Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-10-05
NEW YORK BANKER
SCORES GRAFIERS
Dishonesty in High Places De-
plored by President Simmons
OF Fourth National
TARIFF HOG is CRITICISED
TARIFF HOG IS CRITICISED
Man Who Debauehes Legislators TO
Get An Advantage Over His Fellow
Man Nothing Loss Than Thief =
Sees Hope in Men Who Arc Fighting
Dishonesty.

ANNAPOLIS, Md, Oct. 5.-Dishonesty in
high places in the state, judiciary and
great financial institutions and corpor-
ations and palliation of such acts by
the masses gravely threaten the future
of the country, according to the views
expressed today by ]. Edward Sim
mons president of the Fourth National
Bank of New York, in an address be-
fore the Maryland Bankers Associa-
tion. He pointed to the lesson taught
by the fall of the ancient Roman re-
public, the reign of terror In France
and the disasters which befell the Rus
sian arms in the recent conflict in the
far east, all Of which, he said. were due
to palliated dishonesty. He deplored
conditions which have led men to toier-
ate the terms graft ana "grafters"
and said he feared the very use Of the
words was the indication OF mems
tolerance OF the thief and his trade. He
called upon the members of the asso-
citation to give their assistance to rem
edying conditions which make 1t pos
sible for men who pose as the salt OF
the earth and who condemn without re-
serve those who steal $50 or forge q
check for 800, or accept a bribe, to
themselves make millions by lying.
by Misrepresentation, by fraud, ana by
bribery without receiving punishment
or even criticism, while the man who
steals the paltry sum is sent to Jail"
He denounced the man of stainless pri-
vate life, who "In the interest OF COR
porations trusts, gas, railroad and IN
surance companies have recourse 70
every villiany damned in the decalogue,
who does deeds Of highwayman with
the air of saint"
Simmons referred to the growth OF
the socialistic movement as shown by
the last presidential elections as due
largely to the fact, he said, that the
masses see great fortunes accumulated
by dishonest means and when SO ac-
cumulated combined to smother In
dividual enterprises. He believed the
situation was not without hope. as the
very fact that the country has awak-
anad to the conditions, and that fear
less and able men are organizing ana
leading a campaign against dishonesty
are grounds for hope that a far-reach-
ing remedial process has already be-
gun.
Simmons, discussed the tariff, scoring
severely those who "Debauch the
legislator to enact laws crushing their
fellow citizens under the name OF
DUTY" I'VE recognize readily" said he,
"that under exceptional circumstances
It may be even justifiable to make the
tariff protect industry, but / hold no
tariff is justified that has not for It's
sole aim the advantage or necessities OF
our country in its entirety. The man
who imposes a duty, or leads another,
with or without bribe, to impose a duty,
in order to fill his pockets, is disnon-
est
In conclusion Simmons said: while
the situation that confronts US Is un-
doubtedly serious, we cannot meet it
by adopting pessimistic views. We
certainly should not exaggerate the
evils that exist to point of discourage
ment. but we should recognize their
existence and should not underrate
their magnitude, comforting ourselves
with the thought that gradual amel-
ioration must come as it always has
come, from persistent and intelligent
efforts"