Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-09-19
nAsPs AT NEWS THAT NEW YORK
LIFE GAVE TO CAM
PAIGN FUND.
CALLS IT CORRUPTION
Not Content With Past Attempts to
Beemlrch RooseveIts Reputation,
the Esopus Judge Cries Fraud Be.
cause Of Insurance Revelations In
New York.

New York.
Esopus, N. Y, Sept. 1s.-Fomer
Chief Judge Alton B. Parker, last year
democratic candidate for president of
the United States, Saturday arraigned
IN severe terms the officers of the New
York Life Insurance company for con-
tributing to the republican campaign
fund, as disclosed Friday by George W.
Perkins, vice president Of the company,
before the legislative investigating
committee.
He declared that the use Of widows
and orphans money from the COM
pany's treasury for compaign contribu-
tions was unlawful, that the purposes
Of the officers were manifestly corrupt,
and that laws should be passed max
Ing it a criminal offense to give cor
porate funds for campaign purposes.
The staten ent was made in response
to the inquiry of correspondent, who
called at Rosemont, Mr.. Parkers home,
as to whether he desired to say any
thing along the line of the charges
made by him last fall during the presi-
dental campaign, in view Of Mr.. Per-
ktns' statement that President Mccall
of the New York Life had caused a
$4,000 contribution to be made to the
republican campaign fund.
Says Others Of "Big Three" Gave.
Judge Parker said:
Eyes, believe l ought to say now
that there is no political excitement to
distract the public attention, that the
president of the New York Life was
not the only such contributor. The
officers of other great life insurance
companies, such as the Equitable and
the Mutual also contributed from the
policy holders funds for campaign pur-
poses last year.
s'What has been proved in the case
Of the New York Life will doubtless be
proved in other cases. The facts exist,
and honest and able counsel, backed
by an honest committee, will undoubt-
edly bring them out for the public
good.
Were there an investigation of
railroad, manufacturing, and other cor
porations, it would be found that these
life insurance officers were not the
only corporation officers who put their
hands into the treasury and took out
moneys belonging to widows and orph-
ans TO help secure a partisan triumph.
THAT their acts were unlawful and
their purposes corrupt goes without
saying. They intended to have the
money used, as it was, in corrupting
the electorate. Mr. Perkins makes the
point that John A. Mccall, the presi-
dent Of the New York Life is demo
crat Apparently he would have the
public assume that when Mr. Mccall
n1ou ,f,,11 fy11v r}rih fnd
these funds-the company's share
probably as member of the underwrit
ing syndicate-it was evidence of poll
tical virtue rather than misconduct
"The truth about it is, and say
II without feeling, but emphatically
that men like Mccall have no political
convictions that stand in the way Of
their personal advantage. Such mer
desire the triumph of that party
which will better serve their persona
financial interests and will--for con
tributions, past, present, and future
continue to protect those interests by
lenient legislation and by pretense al
execution of law which shall be tend
erly blind to all their offenses Tha1
party they espouse in the board room
and contribute to it of the money they
uolu LII IIuSt, dAu, OCCdolO1ldHy d llIIle
Of their own.
'The underlying principles which
divide the great mass of the people
into parties have no effect upon sucf
men. Their one inquiry is, Will the
party organization in its hour of tri
umph remember our generosity ant
respond to our demands? Of course
the organization does remember, fol
1t expects similar contribution mex
time. And the expectation is not il
vain. Last year was not the frs
time. Sucn contributions have beer
made before in national, state and mu
nicipal elections.
Officers Repaid for "Raids."
The officers responsible for thest
raids upon the treasures of corpora
tions have received their reward il
unfettered management of life insur
ance corporations; in unembarrasset
raids upon the public through trusts
condemned by both common and stat
ute law; in refusal to punish Grimm
ally the officers of railroad and othe
corporations violating the laws, and il
statutory permission to manufacturin,
corporations to levy tribute on tn,
people.
There can be no hope of checkins
the unlawful aggressions of officers o
great corporations so long as the,
may thus form quasi partnership
with the organization of the dominan
political party. For in the hour whel
the administrative official seeks tt
punish the offender he is reminded b,
the head of the organization of tn,
Con tir1Ipd on paoo