The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-09-18
New York Life is Not th. Only Insurance Company COnti-
 buHRg to Republicans
OFFICERS ARE SELFISH IN
 POLITICAL PREFERENCES
Contributions Are Made That They May Have Free Hand In the Administration of Company
 as Best Suits Them.

Esopus. N. Y. September 17.-Former Chief Justice Alton B. Parker, last year the democratic candidate for president of the United States, today referred to the charges made by him In the presi- dential campaign last fall that corpora ton funds were being used in aid of the republican campaign. To correspond ent of the Associated Press who called at Rosemont, Judge Parl1er's home, and asked him if he had anything to say In relation to the statement made by Vice President George w. Perkins of the New York Life Insurance company before the legislative committee Investigating the Insurance business to the effect that President John A Mccall of that com pany had caused contribution of about $50,O0O to be made last year to the re- publican national campaign fund. Judge Parker said:
 "Yes, believe I ought to say now that there is no political excitement to distract the public attention that the president of the New York Life was not the only such contributor. The officers of other great life insurance companies. such as the Equitable and Mutual, also contributed from the policy holders funds for campaign purposes last year.
 What has been proved in the case of the New York Life undoubtedly will be proved In the other cases. The facts exist and honest and able counsel back ed by an honest committee, will undoubt- edly bring them out for the public good. Other Corporations Guilty.
 Were there an investigation of rall- road, manhfa curing and other corpora | tons 1t would be found that tn t3e life insurance officers were not the only cor poration officers who put their hands into the treasury and took out moneys belonging to widows and orphans to help secure a partisan triumph.
 That. their acts were unlawful ara their purposes corrupt goes without say ing. They intended to have the money used as 1t was in corrupting the cleo torate MT. Perkins makes the point that Mir. John A. Mccall president of the New York Life. Is democrat. Ap- parently he would have the public as- sume that where Mccall wrongfully and unlawfully contributed these funds-the company's share probably as a member of the underwriting syndicate-it was evidence of political virtue rather than misconduct.
 Seek Only Personal Advantage.
 'The truth about 1t is. and I say 1t without feeling but empha ticalyy, that Mccall could have no political convic- tions that could stand in the way of their personal advantage. Such men de- sire the triumph of the party which will better serve their personal financial in- terests, and will-for conditions past, present and future-continue to protect those interests by lenient legislation and by pretense at execution of law which shall be tenderly blind to all their of lenses
 That party they espouse in the board n nd aar frih hfto 4. szf t1o they hold in trust and occasionally lit- tie of their own. The underlying prin- cfples which divide the great mass of the people into parties have no effect on such men. Their one inquiry Is: will the party organization in It's hour of triumph remember our generosity, and respond to our demands" Of course the orRaniza- tion does remember, for 1t expects a sim liar contribution next time. And the ex- pectation Is not in vain. Last year was not the first time. Such contribution had been made before in national, state and municipal elections.
 Receive Their Reward.
 'The officers responsible for these raids on the treasuries of corporations have received their reward in unfettered man. agement of life insurance corporations; in the unsurpassed raids on the public through trusts-condemned by both com HUH dIu Sldlule ldWSt m reIu8al to pun- ish crimina1ly the officers of railroad and other corporations violating the laws and in statutory permission to manufacturing corporations to levy tribute on the peo- pie
 There can be no hope of the unlawful acts of officers of great corporations so long as they may thus form a quasi partnership with the organization of the dominant political party. For in the hour when tho admins tra tive of6ofo1 .oatr, to punish the offender, he Is reminded by the head of the organization of the mag nitude of the contributions of the cor porations.
 There is, however, something worse, if possible. than the escape of such of- lenders from justice. It Is the gradual demoralization of voters and. the dulling of the public conscience caused by the efforts to make these vast sums of money procure the ballots they were intended to procure. corruptly and otherwise.
 People VIII Become Aroused
 Tt Is not my purpose to claim that the democratic party. subjected to the temp tation which has overcome the other party during the last few years, would have acted differently. Mere party ad- vantage should not be sought from the disclosures made in this investigation. But the facts should be diligently sought that the people may become so aroused that they will insist upon legislation mak- ing 1t a criminal offense for officers to contribute corporate funds for political purposes. and depriving the apparently successful candidates of their offices.
 Efforts in that direction have been making In different states since Novem- Der last. and particularly in this state. But the republican organization would not consent to 1t. so the legislature de- feated the bills. And the organization never will consent until an aroused pub lie sentiment shall threaten legislators with political oblivion who fail to enact effective laws on the subject"
 Mr. Jerome Talks.