The independent., 1903-05-28
ECONOMIC lEAGUe
Mr.. Van vorhis Writes . Caustic Letter to
Editorial Manager Aattox-ffgs do
Not Grow ON Thistles

I omic league has been taking a
"much needed rest" in the columns OF
The independent. That the league has
been busy, however, is evidenced by
the following letter written by Hon.
Flavius ]. Van Vorhis in response 10
one of Mr.. Matox's invitations to
subscribe to the leagues "non-partisan
efforts" to educate the people away
from socialism,:
Indianapolis, Ind, May IA, 1909
Mr.. A. H. Mattox, Editorial Mgr. OF
the National Economic League.-My
Dear Sir: Your letter received yes
terday is not the first time my atten-
tion has been called to the aim ana
purpose" etc., of your league ! nave
seen copies of your letters addressed
to banks, manufacturers, etc., and TAX
ing them altogether, l am constrained
to believe that the real purpose IS
masked by the statement OF purposes
as YOU make it in the letter before me.
You will pardon me II insist tnat
it is nonsense to assert that sach an
organization, managed by men whose
names appear on your letter head anu
on the printed slip enclosed, is or can
be non-partisan, except in the sense
that it is desired to keep parties from
making an issue of the only real 1--we
rolitical question that is presented by
our present economic condition. 1t IS
absurd to assert that the men, whose
names appear, think it necessary for
them to organize and expend time, en-
ergy and money that they may nnd
the truth. They have fixed ideas now
if not about the truth, very certain
ly. about what they want others to
believe is the truth concerning tne
question they desire to keep out OF
politics"
The men who are expecting to con-
troll your league, and who viii con-
trol it are very we'll satisfied with
their present views upon the eco
nomic situation. They have no doubts
about what they want. They want to
mt themselves in touch with those
who are in doubt (because they nave
been kept in ignorance OF facts, and
are the real searchers for economic
truth. They want to put themselves
in the front ranks of the army OF IN
ouirers, not to aid it in its investlga-
tions. but to Iced it to conclusions at
which these leading members nave al
ready arrived, and to prevent it from
making discoveries that will force =
political issue detrimental to the IN
terests of your league supporters.
When | look over your list OF names
and see the names of men, who in and
out of public office have labored to
conceal facts from the public; when
see there the names Of men who have
prostituted science, scholarship, anc
even the pulpit, to the service OF NAM
mon: when | see there the names OF
editors and publishers of newspapers
that have Systematically and persist
entity suppressed facts the pubic was
entitled to know, and manipulated
news to mislead and deceive, that or
ganized wealth might be benetitted bI
the concealment and deception; Whe1
see there the names OF men, Wht
are he leaders and representatives 0
corporations for the beneht OF Whlci
the public has been deceived, science
scholarship, and the pulpit prostltuteo
facts suppressed and news manlpul
ated; when | see there the names
men who have accumulated colossa
fortunes, but who never created ooi
lar of real value in all their IVes
when | see there the names OF me-
who, Notwithstanding they have NOR
wealth than in any rational way the
use or enjoy, are still planning an
plotting to accumulate more; Wnen
see there the names of men, Wh
have been the betrayers OF. the part
to which they not only pretended t
belong, but pretended to be support
ing, you will pardon me II ! am com
pelled to withhold my confidence l
your smooth" professions of inter
est in public duties"
have had placed in my hands, by
corporation to which you sent it i
February last, a copy of your "Educs
ton, State Socialism and Trusts
that you offer to send, me, togethe
with the letter of S. B. butcher, pre-
ident of league and of a trust con
pany, sent with it, and also "Parti;
List of Sustaining Members heade
by Pierpont Morgan & Co., Angus
Belmont and the Standard Oil Co.
' have read the book and the letter
will not insult your intelligence /
n1 n