Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-10-19

system under Which an administration
can collect a stupendous campaign
fund by the traffic in actual or pro
spective immunity from prosecution or
publicity:
You, Mr.. President, cannot be ig-
norant of the sinister parallel between
the old slave power and the new cor
poration power in their relations with
the federal government. If asked to
testify as a historian could you assert
that your administration is now domi-
mated less by the corporation power
than We're the administrations of Polk,
Pierce and Buchanan by the slave
power:
"You, Mr.. President, have furnished
the most conspicuous illustration Of the
danger 10 the republic so fOrcefully de
scribed by Justice Brewer. You are
the most striking example of the poll
tician who understands that that pow
er exists which may make for his add
vaucemeut or otherwise and that it
| will be exerted according TO the PHI
ancy with which he yields TO its solici-
tatiOus.'
1t is well enough TO shake the big
stick over the South American repub-
lies. South American republics do not
contribute to the campaign fund.
But how about the great corpora
| tions which do contribute TO the cam
paign fund: There is no big stick for
them. no marines, no warShips-noth-
| ing but secrecy, silence, solicitation,
surrender.
Safeguarding the republic from its
| foreign enemies is your favOrite thesis,
Mr. President. Yet you well know
that the gravest menace to the nation
| lies not III Europe or in Asia or in
| South America. It IS domestic, not
foreign.
You well know that there are de
veloping throughout the United States
two governments - one 4 theoretical
| government of the people, by the PEG
! pie. for the people; the other Il prac-
teal government OF the corporations,
| by corporations. for corporations.
You know that this government
within government sends its crea-
lures To every common council, TO
every legislature. to the United States
senate and the house of representa-
| tives-yes. even to the cabinet of the
DI SSlIeill VI lllt I llIith h'AfaA''-
You know that these corporations
| which are determined TO govern the
| government itself are the real enemies
of the republic. If you do not know it
now yu-I knew it before you decided
| that YOU would rather be president
! than be right You knew il before you
! allowed your ambition To transform
your bureau of publicity into Il bureau
/ Of secrecy. You knew ii before you
perceived the tremendous political ad-
vantaGeS you could gain by submission
| 10 the power Of pIutocracy. You knew
1t before You began TO understand how
strongly secret alliances with the cor
porationS would make for your politi-
| cal advancement.
You have not kept the faith. Mr..
| President, i'll your promise of publicity
in the interests of the puiaic as to the
affairs of the corporations. Your rec
| ord in your own words proves'it.
why have you turned yOur'back on
xour splendid promises: Why have
you eaten your fine words? Perhaps Il
little Of the publicity whtch has not
! been made public would explain even
| that too.
| "And if you. Theodore Roosevelt,
shall retain the presidency of the Unit
ed StateS by your submission and sur
render 10 the corporations that have
| filled your campaign chests how much
more sinister Will be that danger
against which Justice Brewer has
warned the American people! What an
| impressive object lesson your triumph
| will be To these corporations aS'tO theil
tremendous power over public servants
and candidates for high office! How
much higher-how UNNECESSARILY high
er- will the corporations have beer
lifted. rs Justice Brower says. into {
position OF constant danger and men
ace TO republican institutionSr