The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-07-31
Til for Tat In Politics.


the you're another argument, which
usually betrays a weak defense, Is dis
playing Itself with the Republicans n
their Presidential campaign. First the
Ice trust OF Tammany Hall was holsted
strenuously 10 public view as an answer
TO the arralgnment Of the Republican. po-
sltion on that very pertinent issue. Again,
Tanmany Hall. a thoroughly selfish or
ganization and little representative of the
Democratic party anywhere save in New
York City. has been cited as an example
OF the collection OF an immense campaign
fund. All the details Of raising an alleged
total OF s., 10000 have been spread before
the public by Jealous organs as an offset
for the well-knOwn methods of the Repub-
lican National Committee for frying fat
10 the amount Of many millions from the
rich corporations Of the East
And nov the latest Is an effort to put
Chairman Jones, Of the Democratic Ma
tlonal Committee, in the same category
with Senator Hanna as to large financial
interests in trusts. The New York Even
ing Sun is playing this aforementioned
card, and in due season it can be expected
to filter through the various layers of Re-
publican journalism. One of the Suns
bright young men secured this deleetable
interview with the Democratic chairman
the other day, which was placed in the
most prominent position in the paper:
Chairman Jones was drawn into another express
sion Of opinion the antl-trus. issue last evening
He was then asked about his own relations to one
Of the corporations generally classed as a trust
Are you not a stakeholder In trust" Chair
man Jones was asked.
Not that am aware Of
Are you not a stockholder in the Patent Cotton
Compress Company Chairman Jones was asked
% I am stakeholder in the Patest Cotton Com
press Company, but do not believe it is trust
responded Chairman Jones.
- Isn't that company controlled by John E.
Company
9 Mr.. Searles,' responded Chairman Jones, IS
prominent in the company, but do not know that
he controls It. Our company is working under
patents for long term Of years, fourteen think.
The Constitution Of the United States provides for
patents. and believe in standing by the Constltu-
ton"
We DO not understand how such party
tactics can result in any permanent ad-
vantage to the political leaders who coun-
tenance them. Without any regard for
Senator Jones' Democracy or for the tri-
umph Of the cause he represents. we do
not believe he can be Justly classed with
Senator Hanna as a manager of great in
dustrial operations or as a pronounced
beneficiary of trusts or as their friend.
By thrift and economy during his twenty
years and more of service in the House
and Senate he may have saved some of
his earnings and, with public spirit have
invested them In certain of the enterprises
of his section. That is the kind of action
Republicans are supposed to encourage
and to preach from the stump.
The Post has heretofore claimed that the
Democratic party should not be saddled !
with the misdeeds of Tammany Hall. |
Tammany's ice trust should not be set
down TO the discredit Of Mr.. Bryan any
more than the municipal rule in Phila- |
delphia should be set down to the dis |
credit Of President Mckinley. Further |
more, Tammany's big corruption fund, If |
one has been raised, will assuredly be |
spent in promoting Tammany's own DO |
litical interests in New York City. In |
parading these matters the Republicans |
are bound in The end TO emphasize their
own shortcomings in the eyes Of thought |
full people The attitude of the Republi- |
cans toward trusts has been entirely in
sincere and will not bear intelligent analy- |
sis. National legislation has beyond doubt |
been utilized indirectly to fill the campaign |
war chest. Strenuous charges that the |
other fellows are doing the same thing or
that Chairman Jones belongs to a trust |
will not eXonerate the Republicans from
guilt, but will exemplify that in manu-
featuring campaign buncombe they are
even exceeding their political opponents.