The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1897-11-02


1t has been but year since the peo.
pie of this city we're appalled, at the
success of Mark Hanna in collecting
an enormous corruption fund with
which to thwart the will OF the people
at the ballot box.
He rushed like a meteor from city
10 city, and from state to state, levy
ing assessments upon banks and cor
porations which were interested In the
maintenance of the gold standard. No;
satisfied with this first swing around
the circle" 1t will be remembered that
he paid a visit to the city Of New
York for the purpose Of increasing his
corruption fund to such mammoth pc
portions as would remove all doubt as
to the success of his party in Novem-
ber.
1t Is a matter of common notoriety
that on arriving In New York he had
an immediate conference with distin-
guished representatives Of the follow
ing firms: The Mercantile Trust COM
pany, ]. P. Morgan & Co., Khun, Loeb
agreed to pay, and did pay, into Han
mas fund the enormous sum OF one
million dollars. Among those who
were identified with this great financial
corporation are:' Louis Fitzgerald. ia
cob H. Schiff, T. Jefferson Coolidge. j-,,
Chauncey n. Depew, Marvin Hughitt
and Oliver Ames.
1t is further a matter Of common
knowledge to the public that these cor
porations and persons identified with
them own and control the following
great lines of railroads: The New
York, New Haven and Hartford. the
New York Central the Lake Shore and
Michigan Southern and the Chicago
and Northwestern, and they we're rep
resentatives of these great lines OF rail-
roads that came to Hanna's rescue
with a contribution OF a million dol
lars. Likewise the representatives OF
these great corporations had their COW
etous eyes on the Union Pacific rail-
road.
They Knew They Were Safe.
These representatives knew that II
Mckinley were elected president. Mark
Hanna would be the dominating force
behind the cabinet OF the president
and that his influence would naturally
gress. Then the million dollars wal
suggested as compensation. AS soon
as the results of the election were de.
clared the movement TO reorganize the
Union Pacific acquired new impetus
from the corporations heretofore
named as contributors to Hanna's elec-
tioh fund.
y 1t will be interesting In this connec-
tion to notice how the government wai
Interested in this proceeding. When
the Union Pacific was built. more than
a fourth of a century ago. the govern
ment was appealed to by the promot.
ers of the road for assistance. This
appeal for aid was acceded to, and the
millions were advanced. For security
the government took lien upon the
gage bonds which had been issued be-
fore the government made these ad-
vances.
These bonds and other debts besides
the debt due the government aggre-
gate sixty-fve million dollars. The
debt due the government now amounts
to eighty million dollars. As an evil
dence that the property is worth more
than the aggregate OF all the debts
against it, the common stock of the
company, of which there were sixty
million dollars issued is selling daily
on the stock exchange. ranging from
twenty to twenty-five cents on the dol
lar. AS the government lien is supe-
rlor to the common stock every dol
lar of the governments lien 10 worth
par II the common stock has any value
whatever.
Under the domination OF Hanna con-
gress was kind, ard the president was
plant, and the reorganization scheme
was perfected. The. attorney general.
on behalf OF the government. was di-
rected to protect the government In
the deal. II Is intensely Interesting to
notice who the attorney general con-
fronts when he meets the reorganiza-
tion committee. He meets Louis Fltz-
gerald. Jacob r. schiff r. Jefferson
Coolidge. jr.. Chaunccy NJ. Depew. Mar
win Hughtt and Oliver Amcs- repre-