The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-03-10
STUPIDITY


cess for the last few years that now
they count it their greatest and most
valuable asset. See how they take
advantage of it in this state. Among
republicans there is some dissatisfac-
ton with Mickey. Baldwin and one
or two other political managers fer
the railroads notice that fact. Mick
ey was selected by them days before
the republican convention met and
he has been their faithful servant.
To put quietus to this little ripple
of opposition, they start the story
that the Union Pacific railroad is
down on Mickey and because no act
of Mickey's can be pointed to that
was in any way antagonistic to that,
or any other railroad, they send out
the story to the effect That Baldwin is
going to down Mickey be cause the
governor appointed some man as pc
ice commissioner that Baldwin did
not like. The absurdity of such
story is enough to cause smile on
the face of a wooden Indian Baldwin
is not appointed by that great cor
poration and paid a great salary to
look after the interests of it's mil
lions that he will change the whole
political force Of the road in an OPP
psite direction. because of the appoint
ment of an Insignificant police Off
Ger in Omaha.
There is no doubt that there are a
score or two Of republican editors in
this state as well as some thousands
of republican voters SO densely
stupid that they really believe they
are fighting the Union Pacific rail-
road by supporting Mickey. There
is a good deal of dissatisfaction
among republican farmers over the
expressions OF the roads and the
enormous increase of the state debt,
but they are so Internally stupid that
a little trick like that Will keep them
whooping it ups and voting 'er
straight for The corporations.
That is just as true of national
politics. The people of the east are
near the point of open revolt against
the trusts and the money power CT
Wall street. Precisely the same sort
of a trick was worked upon the peo-
pie at large by the great daiiles oil
the east. They announce that Wall
street is opposed to Roosevelt and
that Roosevelt is fighting Wall street
and the trusts. The stupid people
are taken in with that bait and thou
sands of business men as we'll as
many thousands of the common peo-
ple who have had the life nearly
sque ezed out of them, are "whooplng
it up for Roosevelt because they
think that in that way they are fight
ing Wall street and the trusts. MOI
one of them ever takes minute to
think of the absurdity of their pro-
ceiure. ITO Think" as the lady in
New York said, sis work, and that
they never indulge in it except as
they are driven to it by hunger and
cold.
How much Is Roosevelt opposed to
the trusts? There Is the anthracite
coal trust existing in direct. violation
OF the laws of congress and the con-
stitution. of the state of PENNSYLVANIA.
one word from Roosevelt directing
criminal prosecution against the coal
trust would relieve thousands Of ia
miles both east and west who have
sound 1t exceedingly hard to provide
fuel, for a criminal prosecution would
destroy that trust. Roosevelt has not
only refused TO order the attorney
general to bring such an action. but
has thrown so many obstacles In the
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