The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-09-19
JUDGE pARKER,s vINpIoATYoN.

and combinations OF wealth were con-
tributing large sums to the election of
Roosevelt, was Indignantly denied by
Mr.. Roosevelt. He declared the state
ment of Judge Parker to be "a wick
ed falsehood" and said it was an &C
cusation which 'if true would brand
both Mr.. Cortelyou and me with in
fanny" In his vigorously reply the
President used the words promise,
"black-mail' and future immuni-
ties" repeatedly His letter had the
genuine ring of righteous Indignation,
and had the effect of making the
people believe that Judge Parker had
been imposed upon. That impression
was strengthened by Judge. Parker's
reply in which he offered no proof in
support of his charges.
The information that the insur-
ance company has brought to light
confirms the truth of Judge Parker's
charges no far as they relate to cam
paign contributions. The world has
acquitted Mr.. Roosevelt of any knowl-
edge of such contributions, or any
promise, express or implied. to give
Communities" to those concerns that
made large contributions.
The testimony of Mr. Perkins that
the New York Life Insurance Com
pany gave $4S,7O2 to the Roosevelt
campaign fund and that it contribut-
ed likewise to the Republican fund
i'm 1896 and 1900 is proof that the
Democrats knew what they were talk
ing about when they said the Re
publicans were frying the fat out Of
the trust magnates. 1t was not ne
cessary that Cortelyou should
promise to grant "immunities.' He
solicited the money; he was at the
head of the Department of Commerce
having power to investigate: they
gave the money without promise;
that department has not broken up
or prosecuted to a finish any trust
actually doing business in America. 1t
of the New York Life calls himself
a Democrat and presumably person.
ally voted for Parker. Why did ne
give $4S,720 of the policy holders
money to help elect Roosevelt? 1t
is clear that he must have thought
it was good policy or he was sand
bagged. Mr.. Perkins, partner of j.
Pierpont Morgan who was advertised
as opposed to Roosevelt, says the'
reason President Mccall gave that
large contribution to the Roosevelt:
fund was ito protect the securities,
whose value might have been impair
ed by Judge Parkers' election" That
story will fool nobody. 1t was given
because President Mccall and the
heads of other big institutions, be-
lieved they were buying immunity or
because of some sort of coercion. The
money given did not belong to Nc
Call or Perkins or the directors. IT
belonged to the policy-holders and
it is the duty of the Attorney Gener-
al of New York to bring an action to
compel the officers and directors to
return the money thus given as Il
political corruption fund to defeat
the candidate of nearly one-half of
the policy-holders- an in
surer "unbeknOwnst to himself to
contribute to the defeat of his candl-
date for the presidency. The check
was made payable to Treasurer Bliss.
The committee ought to send for Mr..
Bliss and compel Glim to make
statement showing the sums paid TO
L
ance companies. Of course he will
deny that they were buying immuni
ty, but the public will rightly con-
clude that this money was not given
by the insurance companies for moth
ing. They were promised something
by the Republican bosses; they had
paid them for something already re-
ceived; or they put the money up
expecting the Republican party to do
something for them. There can be
no other alternative.
If the New York Life gave s48.-
100 in 1904 when the corruption fund
of the Republican party did not ex~
coed five million dollars, how much
of the money of the policy holders
did they unlawfully divert to Han
mas many time larger fund of
1896. And how much did the other
great life insurance companies pay?
The committee in New York ought to
continue to probe and get at the full
facts. The New York Life is probab
ly no worse a sinner than the other
giant companies. They all seem to
have come to regard the money of
policy holders as legitimate funds to
be used to buy doubtful states and
thwart the will of the majority of
the honest and unbought American
voters.
The New York Evening Post
conservative of conservatives, review
ing this scandal, thus closes an able
editorial.
President Roosevelt recommended
to Congress a measure calling for
publicity of campaign accounts. Let
him now direct Treasurer Bliss to
make public at least all the subscrip-
tions made by life insurance compa-
MES. And then, if the President still
feels as disturbed as he WAS when