The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-12-18
"STRANCLE HOLD
ON LEGISLATION"
DEMOCRATS MUST WAKE UP.
CORPORATE DOMINATION PER-
VADES STATE, SAYS, HON.
w. w. OSBORNE.


Know Something is Wrong, But
Possess Not Secrets of Charmed
Inner CircIe-AIways the Unseen
Hand That Strikes-PeOpIe Being
Unfairly Treated"
By Hon. W. w. Osborne.
You may mark it up on the boards
for the consideration of thoughtful
Democrats. that the time has come for
consultation.
Unselfsh Democrats who love their
party should get together for heart
10 heart" talks. Mr.. Watson's new
est crusade is going to necessitate it.
Considering the present temper Of the
people, if he speaks in every county
in Georgia prior to the next election
under existing conditions, he will I'M
doubtedly give us trouble. He is an
earnest man combating present evil.
God Almighty has given him splendid
talents, and Democracy itself furnish
ed him the issue. 1t is a dangerous
combination. There is but one way
on earth TO fight him successfully be-
fore the people, i. e., take away the
he comprehensive evil exists and we
know it.
esprit of Corporate Domination"
Mr.. Watson seems especially to di-
rect his attention to the grave charge,
so boldly made, that the spirit of cor
porate domination pervadeS the state.
The difficulty that attends a defense
grows out of the fact that his charge
is true. 1t certainly pervades Legisla-
tive halls and may reach ever further
u.
The truth is, and we may as we'll
frankly admit it, Democracy has back
slid some. 1t needs to be consecrated
anew. l am morally sure good re-
suits would attend the exclusion from
membership of some of the amen
corner brethren.
It is idle to deny that spirit of
unrest pervades the entire party. Deep
down in their hearts, the rank and file
of the party feel that somewhere,
something is wrong-they possess not
tic secrets of he charmed inner cir
clG.
The average voter cannot keep
abreast of the political current as can
the professional politician; nor can he
always divine motive, nor anticipate
the results of a political move. All he
gets upon which to base his opinion is
NNS-@'
out into the newspapers, and this is
often purposely misleading, both as
to motive and method.
ssUnseen Hand That Strikes"
The citizen may surmise-that is all
He knows that this measure and that
measure, that voices his sentiments is
lost. He sees the candidate of his
choice defeated for office. He knows
a wrong has been done. He sur
misses the direction from which the
blow comes, but it is always the I'M
seen hand that strikes.
The people of Georgia are rapidly
awakening to the unpleasant fact that
corporate greed had encroached I'M
fairly upon their rights, and that
strenuous preparations are being made
TO make the encroachment permanent
They are beginning to realize that the
invasion is menace to liberty. They
are becoming aware that they must
fight in self-defense. Already I car
see the signs of the coming conflict.
"PeOpIe Unfairly Treated"
The people feel that they are being
unfairly treated. 1t Anglers them t.
think that the corporations of theil
own creation should employ corps oil
higfh-priced men whose sole duty it il
TO influence legislation. The pernicious
activity of these mercenaries bring the
entire legislative and administrative
departments of the state government
into discredit
Here is the way 1t looks to the aver.
age Demo A bill is up affecting
corporate interests Straightway corn,
of mercenaries are employed to lobby
pro or con. Indeed, this is now re-
garded as a necessary expense. TIL,
fight is on
On the one side is arrayed the peo
pie battling for their rights-usuall,
like unto an ill-trained militia indiffer
emily led and without well defined plar
of campaign. Opposed and fighting tn
battle of the corporations is lined III
the trained legions of the mercenaries
skillfully led. The result is easily fore
told: The people lose.
"HOliest of the HoIiest."
But the harmful influence does no
stop here. When the mercenaries ar
successful, the result goes forth L
the people of the state as Democracy
act ana Democracy bears the oppro
brium.
This baleful influence is an ever wild
ening circle. To-day, only those VIII
dwell within the Hottest OF the Holie
know the advanced position.
The stronger It grows, the NOR
shameless 1t gets. The stronger tn
A4AAhNiiNS SioNSs the more SUBJECTS tn
mercenaries undertake to regulate 70
US.
You may be sure the times are on
OF joint. when it is necessary for boo
publishers to spend thousands of dol
lars in hiring people who sell politica
influence to help the Book Commissio
select the primers from which Geor
gia's school children must learn thei
A. 3. C.'s. OF course we all under
stand that 1t is expert knowledge tina
is hired. IT is not favoritism that
paid for. This kind of thing is whs
is hurting Democracy.
Case Whose Memory shnmes.
It is a serious question to-day 4
Georgia, If either man or measure ca
succeed against the combined resist
ance Of the mercenaries. It is a sa
commentary to say that no Georgia
may aspire to Office without the &C
X" stamp of corporations hired mer
If this is true and is allowed TO COZ
tinue, then does Democracy fail to fu
MI it's mission. Then, indeed, will
be Vulnerable from attacks without
Am / overstating present condition
when ] say that no man may run Z,
office without corporate approval?
am sure the charge can be sustaine,
] have a case IN mind. now a matt
of history that serves 10 illuEtrat
though its memory shames where d
mocracy Is loved.
A distinguished young Georgian WI
ambitious 10 become Speaker OF Il
House OF Representatives. He was
~ ala a. f.H aH.fNN