under his leadership. Hon. John Sharp Williams, of Mississippi, has been' again chosen a minority leader of the house, and no one disputes his great ability. He Is a skillful parliamentarian and an eloquent and forceful speaker. While there have been differences of opinion among members of the minority upon various measures that have been proposed, there- seems to be a disposition to unite and force a vote upon the questions about which the party is united, and Mr. Williams, with the solid democratic vote behind him, will be able to do effective work in the advancement of democratic policies. The democratic senators and members realize that the prospects of vic tory can be very much increased by wise action during the present session, and The Commoner will be glad to co-operate with' the democrats of the senate and bouse in presenting to the coun try the issues formulated in congress. OOOO THE PRESIDENT REITERATES DECLINA- TION The president has cleared the political atmosphere by 'reiterating his determination not to be a candidate for a third term. It ought not' to have, been necessary to speak again, but some of his over-zealous friends were casting reflec tions upon his good faith by announcing that he would be a 'candidate if his party- demanded it. The president could hardly feel compliment ed at so light an estimate being placed upon his declaration, and it is just as well that he set the matter at rest. There is no doubt that some of his enemies were declaring for him in order to get into the convention, and once there, could have thrown their influence against his policies after his refusal to be a candidate. Now the -fight- will be a straightout one between the re publican reformer and the standpatter. That is,. it will be an as straightout a fight as can be madeifor such a reformer as Secretary Taft has proven himself to be a. very weak one afc my 1--U M-MM -fr j hJ.Il sU k WW