Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1905-09-19
JUDGE PARKER TALKS
Former Chief Justice on What Was
Testified To.
WORDS NOT MINCED
What Has Been Proved In the New
York Life Investigation Matter,
lie Says, viii Doubtless
Apply 10 Others.

EsaoluHs Ns Ar Stpts Aos-io iAhe
Chief Justice Alton Il. Parker referre
20 the charges made by him In the pres
idential campaign last year that corpo
ration funds were being used In tn
aid OF the Republican campaign.
To a correspondent OF the Associate,
Press. who called at Rosemont. Judg
Parker's home. and asked him II he ha'
anything to say in relation TO the state
ment made by Vice President Georg'
W. Perkins OF the New York Life In
surance company. before the Legislative
committee investigating the Insurance
business, TO the effect that John A. Nc.
Call OF that company had caused a
contribution Of about $4,000 to be
made last year to the Republican ma
tional campaign fund, Judge Parker
said:
yes believe ! ought TO say now,
that there Is no politics to distract pub
lie 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 policy holders funds for cam
paign 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.
backed by an honest committee. will
undoubtedly bring them out for the
public good.
Were there an Investigation OF rail-
road. manufacturing and other corpo-
rations Il would be found that these
life insurance companies were not the
only corporations 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 and
their purposes corrupt goes without
saying. They intended TO have the
money used. as Il was. In corrupting
the electorate. Mr. Perkins makes the
point that Mr. John A. Mccall. presl-
dent OF the New York Life Is a Demo-
GRAFT Apparently he would have the
public assume that when Mr.. Mccall
unlawfully and wrongfully contributed
these funds-the compsny's share
probably. as member OF the UNDER
writing syndicate Il was evidence OF
Al
THE truth about II ~ this. and say
u without feeling. but emphatl,ally.
that men like Mccall have no political
convictions that stand ln the way OF
their personal advantage. Such men
desire the triumph Of m party that
viii better serve their financial inter-
ests and viii. for contributions past.
present and future. continue 10 protect
these men by lenient legislation and by
pretense o. execution % law which
shall tenderly be blind To all their Of
lenses. The party they espouse In the |
board room and contribute 20 II OF the !
they hold In trust. and occa-
sionally little Of their own. The un-
Terrifying principles which divide the |
yreat mass Of people into parties have |
no effect on such men. Their one in |
luiry r.: VIII the party organization /
n its hour OF triumph remember our
and respond TO our de-
nandsT OF course. the organization /
ioes remember for Il expects a similar
next time. And the ex-
,ectation II not IN vain. Last year was
lot the FIRST. Such contributions had ]
'een made before In national. state and
municipal elections.
The officers responsible for these
aids on the treasures OF corporations
ave received their reward IN unfetter-
d management OF life insurance COR
orations. In the unembarrassed raids
n the public through trusts. condemned
y both common and statute law. In re-
usal To punish crlminally the officers
Z railroad aud other corporations vio-
ltlng the laws and IN statutory per-
Mission TO manufacturing corporations
0 levy tribute on the people
There can be no hope OF checking
he unlawful aggresEions Of officers OF
reat corporations so long az they may
aus form quasi partnership with the
rRanization OF the dominant political
arty. For IN the hour when the adj
official seeks TO punish the
fender. he IL reminded by the head OF
he organization OF the magnitude OF
he contributions OF the corporatlns.
There IL. however. something worse.
possible. than the escape OF such
lenders from justice. II Is the grad
Al generalization OF voters and the
illing OF the public conscience caused
= the efforts TO make these vast sums
money procure the ballots they we're
tended 10 procure corruptly or 9TH
wise.
Il n not my purpose to claim that
Ie Democratic party subjected to the
mptation which has overcome the
her party during the last few years.
ould have acted differently. Mere
irty advantage should not be sought
ON the disclosures made In this In
'stigation. But the facts should be
llgently sought. that the people may
come 80 aroused that they will In
" upon legislation. making Y "a GRIM
al onense for officers TO contribute
rporate funds for political purposes.
ID deprlvlng the apparent successful
ndidates OF their Offices.
Efforts IN that direction have been
aklng In different states since No
mber last and particularly IN this
ate. But the Republican organization