Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-03-19
Idaho's Proctor Knott.

Mr.. Mcconnell, Of Idaho, whose
term as senator was one of the briefest
on record, took advantage of Il lull in
senatorial proceedings the other day,
to fire off speech that is likely to oc-
cupy a permanent place in the orator.
ical literature of this country. Mr..
McCOnnel's term closed on the 4th,
anC doubtless with view of cOnvinc-
ing the country that as he is so soon to
he done for, there was really some rea-
son for his having a beginning. 1t
was Mr.. McConnell's one opportunity
to talk to the whole nation, and he i'm
proved the opportunity for all there
| was in it.
The speech was remarkable for two
things. One is its tioridity. And in
this respect it almost equals Proctor
Knots famous Duluth speech, al
though it is lacking in the humor of
that remarkable speech. The other
distinguished feature of Senator Nc
Connell's speech is his John L. Sullivan
style of knocking out the corporations.
The senate had under consideration
the bin providing for settlement
with bond-aided railroads.
Mr.. McConnell's assault was directed
principally against the Union Pacific
Railway Company, and he presents an
array of facts and figures which are of
Il startling character. He shows that
4, 81, rftl ,o rn,A
the total profit to the contractors
which was the credit Mobllier of Amer
lea, was over S56,OOO,OOO. He further
more shows that the contractors were
the directors of the Union Pacific.
And while the law required the capt.
tai stock to be paid for at par. in fact it
was paid for at not more than 80 cents
on the dollar in road making. He fur
thermore shows that in the years 1880
. and 1881 there was an issue Of stock to
the amount of S24 1000, 600, which was
expressly prohibited by law. Mr..
Mcconnell then produces the figures
, to prove that the aggregate amount
paid out of the earnings of the Union
. Pacific upon fraudulently issued stocks
and bonds was $90,553,77O. Add to
this the amount of profit on construc-
ton, and there is total of over $l47, '
, OOO, 900 ola clear steal from the gov
q eminent. Mr.. Mcconnell then pro-
r cceds to give detailed statement OF
2 the Union Pacific's operations with its
| ~, Ln el, hDx
G each of them is..made to yield tribute
:. to the robber gang who are operating
4 the main line under the authority and
IS protection of the government.
Referring to what some senator hat
d said about the hardship and injustice
Il the impending bill would inflict upor
r. the innocent holders of the Union Pa
J. cific stock, Mr.. Mcconnell says: Their
70 are no innocent holders. Notwith
a standing what the stock ledgers ma.
+. show, the bulk of the stock is owned
# by the present directors Of the roat
# and coterie of their friends, including
~ the Standard Oil ring, who boast tina
they get about Is per cent dividend
Is out of their manipulations of the stool
- in Wall street. Their system is neve
# to have any of the stock transferred t.
4 themselves, but hold the certificates
.. which are in some one else's name
X and which are signed and ready to b.
h delivered at moments notice.
Ne These Union Pacific directors ant
e and Standard Oil innocents, includin,
,e such notable persons as Jay Gould, tn
n Rockafellers, Russell Sage and Olive
IF Ames, are in reality the widows ant
h orphans who make such pathetic ap
n peal for government forbearance. l
a Mr.. Mcconnell never appears in publi
10 life again, the country will still be in
ar debted to him for his forciable eXposi
O. ton of the rottenness of the bond-aidet
n. railroads. 1t is not likely that Mr.
r. Mcconnell will ever get back to tn
ID senate from Idaho. That forlorn new
j. state is to exclusively the property G
~ the corporations for it to he possibl
err for free-spoken man like Mcconnell
is to stay long in public life. 1t is
I'd wonder how he ever got into the senat
&c for even so brief a period, and it is
n still greater wonder how man wit
such distinct anti-monopoly opinion
~ should identify himself with the n
er publican party.-Portland Telegram
ne
~ After April l, the Mckinley bill wi
k. have chance to redeem in part propt
No | sfandinn in nuhlic OniniOn On A nr