The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1906-07-06
Editorial Notes.

Those who think the Republicans will not
be able to collect campaign funds this fall
from the railroads and trusts should remember
that the Administration is keeping secret most
of the reports on Investigations that have been
made and that the trusts and corporations are
willing to pay, rather than have publicity.
The retail druggists have memorialized the
President and allege that they have not been
given square deal, but President Roosevelt
declares he will not interfere, but leaves the
Drug Trust matter in the hands of the Depart
ment of Justice.
Don't think the Beef Trust barons have nc
friends, as the Republican members of the
committee on Agriculture of the House OF
Representatives, headed by chairman Wads-
worth, are evidently trying to modify harsh
legislation.
The Beef Barons are very insistent thai
their packing houses are perfectly clean and
that no unwholesome meat is sold to the
public At the same time we hear desper-
ate effort is being made ''to clean up aud rem
ovate" the packing establishments. Why
not abolish the tariff on beef aud cattle and
so give the people competition with the trust
and thus reduce the price to reasonable
basis +?
The railway detectives, in convention at
Washington, vigorously attacked the anti.pass
amendment to the railroad rate bill, bat agreed
as to the necessity of "hold-up' law to be
universally applied against wonldbe train
robbers. Perhaps some of the members OF
the association have been in the habit Of riding
on passes while charging for transportation.
If so, they are not alone in this line.
The Washington Post remarks that DR..
Thomas E. Wilson, general manager of the
Nelson-Morris Company. who represented all
the Chicago packers before the agricultural
committee Of the House last Wednesday,
s'does not look to be more than 80 years CT
age, and had he not admitted that he had been
in the packing house business 20 years he
might be mistaken for theological student. .
Judging by recent revelations, it is quite pos
sibIe that Mr.. Wilson is familiar with the
book of Ezekiel.
Whether the Republicans of Pennsylvania
asked for bread or not, they have been given
Stone by Matt Quay's successor.
Wisconsin's Republican Secretary Of State,
Walter E. Houser, is charged with attempted
bribery, and warrant has been issued for his
arrest The accused man, who will be pros
ecuted BY District Attorney Gilbert, a leading
candidate for the office of Attorney General,
announces his own candidacy for third term.
The complaint against the Secretary is made
by State Insurance Commissioner Host, who
charges that Houser. 10 1908, offered to con-
tribute $4,000 to the Republican campaign
fund if the commissioner would render de
cision favorable TO certain company. Bat
why has the latter waited three years before
preferring charges? Was it hoped that Houser
might raise the ante?
II is not only our commerce but our national
character that has been injured by the frauds
and scandals now astonishing the world. II
the laws had been faithfully executed, such
scandals would have been impossible. The
greatest and most damaging of all these scan
dals is that the laws Of the United States have
not been faithfully exeeuted-thAt rant and
hypocrisy, and connivance at crime. and
political partisan success won by criminals with
stolen money aud hush-money, stand in the
place Of duty aud morality. The peolpe may
applaud the spectacular rogues for a times bat
they will turn aud rend them just as soon as
they are undeceived.
In the hearing before the House Committee
on Agriculture, June 7th, respecting the
Roosevelt charges against the packing houses,
DIR. Melvin. chief Of the bureau of animal
industry, was asked incidentally to state the
number of government inspectors of Chicago.
He answered II veterinarians, SO stock exam
liners and 55 taggers, making Isl in all. In
the whole service, he said, there are Ts3.
What have these 7ss Federal officers been
doing for the past seven yearsg Have they
all, or any of them, been in the pay of the
packers? Have they been eoneealiug the
truth for the sake of rafi2 If so, are they any
worse than the bulk of Federal employees
under Roosevelt's merit sgstem2"
The embalmed beet scandal is grea: re-
lief to the railroads as it diverts public aiten-
ton from their grating, overeharging, aud
rebating.