West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1903-07-09
BRIBERY is RAMPANT.
An Era of Corruption In Amer
lean Politics.
CORPORATIONS THE oHIEHs1NNRRs

Railroad Political Machine initiates
Most OF the Dcviitry-rrusts and
Protected Industries ADD toSCor-
ruption Fund-Duty of Oenocrsts
to Force Reform.
Where the Republicans gain complete
control IN county, state or, nation they
set up boss or ossesandstamelys sub
NIT to his or their discrimination. 1f
one giances around the United States,
this condition OF ,pnairsts at once seen
60 prevail. 1t will also be developed II
examination is made of tho political
conditions under the control OF tho
Republicans that an alliance exists be-
tween the boss and the corporations.
In most cases tho railroad corporations
are the dominating factor and supply
the necessary "aid'' TO keep the boss or
ring In power. Every large corpora
ton, be 1t railroad or trust, has a legal
department, and most OF the political
work Is accomplished and tho ex-
penses charged up to sc. Nearly all the
annual passes and the trip passes ara
Issued by orders Of this department,
and when It is necessary to buy cleo
lions or legislatures the money expcnd-
Cd Is charged up az legal expenses.
What may be called tho legitimate out
lays of the legal department of oil tho
great railroads includes an attorney at
all the principal towns through which
the railroad runs, and these usually
cover Oil tho county seats. These at
torneys, the most competent I'm the
county, nre under the control of the
great legal light at the headquarters of
the corporations. There is often an-
other official known as the general
agent who "fxes" legislatures and city
councils 90 pass laws I'm the interest of
the railroads or TO defeat those which
would make them pay their fair share
OF taxation. When these corporation
officials are combined with the political
machine that is in power, the people
have no chance Of holding their own.
In some states rival railroad COM
bines struggle for supremacy. This is
the case In Iowa and Nebraska, but 70
matters not which one succeeds I'm
foisting Its selections on the Repub-
lican party ms state officers or for the
Legislature and congress-the effect Is
to have laws passed 60 protect the cor
poratioDs from paying their Just share
of taxation.
The whole theory OF democratic goy-
ernment has been turned upside down.
The participation OF railroads and 9TH
er corporations in politics has led to
the enactment Of laws, stato and fed
eral, that relieve tho favored few and
their allies the corporations and com
bines, of paying what the ordinary
citizen pays I'm proportion to the prop
erty owned. Congress fixes tho tarlfr
80 that poor man pays a much great
er percentage Of tax than millionaire
I'm proportion 20 his income. Tho state
legislatures enact laws that allow the
corporations and combines to escape
paying on their lands and other prop
erty anything like the proportion OF
taxes that the merchant, the farmer
md the small householder pay. These
exemptions Of the corporations and
the wealthy amount TO millions and
arc constant inducemcnt for them 10
Bxpend vast sums I'm politics TO main
tain their advantage. The expenditure
OF this money leads TO the debauching
OF those voters who are not proof
hkAiHrb Aht uil5 Oh Nlo DIiDtF ana
breeds callousness and indi6ereI CO
and shameful apathy among those who
arc high I'm church and state. This
awful political condition Is rampant IN
some states and quiescent in others,
but unfortunately tho germ exists eY.
erywhcre.
No real reforms are possible until
bribery and corruption are frowncd
upon by at least the great majority OF
the people, and this should be tho FIRST
business OF all Democrats. Attend
caucauscs and conventions and yOte
only for clean men. Follow that up by
hiding IN every manner possible TO con
yict and punish vote buyers and vote
sellers irrespective Of party or social
standing. a few convictions woul
soon make Il 70 dangerous 60 carry o
tho nefarious work that II would ID
too Improbable 90 attempt t.