Durango semi-weekly herald., 1905-12-21
COVE RNMENT OF, BY AND
FOR "PRoMiNENT CITIZENS.


Hartman and Ryan may be both
angels or both devils. or one may be
an angel and the other devil, accord
Ing as the sympathies of the observer
determine. But that Is only a COM
paratively trivial point In the situa-
ton brought to light by their testi-
mony before the Armstrong insurance
committee In New York.
The great central fact which they
illumine Is the relation OF big bust.
ness to big politics. This relation Is
pictured In vivid colors. The test
mony of the two men will become
classical for all future students OF
American government. Their state
ments lift us above the cloudy region
Of inuendo and denuncintion into the
clear light of fact. Their respective
merits and demerlts and their contra
dictions OF each other do not in the
slightest degree lessen the weight OF
their joint testimony on the real situ-
alton.
Ryan charges Hartman with hav-
Ing threatened to use the government
Of the state Of New York. legislature,
exrcutiss. aud perhaps-=xhQ kIpMss---
Judiciary also. against him to force
him to turn over share OF the con.
troll OF the Equitable. He makes It ap-
pear that Hartman wished that con-
troll for improper personal purposes.
but. whether true or not, that is mere
ly detail in the great abuse OF pow
er which ia charged.
Hartman answers that he can not
exactly recall that he specifically
threatened to set the legislature and
the governor loose against Ryan, but
he does not deny tnat he used the
threat OF his political power as an In
strument In his attempt to bring Ryan
to terms. OF course, he says that his
motives were good. but. again. that
Is an insignificant detail In the great
social horror that is revealed.
Harriman's power rests on wealth.
There Is no other element in 1t. Did
ne ever show sign OF thought for
any other interest than the financial
and railroad interests he controls or
represents? II so. no one knows It.
Ryan is in the same class with him In
thIs Ieopect. NyhH, too, has HE po-
litical power. resting on his wealth.
It happens that In this particular case
the Hartman power was Just where
1t was needed In the attempt to CO.
cree Ryan.
HarrIman's theory is that govern
ment should be controlled by himself
and men like him. He defines men or
his type as prominent citizens" He
/ wants government to be of the prom
/ inent citizens, by the prominent citi-
| zens and for the prominent citizens In
his meaning OF that phrase. He de-
nies that he mas political power be-
| cause OF his relations with Odell, who
! happens to be the reigning boss. He
says, rather, that Odell has political
| power because OF his relations with
himself It is the Important matters
| In which he is interested, for which
be stands that count. He sees moth
ing to be ashamed of or to conceal In
his use OF political power for his pri-
vate ends. Rather, he is proud OF
his position.
Mr.. Harrimans frankness, due no
doubt to the fact that there were two
witnesses to his conversation with
Ryan, Is nevertheless highly useful.
II he had carried his frank expression
of his views just a little further he
would doubtless have said that he re-
garded 99.9 per cent Of the people OF
the United States as "muzhiks" and
the other one-tenth of l per cent as
their sovereign rulers.
Even the "muzhiks" have their day
witness Russia.
The Harriman-Ryan incident IL a
great lesson for "muzhiks. Record
Herald.