Gilpin observer., 1904-10-13
PULITzER'S CHARGES.
WHY ROOSEVELT MADE A CU2EAU
OF CORPORATIONS.
George B corie'you Tapping Corpora.
lions For Campaigu Funds a 4
Grave Question.

Your record in your own words, Mr..
President shows that you began your
crusade for the regulation of the great
corporations with an insistent appeal
for publicity in the interests of the
public" You seemed determined to
vindicate the peoples right to inspect
and examine the workings of the great
corporation engaged in interstate COM
merce," even If it were necessary to
amend the Constitution of the United
States, believing, with many corpora
tion lawyers of your own party-and
of the Democratic party. for that mat
ter-that the Sherman law was unc0n-
stitutional. You demanded this Pub
licity "as q right from all corporations
affected by the law" and mot as fa-
vor from some corpora tions."
Your persistence in good cause
finally triumphed. Congress. under the
pressure of the public opinion that you
had so skilfully directed, enacted the
legislation you asked for. 1t created
n Department of Commerce, with Bu-
reau Of Corporations. 1t extended the
scope of the Interstate Commerce law
to forbid the giving or receiving of re-
bates. 1t passed an act providing for
the special advancement in the United
States courts of cases arising under
the antitrust laws. 1t gave you the
extraordinary. the unprecedented ap-
preparation of $500, 900 to enforce stat
utes prohibiting combinations and con-
spiracles in restraint of trade.
The first thing TO do, as you said in
your speech Mt Wheeling, was to find
out the facts" Your initial step was
to appoint as your Secretary of Com
merce your private secretary, George
r. Cortelyou. The Bureau of Corpora
tions was organized February %, 1908
more than nineteen months, more
than eighty weeks-exactly $50 days
ago-yes, exactly Five Hundred and
Eighty-three Days ago.
Will you kindly tell the country:
/. After these 5S3 days of supposed
activity and official duty. how much
more does the public know about the
conduct and management of these
great corporations than it knew be-
fore?
2. After these 5s3 days of supposed
activity and official duty, what single
witness has been subpoenaed?
3. After these 5S3 days of supposed
activity and official duty, what single
witness has been compelled to testify?
4. After these 5S3 days of supposed
activity and official duty, what docu-
mentary evidence has been produced?
s. After these 5S3 days of supposed
activity and official duty, what corpor-
alton magnate has been compelled to
testify under oath as to secret rebates
on freight charges or other acts Of con-
spiracy in restraint of trade?
6. After these 5s3 days Of supposed
activity and official duty. what does
the public know about the work of this
bureau of publicity?
Is there a CORPORATION in the United
States. Mr.. President, whose affairs are
administered in greater secrecy than
are the affairs of your Bureau of Cor
porations. which was created to afford
Publicity in the interest of the pub
lic?"
Does the public know any less about
the internal workings of the Standard
Oil COMPANY. for example. than It does
about the internal workings of this
Bureau of Corporations?
Yet in your letter of acceptance you
have-may I cali 1t the magnificent au-
dacity ITO declare of tie act creating
this bureau and OF the related acts:
The Congress that created the Bn-
reau Of Corporations. which. you say.
he's been administered with entire
efficiencv." gave you the unique. the
extraordinary approximation of $780,
900 to enforce existing laws against
coroorations.
What ia your record in the expendi-
Nr1~ ~
1t has been spent for the purpose to
which 1t was appropriated. The rest
has been lying idle in the Treasury for
5S3 days
possession of all the data" us to the
Organization, conduct and manage
ment" Of the business of these corpora
tions? 1t was to collect such data that
the bureau was created.
Do you mean to say that this infor-
nation. or so much thereof as you have
required. has been "made public" as
the law says II "shall be?" 1t was to
insure such publicity that you asked
for this legislation.
On the contrary. Mr.. President. Is 4.
not true that not one word. not one syl-
liable. not one letter has ever appeared
of that proper publicity about which
you talk so gllbly?
But when your Presidential cam.
paign began and Mr.. Corteiyou had
learned all he needed to know of the
secret business affairs of the great
corporations. you made this Grand In
quisitor of Corporations Chairman of
your National COMMITTEES.
And why? Was Mr.. Cortelyou n
member of the National Committee? ?
No. Was he member OF any commit.
tee. State or local? No. Had he any
reputation or experience as a campaign
manager? No. Did the veteran pollti.
clans of your party desire his appoint
ment? No. Was there-could there be
any reason for his appointment ex-
cept that he knows from "diligent I'm.
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