The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-11-06
PARKER ANSWERS THE LETTER
 OF PRESIDENT ROOGEVELT

| as mas ms less WedlLny 1elIOW C1tlZen. 1 whatever he may do, based on a pa- triotic desire to help elect the candi- dates of that party which it seems to him will best serve the interests of the country; should r,i be ,,,t,s encouraged ,usa - M body of the people at large provided the legitimate expenses of a campaign. Then the farmer and lawyer. doctor and mechanic. day laborer and banker each contributed something toward the erection of banners, the circulation of literature and the expenses of the pub lie meetings, and each contributor was a better citizen for it. <
 Gradually and effectively, but surI ely not permanently, has ali this been changed. Some of the enterprises which have unduly thrived through favoritism and which have been per mitted by statute to indirectly levy tribute upon the people, have in the | coures of time become so rich and | strong that they can and do contri- that it will be an advantage to them | and they contribute upon promise, direct or implied, that they shall con tinue to tax people for their own be- nefit.
 Contributions and Promises. Upon such promises contributions | have not infrequently made in such large measure as to induce and pro cry in doubtful states.
 '"Thus was built up a class of voters known to local leaders as "Fioaters. class so numerous that party cam vassers allot in their canvass books a | separate column headed with that name. This condition Is recognized by party, workers, local. state and na- "a, it. They sometimes wonder where It is to end, but under the stress of | campaign thep postpone consideration 'I am persuaded the time to begin 1 the fight against those who would con- l trol the results of election contests for their private corporate interests. as | distinguished from the public interest. should begin now, and whatever the re- | suit Of election day be 1t should be | continued until the evil be checked ests which formerly poured out their treasure in order to continue existing and procure the passage of new laws permitting It's further accrmulation popularity called trusts. Their plan Is | to perpetuate the present administra- tfon. Such of the combinations or trusts as do not profit by the ala oa | aid of monopolies. Hence their Of. | ficers are opposed to the enforcement | of laws as against them.
 1 The Purchase of Protection. "when such forces unite to furnish the money which they are promised controls the election, the purpose IS
 clear as noonSsy la,,r II is saps te 9st ope po9 | III, of profit by tariff taxation and four | years more of extartion from the puo- | lie by nieans of monopoly.
 | "PoIitical contributions by corpora- | t,ons and trusts mean corruption, They | cannot be honest Merely business m terests are moved by merely pusinsss a,,ss | considerations. A corporation SUD scribes to political party on,y .Sr. 1 ty, through it's control of public emces Eexecutfve or legislative---to do some | thing for the benefit of the corporation | or to refrain from doing something 10 l its injury. No other, motive can pe
 In the nature of things no other motive can exist. The relations estap- | iished mean the expectation 1T not | ernmental action is to be influenced 1y ] and for corporatinos interests. NO l sophistry can give any other aspect to l the transaction in the minds of reason | able men, Let the defenders of the practice, if it has defenders, answer
 @'Why do corporations and trusts subscribe to political campaigns?
 What would trust think or party which, after accepting from the | trust a campaign contribution of $5OO,- 900, should permit the party's represen. tatives in office to take action inimical | to the trusts?
 Would the public's interest be safe in the hands of a party. the greater part of whose campaign funds had been contributed by corporations and
 Trusts or the PeOpIef
 If the public welfare and the in- terests of subscribing corporations or | trusts should conflict, which would likely be protected?
 ""The scheme of our government op- poses favoritism. but Tn its administra- tion there has been much of 1t. 1n- deed, 1t had been growing with such rapidity in recent years that these few that have enjoyed favors contributed either directly bby statute or indirectly by the non-prosecution of violations of law, represent, control and are possess ed of many hundreds of millions of dol lars.
 These interests have decided to at- tempt to continue the present admin istration in power. Their represen- tatives scolded about the President for some months and thus contributed their part toward the effort which was as- sidously made to satisfy the country that the trusts were opposed to the present administration.
 Whether there were real difficulties between the great powers and the ad- ministration, differences which have since Neen settled to the satisfaction of all parties concerned, or whether there were no difficulties to be com promised and adjusted their action be- ing but a play to deceive the voters the fact remains that the trusts are not now opposed to the continuance of the present administration. On the contrary, 1t is common knowledge that they have determined to furnish such a sum of money to the Republican Ma tional Committee as 1t Is hoped will secure the 'hoaters' in the doubtful States for the Republican ticket. Such an attempt constitutes both a menace and a challenge to every patriotic and law abiding person in this countr'- 9 challenge which ought to be accepted
 Time for q Settlement.
 "The question ought to be settled now, whether the "hoaters" and ille- gal combinations can together control an election in this country. Such a contest means on one side vast sums of money and every man with an itch ing palm. It ought to array e~ary zen on the other side"
 You have learned from It's reading that the purpose of that address was to warn the people against the cor rupting of the electorate by ariff-bred trusts and other monopolies. It con- simply called attention to a notorious and offensive situation, a situation which presented, to my mind, the greatest of the moral issues of the campaign. If he had said. on the day after the delivery of my address Parker is right: He Is right and I am going to stop 1t. Perhaps the Nation al Committee cannot pay back the money contributed in this way that they have already expended, but there shall be no more contributions. will join Parker in an effort to protect the ballot of the honest citizen from lots
 " If he had said that It would have