The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-07-10
LAwsoN's FRENzIED GRAFTON.
Tom Lawson Talks to Kansas Audience
On Power Of Ballot.

I
| On Power Of Ballot.
! Ottawa, Kan, July o.-Thomas W
lawson, of Boston, author OF "FrenEiet
Finance" and the man who enjoys III,
distinction of having coined the great
est number of additions to the Euglisl
language, addressed large and cnthus
iastic audience here Saturday, whom he
sent into frequent frenzies OF applause
| Mr.. Lawson's theme was selected from
among the intricaeies Of the System"
the crime of the amalgamated" and
what Rogers did TO William Jennings
Bryan" He said:
Il have come to Kansas on simple
mission-to point out TO you that the
American people are being robbed, by
whom, how, and what the consequences
will be ii the robbery is not stayed and
an example made of the robbers"
Mr. lawson discussed at length the
evils OF the system and continued;
What are YOU going to do about III
You kno wthat the econmic condition
which allows the few TO possess all and
the many are left with nothing must be
ended. Ii il is not, slavery is the al.
tentative. How shall ii be ended' BY
your ballots, What are ballots against
dollars, and the system has unlimited
dollars, With S5,0O0,O00 saw Rogers
rob the able, fearless, honest but all
wrong on the money question, William
Jennings Bryan out OF the presidency OF
the United States in 1896. Do you i'm.
agine he sLrinks from repeating the op.
Grafton in 1908 II he feared that the man
you nominated would upset his controly
To-day at the helm OF your affairs is
an able and fearless American, bold TO
conceive and strong TO execute. To all
of YOU he is hero, and you would up.
hold his course wherever he sees fit To
go. President Roosevelt knows it, and
today no man in the country is more
keenly aware OF the necessity OF curbng
the corporate despotism undeh which
we liye-but what can President Roose.
welt do! hate to say il, but be is as
helpless in the SYSTEMS net as a bull
in balloon. Like Gulliver in Lilli.
putia he is bound by 1000 threads
ress, the senate, the party's interests,
and gratitude, and all the intangible in.
luenees which the great money power
AN weave around any individual How
brave and quick the priesdent is to do!
4 wrong is called to his attention, q
aw must needs be passed 1.-THE rebate
vii must be curbed and he sends mes.
lge To congress demanding instant ac.
ion. What happens' Congress temper.
zes; the senate snubs him, and the 'sys.
EN- sniekers. +
Relief is not TO be looked for from
he courts, Mr.. lawson said, because the
'reat corporations "do not hesitate to
uborn perjury, bribe juries. and pay
Judges for favorable decisions"
Municipal ownership, Mr.. lawson dis. I.
missed as a will of the wisp,' and he
"The surest, safest and most naturel
rocess of restitution is the application
+ the SYSTEMS own methods to the
system
The first step is for the American
eople to divorce themselves from the
'ystem' and sell every share OF stock
nd every bond they hold back to the
renzied fnanciers at present inflated
rices. Take the money thus realized
nd place it in banks and trust com.
anies, or better still, in government, Z
tate, and municipal bonds.
This, Mr.. Lawson said, would cause
collapse of the system which would
e obliged to throw over the stocks
nd bonds it carried. These stocks and
Onds, the people could purchase, and
aving only to pay interest on their
al values, could reduce rates Of fare
nd freight and prices generally, and
re revolution would then be complete.
Specia1 IosinO Time