New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-07-22
CORPORATIONS AND CANDIDA TIES.

One interesting fact appearing in the Albany
contest ought not to be OvcrloOked-that it
raises the question whether a connection with
a great corporation is not hindrance rather
than a help to candidate for a conspicuous
office. This is far from being the popular i'm
preston. So much has been said of the power
of corporations in politics, especially in the
| control of legislative bodies, that many have
| come to believe that the railroads are Omnip-
| Otent at our State capitals. They are popu-
| larly supposed to control not only the legisa-
tive but also the political functions of the
Legislatures, and the ordinary citizen has
vague notion of a vast and indie
| Unable power that shapes legislation, appoints
committees, chooses Speakers, dominates Gov
errors and elects United States Senators, all
with the precision and certainty of machine.
This idea is so widely diffused that it must be
regarded as one of the accepted traditions of
our politics. To certain extent it is correct
Every corporation, whether a railroad, nsur-
ance company or bank, large enough to be
the object of attack by legislative strikers,
and anxious either to protect or increase its
possessions and interests, must, of course, keep
close watch on the Legislature of its State,
and will, in the nature of things, do what it
can to influence the composition of commit
tees as well as their subsequent action, and
will endeavor in all ways to advance its own
interests.
But this impression is incorrect so far as it
implies that the open friendship of great
corporation, or connection with one, gives
such prestige to a candidate as to insure his
| election, or greatly to aid it, On the contrary.
there is no easier way of arousing a prejudice
| against a candidate which it will be difficult
for him to meet, than to charge him with
! no dat IF q ful t;o,
| Corporations in the abstract are unpopular,
although in the concrete-and this is especially
true of raroads-they regarded as the great
| promoters of development and prosperity in
every community. The farmer who knows that
| the railroad has doubled the value of his land the
! manufacturer who knows that it has given him
| ten markets Tor his goods where he had one be-
| fore, and the business man who knows it has
| brought him twice his former number of custo-
| mers by developing and settling the surround
ing country, are nevertheless full of vague fears
| and hatreds of corporations in general and
| there is no surer way of commencing candidate
for the Legislature, some other and higher
office, to their dislike than to proclaim him
corporation candidate The recent canvass of
Mr.. Depew for United States Senator was
an instance in point His ability his elo-
quence, his personal rectitude, were &C
|
understood that, if elected Senator he would
at once sever his connection with the Central
Railroad, and enter upon his duties with no
responsibilities save those which he should
accept from the people. His sincerity in this
determination was not questioned. 1t was, at
the same time, evident to every one that the
success he had achieved as a railroad lawyer was
as clear proof of ability an equal success
| in the management of a life insurance COM
| pany or a great business house, and it was
| freely admitted that there was nothing intrn-
| sically immoral or dangerous to the public
| interests in connection with an inn
| p0rtant railroad, upon whose proper admins
| tration depend, in greater less degree,
| the interests of many thousands of men
and women. One distinguished member of
| the party, ex-Vice President Wheeler, who has
never been thought to be under the influence
of corporations, had the courage to say that
| Mr. Depew's success as an attorney for the Cen
trail Railroad was a good reason for believing
that he would make an excellent United States
| Senator. In the sense in which the remark
was made it unqucstionably Just. But
| Mr. Depew connected with the Central
Railroad, and that fact prevented his election
as Senator. The timid men who were afraid
to face the anti-cOrporation prejudice of their
districts admitted all these things that were
shown in his favor, and, moreover, saw the
leaders of the Anti Railroad party in the Leg
isature supporting Mr. Depcw because they
knew he would represent his constituents faith
/ fully. But--he belonged to the Central Rail
road. That was the whole Indictment, but
that was enough. And so, although for a
month OF ballOting he received IL majority of
| the Republican votes i'll the Legislature the
! twenty votes needed to elect him did not come
| Every person ut all familiar with the politics
of the interior knows that this history is often
repeated in smaller contests. The cry of
corporation candidate" is like the Quakers
Cry of mad dog sure to run like wldiire,
and often fatal. Thus it happens that the
help of the railroads, to be really useful to a
candidate, must usually be given under cover
and with discretion. Indeed, if voters would
| but see it, the dangers to be apprehended from
this dreaded influence are not that it will place
persons identified with corporations in positions
| of power, but that it will accomplish by the
arts OF indirecton and secrecy, chiefly in affect
| ing legislation, what it cannot accomplish
| openly. 1t seems to be about time to
Danish to the limbo OF exploded traditions the