The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-09-12
Political Ringsters.

ed the traditlOnal government ny P"t'S into government b ythe ring"
 Political Ringsters.
 In both sections the political ring sters' had footed the people, and pervert- ed the whole system of American govern ment. They had been able to build up the ring" he said. through three agen- cies.
 1. The high protective tariffs.
 9. Great industrial monopolies like the Standard Oil company.
 3. Enormous corporate capital invested in railways.
 He then pointed out the iniquities of each saying in conclusion that the men who controlled them were amenable not to law but merely to their own individual whim and caprice. The protectionist the trust magnate and the railway king made and unmade laws at their will. Not al ways openly but none the less effectively They controlled city, county, state and federal office-holders. They dictated who should be elected to state and national 1 leeislatures, and they used there legisla- tors whenever they had occasion to do | so.
 | were awakening, said he All over the country the demand was strong for re- turn to the fundamental principles Of hon. esty. equality and fair play upon which the fathers built the republic. The times were crying for men who would repre- sent not the railways but the people.
 "I am making no fight against the rail- ways" said Captain Hobson. ''I have never fought them and l never shaii' recognize that they have served ana can serve a useful purpose. They are great 1 developers. We should encourage them so | long as they act within the law. But l have fought, am fighting and shall con | tinue to fight lawlessness in any form whether 1t be lawless capital represented l by a tyrannlcal railway corporation or lawless labor represented by the anarch- lst with dynamite in his hands. Ours Is a government of law The weakest citizen, | when right should receive the protec- tion of the law. Strongest citizens, when wrong should not be immune from its | punishment."
 These sentiments and sentiments like these brought rounds of applause from | the audience.
 Duty of the Hour.
 The supreme duty of the hour, said MT. Hobson. was to differentiate between men who represent the people and men | who represent special interests. In doing this there should be but one guide. It was unjust to condemn any man on mere suspicion; but it was right to turn the searchlight of publicity on every mans record and let him stand or fall by that record. He had no quarrel with any candidate on personal grounds. He would not, in order to obtain any office, however great 1t might be, indulge In crimination, mud-slinging or attacks of a purely personal nature, touching man s private relations and involving the hap piness of those dear to him. But his duty as a citizen, he said, required him to at tack the political record of any public man whenever 1t was clear he had de- serted the people and was serving special interests He was opposed to "the ring" to "ringsters" and to ring" methods that had, he said. in too many cases domln- ated Alabama politics recently It was time that the people rose in their might and smote the corrupt politician.
 New Era Dawnlne. In conclusion, Captain Hobson dwelt up- on the new era that was opening for the l United States in It's international rela- tions The nation no longer occupied an | isolated position. It had been ushered Into the sphere of world-power influence. It had duties to perform and responsibil- ities to discharge. and 1t should do both courageously and confidently. The nation