The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-09-26
POLITICAL GOSSIP.
CONTINUED from Page one.l

TT may be considered as estab-
lished that under these powers con-
gress may,
d" First. create corporations as
means of regulating interstate com
merce.
=" Second. give to such corporations
the power to engage in interstate and
foreign commerce.
" Third, prohibit any other corpora
tons or individuals from engaging in
the same business.
Fourth, as a condition precedent
to the grant of such powers, lay any
restrictions 1t chooses upon the organ
ization, conduct or management of
such corporations
" Fifth, tax interstate comm cree at
viii and the instrumentalities and cor
poratOns engaged therein
THE question is not whether con-
gress has the right under the United
States constitution to enact a sound
effective federal charter Iaw-tfle evil
dence in favor of this right is unques-
uonabie- The real question is will con-
gress exercise its constitutional right
to protect the life property and
morals of 80 million people against an
unlawful combination of men who
have, regardless of the rights of their
fellows, regardless of the laws of the
land, regardless of the moral degrade
ton involved. secured through bribery,
shame and crime control of the great
transportation lines of the country, to-
gether with practically every necessity
of life, and have been taxing the peo-
pie of the nation. over and above
legitimate reasonab BILE profits. several
hundred million dollars every year.
There are approximately 20 million
people in this country who barely exist
BY hard labor and die In poverty:
there arc perhaps 40 or so million
others who work a lifetime without
gaining a competency, all of whom pay
tribute to these unlawful combina-
tons, trusts and pools. which are a
menace to our institutions and a free
government.
THE corporations are and have
been for many years to all intents and
purposes in control of our government
IN so far as their own interests are con-
cerned. They have openly and fla
gravity violated state and federal laws
for score of years and have gained
hundreds of millions of dollars as
result Of breaking the law, and not one
of them has landed in Jail. And why =?
Because they are in control of the gov
eminent. at least to the extent of be-
Ing immune from punishment for vio-
! lation Of law. How do they secure this
immunity? One way is to elect a good
lawyer to the legislature congress. or
1 the United States senate, and then en-
/ ploy him at a big salary to represent
/ the corporation perhaps in some way
/ that the lawyers conscience Is easy.
I but it amounts to control in so far as
/ +kAN lA1GA CSLS VI Tic OIpOIdllOlS are
! concerned.
Corporation lawyers are responsible
/ to a greater extent than any other class
4 of persons for the lawIessn ess of the
/ corporations, and if you want the cor
porations to run this country just listen
/ to the corporation lawyer. If you
/ want the governrn ent to control the
/ corporations as completely and as per-
fectly as it now controls the national
/ banks, just put them under a federal
/ charter law with proper restrictions
and safeguards.
Just one word personal: In a re-
cent article very cleEerly Worded il
lustration by a corporation attorney
! stated:
q The New York Life Insurance
/ company has heretofore purch ased one
million of Chicago. Rock Island bonds
and paid therefor one million dollars
/ from Stubs, who took them at Is
cents on the dollar for building a line
of railway between Kansas City and
St. Louis
This statement is pure fabrica-
ton. have never owned one single
| dollars worth of Rock Island bonds OF
stock. Several other statements are SC
obviously false that I do not consider
tn EN- worthy of notice
Wv R. STUBS"
Charles E. Hall of Russell Republi-
can candidate for representative, does
not believe that a direct compulsory
primary to nominate state officers is
possible or that it is a good plan. II
ans wering the Kansas questions today
Mr.. Hail gave his views on this PROPOSE
4 ton as follows:
Il am in favor OF a primary election
law, compelling all parties to nominate
all officers by direct vote Of the people
except state officers. I believe that the
state convention should not be dis
pensed with That it is necessary tc
get body Of the people together. from
the several sections of the state in order
that the people may make the platform
and considerably meet and dispose OF
the differences that may arise in the
different sections OF the state. The del
] egates % this CONVENTION should be