The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-09-29
An Autocracy of Cash?

What has long been popular belief has been strength
ened into established fact.
The great life insurance companies have been in poit
They have not Tor the sake OF
political purity but backma bride to she the voice
of the people and to defeat the popular will
Last year. the New York Life according to the admis
sion of one Of its chief officials contributed $4SO2 to pro-
mote the election OF President Roosevelt The same com
pany contributed $4,000 to each of the Mckinley funds
There has been still more significant transfer Of 100000
to Judge Hamilton, Albany lobbyist.
To President Roosevelt these disclosures must
shocking Had he known what his agents do
ing he could not have displayed such heat he did in his
reply during the campaign to Judge Parkers charge that
precisely this thing being done.
The president then declared it to be "a wicked false
hood and accusation which eff true would brand both
Mr. Corteyou and me with infamy
Well, it was true all right. The branding with infamy
however, is different matter No can believe that
Roosevelt knew of the corruption would have tolerated
it had he known.
The affair is only another illustration of the solemn
fact that the president of these United States whom
commonly regard commanding figure, does not
even know the forces that elect him and control him.
Not knowing the vast contributions made to his cam
palgn fund.- he cannot know the vital pledges that the
made and must be kept. He knows not his master.
There is fond tradition and belief that this is repub
lie in which the people sovereign and rule without re-
stran But the debauchery Of the electorate by such
nous this, coming not only from the insurance
companies but from all the great corporate interests must
lead the thinking to question if the government is real
ly an auOcracy of cash.
1t is estimated that it cost $13,O00OOO to elect McKin
ley the first time Money is not given up in such
this without 1t is not given up from motives of
patriotism is given that the natural will of the people
may be ateredthat elections may be control
led in the interest Of capital.
Thus is the nation polluted Thus do the great corpo-
rations enthrone themselves real rulers.
1t is to the unuerabe shame Of the people themselves
that this is true The bribed is as bad the brber
We bitterly complain Of legislatures selling out to cor
porations. What right have to complain against
rupt legislatures when ward and precinct
troed by cash? 1t not natural and logical that corrup
ton should be represented by corruption.
In the practA Of buying and selling votes at the polls
and in the legislatures lies the dastary treason I'M
der the sun.
The crime is not partisan 1t is confined to party.
Nor it confined to the great corporations Smaller bus
mess men contribute to the great corruption funds in
cordance with their The practice has peeated
whole political life The public conscience has become
deadened to its drefu effects. Only the admission of
contribution Of the money of the people, held in
trust, can us to sit up and take notice
The astounding fact that money has been used
to bride us ought to jar out Of our complacency
There ought to be remedy, and there must be. The
problem is big one vital one, pressing one