The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1905-12-15
CAUSTIC SHOT
FROM TILLMAN
South Carolina Senator Denounces
Insurance Scandals.
PITCHFORK PUT in ACTION
Wants to Know If National Banks Con-
tributed to Political Funds--A
Characteristic Speech.


The subject of campaign contribu'
tons by insurance companies occu-
pied the major portion OF the time
Of the senate Thursday. 1t came up
in connection with Mr.. Tillman's res
olution calling for an investigation OF
national bank aid in politics, and was
exploited by the South Carolina SEN
ator in a speech OF some length. It
was couched in characteristic Ian
guage and attracted considerable at"
tention. The resolution, directing
the secretary OF the treasury to re-
port whether the reports Of the ma
tional bank examiners. show that the
banks have made campaign contribu-
tons in recent years, was adopted at
the close Of Mr.. Tillman's remarks.
Outlining his reasons for the in
curry, Mr.. Tillman called attention to
the recommendation made by the
president in his annual messages OF
1904 and 1905 for the enactment OF a
law for protection against bribery and
corruption In connection with cleo
lions. lie quoted with especial EN-.
pAasis the presidents remarks con.
corning campaign contributions by cor
porations. "Out chief executive has
taken a very progressive stand to Sc.
cure purity in elections he said, and
added: Every good American will
say well DONE and look for progress
along that line"
He concluded that the secretary
might not have the facts wanted, but
he thought he ought to have. Incl
destalB, Mr.. Tillman said chat he had
been informed that the comptroller
Of the currency has been Investigate
ing the subject Of bank contributions
with the view Of irstituting legal pro-
ceedings.
Continuing, Mr.. Tillman said that
the comptroller has means OF getting
information which others have not,
and AIDED that If he would push in
mis- probe he can make discoveries
that would be worth while" He adj
ded that his reasons for requesting
the information are founded in the
revelations concerning the insurance
companies.
1T has been shown by the testimony,
or confession of q member OF this
body" he said, that for ten years the
insurance corporations have been max
ing annual donations to the republ-
can party, with the understanding
that they should be protected from
adverse legislation at Albany" He
went on to say that such revelations
wero not agreeable.
Il am the holder of a small policy
in one OF the mutuals," he said, land
don't like to have my dividends cut
down in order to give Mr.. McCurdy
$150,O0O and his sisters, his cousins
and his auDts $4,000 each.
Mr.. Bailey asked whether the in
surance company contributions to the
national republican campaigns had
been returned to the donor.
Il understand" said Mr. Tnlman,
that the president was going to have
Mr.. Cortelyou return them But do
not know whether he has done so. 1
do know that I haven't got my
share
Mr.. Bailey said he had not supposed
that the president would make a sec
ond recommendation on the subject
Of furnishing campaign contributors
until the money had been returned.
"Ah, Mr.. President" responded Mr..
Tillman, "all the Turveydrops and
PecksnifEs are not dead yet although
would not for a moment be under
stood as comparing our strenuous &C.
cupant Of the white house with those
characters. What we want is results,
and these we do not seem to have
procured so far"