The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-05-11
FARMERS, Be ON YOUR GUARD
Juhu wanamsksr Points Out the Danger Of
Electing Cooperation Servants Like
william T. K0ontz, Esq, to Represent
You in the Legislature.
MERCHANT rRIECEs IseRArIrUDE-


MERCHANT PRINCES IEGRATIrUDE-
MiIlionaires as a class are reputed 70 be
most ungratefui to those who have hon
ored and assisted them to attain their am
bit;on- John Nanamaker, the million
aire merchant, is no exception to the
rule, If he is 70 be judged by his utter
ances at Huntingdon last Thursday night,
when he turned his batteries on corporate
greed and rapacity, and pointed out the
dangers threatening the Commonwealth
If the great railroads are permitted 10 fur
ther tighten their hold on the Legisla-
ture.
W. II. Koontz, who presided at the
meeting that made Mr.. Wanamaker a
candidate for Governor, as is well known,
Is a director as well as the local counsel OF
the great Baltimore& 4 Ohio Railroad Com
pauy. and il was not only ungrateful, but
cruel, in Mr.. Wanamaker TO hold up the
corporations, the representative Of one OF
which his friend KOoBtz is, before the
public as the greatest enemies the tax
payer "a LlC soltAtI nav q ~ kSAAIA-1 y AN--e
1t is unnecessary for as to point out the
fact that Mr.. Koontz not only attends to
the legal business of the great Baltimore
& Ohio Railroad in this county, but, as
director Of the corporation, he has been
instrumental in formulating its policy.
Do the intelligent voters of Somerset
county believe that Mr.. Koontz would
sacrifice his large law practice for the
purpose of being candidate for the Leg
islature in the interests Of the farmers of
Somerset county? Is it not more proba-
bic that he seeks to go to the Legislature
for the purpose of securing Legislation for
the benefit Of the great corporation whose
servant he is?
Read what his ungrateful friend Wana-
maker says in regard TO corporate stealth
and power, and draw your own conclu-
sions:
Woe TO the man who attempts to array
class against class. Shame on those who
seek personal advancement by sowing
the seeds of discomfort in the minds of
the masses.
Il IS only as simple business PROPOSE
ton that take up this subject tonight
THE MAo@f1c HARD DfttN EN-.
The time is far passed when the inter
ests of the people and those Of the corpo-
rations We're identical. Human selfish
ness, the origin Of inequalities and the
source of dangerous power, has gradually
divorced and made the interests of the
masses Numerically different from those
of the corporations
The great combinations of capital, real
izing the power of organization, discipline
-fuH barra in
and equipped great armies of talent and
genius, such as money can always COM
rnand. On the principle that might makes
right aud that they are entitled to all
privileges that can be obtained through
legislation, by fair means or foul, they
have waged an unceasing war against
the people. A lOng-cOntinued series of
victories has made them thirsty for more.
Continued success in their schemes has
intoxicated them. aud they are arrogant
and defiant. Conscious of their strength,
they proclaim by word and deed their
mastery over the people.
The masses, a great unOrganized and
undisciplined force, cannot maintain such
ar unequal war. Notably in the oil re-
gions of our State they have been forced
from one retreat to another, their lands
have been taken from them and their
homes covered with mortgages, for the
benefit of corporations. Against the
St1ltllLlE "a NCll- 1dIu NJituulu-
ly-drilled c irporatiOn legislators the peO-
pie send out an army of undisciplined
militia every two years. The people
gather their recruits from all the walks of
life: honest men, but with no experience
with the corporation legislative buncO-
steerers, and, totally ignorant that cOrpo-
ration cOnfidence-men are hired to swarm
legislative bodies and 10 break down the
good resolutions of good men, fall e;ssy
Drey TO these agents.
These officials VINO enlist for the peO-
pies cause come from the ranks. They
have personally felt the heavy weight of
unjust discrimination. They enter pub
lie life fully determined to help break the
iron band that is being drawn tighter and
tighter around the brow of their people.
But the cOnfidence-man is there; he
courts the acquaintance of the new MEM
Der aud gains his confidence; he tells him
how easy it is 10 obtain free passes. The
new member is anxious to demonstrate
to his constituents his great pull. He
gives his friends passes by the score, not
realizing that every pass he accepts is car
rying him farther and farther from any
probability Of serving his constituents
If you offered these men money for their
votes for corporation favors they would
strike you in the face. Yet, by the insid-
iOus influence of free passes, handled by
the skillful lobbyist, their votes are mort
gagged aud sold 10 the corporation before
they realize it. You elect men to fight
back the merciless corporate hosts, and
they are Immediately put ON the free-pass
pay roll of these very companies. In
some States an official found riding ON
free passes is driven from Office in dis
grace. In Pennsylvania an official who
displays pocketfuls of them is esteemed
and reelected.
There are laws upon the statute books
against this form of wholesale bribery.
You not only fail to enforce the law
against the practice, but you applaud
your elected servants when you know
they have become the paid agents of cor
pOraiions.
And As the interest on your mortgage
gets harder and harder tO pay you do not
realize it is your own fault, bat you COM
plain Of the tariff and finance.
Suppose our army officers whom we
will send 10 Cuba 20 protect our interests
should become the constant guests Of the
BlancOs and the Weylers. Suppose that
certain OF our officers were the constant
recipients Of special iavOrs from the Span
ish Government Suppose il was ae
knowledged that they were receiving
costly gifts and favors from the Spanish
generals. How long would it be before
they would be called upon to answer the
charge of treason? Yet you select OIL
cials TO fight for your rights against cor
pOrate invasions and you see those Off
Gals placed under the pay of corporations
and say not a word.
Your silence and Indifference is most
alarming Sign to the friends of popular
government IL shows only too well how
the moral sense of the people has become
biunted 10y the vicious system of politics.
The great railroad companies send their
lobbyists TO Harrisburg, where they re-
main throughout every session of the Leg
islature. They sit IN the presence of tha |
Legislators and deal out free passes. " bile
legislation they are interested in is under
consideration.
Political Notes.
Bedford county has three candidates
FOR the Republican congressional nomin-
alton, and two for the senatorial. The
candidates for Congress are Joseph L.
Fhropp, r. Z. HadermaD, and ]. T. Al
sin For SpDafOr \ q Ex-ans and (