West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1906-10-04
ROOSEVELT QUIBBLED
On Question of Political Contri-
buttons.
wHYTHE SENATE BPAssEDTHBBmL

The Rcpublicnn Party Helpless With
ont n LarEc Campaign Fund-As an
Evidence of Good tcai,h RcStitutIon
should nc Made oT Isunda Fuchcd
From POLICY Holders of lilo Insur-
ancc Corporations
When the United states senate pass.
ed the bin to prohibit political contri.
buttons from corporations IL was eyi.
IDENTIFY considered necessary to rlvo
some proof that the Republican mem.
bcrs of the senate were not as blacl, rs
they had been painted The Republican
senators must have taken keen delight
in putting this bin under the noses OF
the president, Speaker Cannon and the
other Republican leaders, knowing that
they dare not allow the bin To pass. for
without campaign contributions from
the corporations lhCro would be but
few Republican congressman elected
from the close and doubtful districts.
The senate plan worked TO perfection.
for the bill was suppressed. the COM
even considering IT,
Senator Rnyncg OF Maryland charges
that the bin was suppressed by Prosl-
dent Roosevelt and the speaker He
says. Tho president and speaker OF
the house OF representatives arc re
sponslblc tor the suppression OF this
legislation. II passed the senate as
recall IT, unanimously. When IL came
10 tho house Il awaited, as usual. the
order aud command OF the president.
"fhc practical defeat OF this measure
In congress means that the Democratic
party must face an enormous corrup.
ton fund In the future, az II has done
In the pnst, while It's paasngo would
have signlncd to the country that the
elective franchise can no longer be
polluted except at the peril OF law
and that the ballot Is no longer for
sale"
Yet the president says - hope and
believe Tint The bill 60 prohibit political
contributions by corporations viii
pass"
'Ihis makes one think" soys that
good Republican newspaper. the Provi-
dcucc or H. Journal, "of the confidence
man who approached sydney Smith on
tho street, saying cordially us he held
out his hnnd. All, Mr.. Parsons. / be-
lievcT Sir was the answer. ~ YOU
believe that yOu'll believe anything"
But The bill commended by the prcsl.
dent would be very good kind OF
bill to pass, ana Il step IN the right dl-
recdOn might be taken by the presi-
dent himself II would only require
some honesty, courage and common
sense Oh his part, and tbnt, he says,
controls him utterly always and every
where As starteT why should he
not compel the return Of the $4,000
campaign contribution which was club
bed ont OF the Now York Life Insur-
ance compHny's policy holders TO help
elect him iu 1902 Mr. Perkins of the
Insurance company testified thnt he
gave the money TO Mr. Bliss and idcn-
tiled the very check for the amount.
Mr. Bliss says lo gOt it ana used n.
Why should not tine president, u no
really means what be suys, sond this
money back to the policy holders. TO
whom II bclours?
That l3 the question Untn resutu-
ton Is made OF the large sums nlched
from the policy holders Of the lnsur-
nnce compunIcs II is difficult to believe
that either the president or the other
Republican leaders are really I'm car
nest in declining corporation subscrip-
tions. An interesting question is how
much money has been contributed by
corporation or their officials 90 the
congressional clmpaiRn committee this
year ana has any part OF The insurance
funds remaining over from the last
election been transferred by the treas
urcr Of the Rcpubllcan national COM
mittee TO The congressional commlttco2
The answer duly sworn 10. would 10
Of great political interest