The Minneapolis journal., 1905-09-30
NO PARTY ISSUE
IN "FAT.FRYING"
Former Senator Chandler Declares
Parker Democracy Has No
Rights as Critic.
Shows UP Records In Senate
to Confound the
Carpers.
BY w. w. JERMANE.

Dental campaigns by the great corpo-
rations has been made by former United |
States Senator William E. Chandler of
New Hampshire, in an open letter to
the New York Tribune. He reviews the
history of, the subject in the United
States senate, fo1lnlooWWing the preside;n77
tial campaign Of 1896, and comes to the
conclusion that "the party of Grover
Cleveland and Alton B. Parker has not
been sufficiently alert in eradicating
the existing evil, to be entitled to make
a political issue against Theodore
Roosevelt or his party" The facts
amply justify this statement.
Mr.. Chandler points out the fact al
began to make contributions from their
treasures to aid in carrying a presi-
Dental election. He gives the reason
for this condition. No corporation had
existed with all it's directors Of one
party, and such a use of corporation
funds had therefore been impossible.
But in 1896 nearly all democratic di-
favor Of %eKReY gss and se The spa cont
buttons became possible, and were made
with the consent of the democratic
directors, who are now equally respon-
sible and equally liable to suits for
restitution with tho republican direct
Ors.
Directors Personally Liable.
It is Mr.. Chandler IS opinion that cor
poration directors who have made cam
paign contributions out Of the corpora
fund, and that "no statute of limita-
tions applies, because there has been
in every case a concealmen of facts,
which prevents the statute from run.
ming" He thinks the attorney general
of New York state and the attorney
general Of the United States should
cause suits to be brought to compel d
return of these funds, and in that con-
nection he makes the strong point that
'tthe moment corporations make these
campaign contributions, government by
men ceases, and government by corpo-
rations, which have no souls, begins.o -
Judge Parker is shocked, as well he
may be, at the insurance disclosures in
New York, and he says he asserted the
the campaign year ago. This is true,
but, as Mr.. Chandler well says, he
asserted more than the facts, namely,
that the president admitted that corpo-
ration contributions had been made on
invitation, and that he had promised
the corporations a square deal. as a
reward" The president did admit that
the corporation contributions had been
made, but he expressly stated in that
connection that no promises had been
made, and that he was in favor of 50 a
square deal" for everybody under the
sun. ..t
~ Senate History Told.
The history Of what took place in the
United States senate regarding cam
paign contributions, following the presl'
aoJo - Sc in
interesting way by Mr.. Chandler. In
December following that election, Sen.
ator Allen of Nebraska introduced In
the senate a resolution providing for the
thoro investigation Of campaign con,
tributions, and it was referred to the
committee on contingent expenses OF
the senate for consideration a-Sl report.
That resolution was drawn by Mr..
Chandler after conference with Senator
Allen and at his request. The senate
then stood: Republicans, AZ; demo
Gratis, 80; popullists, 6, and the senate
had been organized by the republicans,
the populists refraining from voting.
Mr.. Allen expressed some fears that the
resolution would not pass for lack OF
republican votes, but Mr.. Chandler as
sured him of his own vote and of the
votes of numerous other republican
members.
No Campaign Inquiry.
March 4, 1897, the ffty-fourth con.
gress came to an end. Nothing had
been heard from the resolution, which
died on the day Of adjournment. MI
Chandler had made some inquiries which
satisfied him that neither the chairman
Of the democratic national committee,
nor even the chairman of the populist
81
ators, meant that the resolution should
pass and the investigation take place.
The ffty-ffth congress- met in spe.
cial session (to enact the Dingley tariff
lawo March Is, 1897, and did not ad
journ until July "a. Nothing was heard
from Mr.. Allen on the question of in.
vestigation.
The regular session of congress began
December 6, but nothing was heard from
Mr., Allen until June 2, when Marion
national committee, was making {
speech in the senate on the war revenue
bill, Mr.. Butler denounced the repub
ilcan party for soliciting and accepting
campaign funds from the trusts, ane
held that the democratic party under
Grover Cleveland had been equally
guilty. In closing he said that thu
cold, ugly fact is that the gold syndl
cate and the allied trusts and monopo
lies own and control the republican
party as completely as they did Grover
Cleveland.
Mr.. Chandler made speech follow
ing Mr.. Butler in which he called at
tention to the Allen resolution. and salt
it was rather queer that nothing hae
been heard from it from the day 1t Was
introduced to the present moment. MT
Allen replied to this taunt by saying
that it was not his duty to pursue ! tne
committee to which the senate nae
referred the resolution.
Jones' Politics an Issue.
The question then arose as to whethel
| the chairman Of the committee, MI
Jones of. Nevada, was a populist or not
and it appeared that he had left the re
publican party and had voted for Bryan
| The other members of the committee OF
contingent expenses Of the senate Wer' W
| Mr.. Jones Of Arkansas, chairman Of tn
democratic national committee, and MI
Galkinger Of New Hampshire, Tepub
lican. Mr.. Jones Of Arkansas explained
L 4I,o sana+o fla%Nstha comTnittea ha(