The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-12-30
1889 And 1904.

e. 0 campaign fund which tn
narnates raised In 1856 90 a Rryan
is attracting almost as much attention
as the narrative related by Judge Par
ks.- lust before the recent elections
Some folks seem t. believe Mr. Law
son, some who did not credit Judge
Parker. but IL a mans past and his
associations count for anything Judge
Parker Is far more worthy or conf
dence
Mr.. Lawson's account may Sc de-
fecfiVe I'm detail. but there is no reason
TO doubt that the trusts raised n ire
rssndous fund with which to hight
Bryan in his first candidacy. and there
Is no reason 20 doubt either th<t they
were very apprehcnsive lest the demo-
cratic candidate be elected that year.
Bryan gave them a run for their
money. and the doubtful part OF Law
sons story Is that Mr.. standard on
Rogers was able TO divert a portion OF
this fund TO put through a deal 4
which ne and Lawson We're then
mutually interested. Mr.. Rogers even
accepting Lawson's estimate OF him,
was then, as he is now, able TO r9isf
a sufficient amount of the swag 10
ensure the success of any manipula-
tons in which he personally engages.
Returning to the connections De-
tween 1896 and 1894. the amount
which Mr.. Lawson SO positively states
as having been accumulated that year
for alaatinn nr,rnnSaC - for IN avan<S
of any sum that Judge Parker named
this fall, but ii is not greatly above
the amount mentioned by some Of the
democratic workers Is being in the
reach of the republican campaign
managers. Five million olla TO
carry five states is not too much in n
close contest. especially If the poll
ticians who are to handle the money
are badly frightened N the %republi-
cans were at some stages Of the cam.
paign in 1896.
The important part of AR Lawson's
revelation on this lire is The state
ment that such a sum was raised,
whatever its amount; that the trusts.
the protected interests, were called on
to give up their profits in order to
CdllA lHt tlSItIol " tiiI poI VIM
promised immunity from official med
ding. Mr.. Lawson may not be ac-
curate-some of his recent fulmina-
tons are so wild that his words arc
not given so much weight-but In
this. as in other particulars. he may
be revealing conditions and methods
if not relating specific facts and par
ticular circumstances. His publica-
ions may lead to accurate revela-
lions. If they are not themselves ac-
curate. y: the time to which he re-
ferS, 1896, he was in a position to
know something If not all, that was
then going on in trust and republican
circles. He was for Mckinley then.
as he was for Roosevelt in 1904.
Some day the truth about the cleo
ton of eight years ago will be known,
for the reason that the republican
victory was achieved through the aid
of so many diverse elements which
were brought together for the time
being and which have now drifted
apart once more. That an immense
mOun OF none was used. in both
legitimate and illegitimate ways was
the general and w~ell-foun1ed belief at
the time, and the discoveries since on
~ confirm that conviction. AS In
1896. so in 1904. And as i'm 1904. so il
will be in 1908 unless the political
methods are altered.
This means that the corruption I'm
our elections will 90 on increasing.
Judge Parker's final appeal to the
electorate was to end the. shame. and
in his message President Roosevelt
feehly voiced a demand. that could
rot be entirely suppressed. that the
Use of money illekally he dealt with
by congress. He did not, however.
suggest how this should be one or
how it could be done. and naturally
he did not. The practice will continue
as long as the most powerful political
party is no more than the political
agency of the trusts and protected in
terests instead OF a combination of
citizens devoted to the public good.
The policies Of this country are regu-
lated by the same forces which control
the elections, as might be expected.
AMI these forces ere the men and the
interests which Mr.. lawson is now
faying. whether with the whip OF
truth or Observation-Disclosures State.