Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1905-10-13
ROAD TO ANARCHY.
TALK PROVES FU-
TlLEI IN THIS COUNTRY.


Converts to Anarchy-Exposure of Wrong
Doing by Pillars of Society Brings Demand
for Rigid Law Enforcement.
The Chicago Inter. Ocean, Repub-
lican newspaper, recently printed an
interesting editorial entitled What
Makes Anarchists?" The Inter Ocean
said:
"All the lies which professional
anarchists tell about the cruelty of
rich men in acquiring their riches
all the lies which they circulate about
oppression of the poor by the United
States government-have proved futile
in this country.
They have been futile because
they have been lies, or malignant per-
versions OF small and unimportant
truths.
"But when pillars of society are
exposed as brittle to the core-when
men whom the people have widely
trusted with their fortunes and the
future OF their families, and have be-
lieved in as models of probity and
honor, are found to be but wbited
sepulchres-then anarchy really gains
converts and the institutions OF civil
ization are menaced
"Tne revelations in the Equitable
scandal are making more anarchists
to-day, therefore, than all the anar-
chist speeches made and literature
published in this country in twenty
years.
"They have brought fear and hate
into tens OF thousands of respectable
households. They have go shattered
confidence in human honesty and
decency that tens of thousands of men
are driven to the delusion that every
thing that is, is wrong. And that is
the beginning of anarchy.
"Not the lie but the truth is what
kills. That is why the Equitable
scandal is making anarchists"
There is no danger that anarchy will
result from the exposure OF wrong do
ing in high places. While to-day
many crimes committed by men Of
influence and wealth are being ex-
posed, there never was time when a
more general and determined demand
was made by the people for the strict
enforcement OF law and the re-estab.
lishment OF justice.
These men who have been exposed
were not "pillars of society,"" they
simply pretended they were. They
posed as the defenders of national
honor" and pretended disinterested-
ness in political affairs and patriotic
purpose in the advice they gave to the
people. The people followed where
they led and in following such leaders
the people were going in the direction
Of anarchy, as has been shown by re-
cent disclosures. But when on every
hand we see men giving encourage
ment to public officials who expose
wrong. doing, and condemuing public
officials who seek to conceal wrong.
doing; when on every hand we see q
resolute, determined public sentiment
growing in strength every day, and all
to the end that crime shall be un-
covered and that criminals shall be
punished, whatever may be tho posi-.
ton of the wrong -does-it is an in.
disputable sign that the hearts of the
people are right however wicked the
intentions Of some of their false lead
ers may have been.
The good citizens of Missouri who
were shocked by the disclosures OF
fraud and corruption at st. Louis did
not become anarchists. They pinned
their faith to the man who had exposed
fraud and corruption and elected him
to the highest Office in their gift.
The Philadelphisns who grappled
with the corruptionists in that old
Fennsylvanis town did not become
anarchists. but they rushed to the
support OF Mayor Weaver, who stood
as q conspicuous defender Of law and
order.
When the people of Wisconsin were
outraged by the corporations of that
State, they did not become anarchists,
but they gave loyal support to- Cover.
nor La Toilette in his gallant fight
against the special representatives oi
special interests.
The revelations in the Equitable
scandal and the exposures concerning
various men who have posed as the
representatives of the business inter.
ests" of the country and have assumed
to stand as the unquestioned champ
ions Of national honor" are not max
ing anarchists. They serve, however,
to arouse the American people to the
importance of displaying interest in
their own affairs, in participating in
the selection of their public officials,
and in guarding at every opportunity
tho welfare OF the government under
which they live.
A PENNSYLVANIA man OF but forty
wears is the father of twenty-three
children. He is now a section boss,
but as soon as the President hears
about it, probably he will be invited to
take q seat in the cabinet.