The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-06-02

veloping public opinion that will
some day result In veritable cyclone
Of political and economic house,
cleaning. -
It is only fair to give due credit
to the wholesome precept and exam
pie Of President Roosevelt. It has
been an inspiration that has reached
castle and hamlet alike and, like the
ripple Of the wave, its ultimate influ-
ence is Unreasonable. The question,
however, how far sinister party inf1u-
ences may hamper the president and,
indeed. control him and render nuga-
tory his best intentions, fairly pre-
sents itself.
There is something rotten in Dem
mark" Just where the shoe pinches.
except that it ever and always pinch
es the general public and very. very
seldom the special interest, is, as yet,
only a matter Of deduction. What the
public wants and what common sense
and public interests demand is quite
clear. Everybody now knows that
the laws have been and are being
persistently violated by the great H.
legal combinations. the railroads and
rapacdous corporations generally; but
somehow or other the gilded criminals
are not reached. Even If now and
then conviction does take place only
a money fine is assessed and this,
quite naturally. is at once loaded back
upon the public.
A few months since couple Of
Eastern Hebrew packers, who IL not
OF at least work in unison with the
Beef Trust, were convicted of receiv-
ing unlawful railroad rebates. Were
they sent to prison? No. They Plead
ed guilty and were fined money fine.
That result was unquesdonably a.
compromise between prosecution,
court and criminals. Later the same
judge discharged Armour and his fel-
low-conspirators against the public
health and welfare on a technicality
that seemed so transparent that the
president made the judges action the
subject of a scathing message.
Only the other day, in the Kansas
City rebate cases. high traffic off,
cial of an important railroad system
was let out by the trial judge, while
number Of lesser lights were con-
victed Of railroad rebating Of the most
shameless kind. The attorneys for
the defendants afterward intimated
that they expected no further pun
tshment than mere money fine. Now
the prominent railroad official may
not have been guilty and as to all
this unlawful practice, which occur
ed in his department, he may have
been as innocent as babe. The judge
may be all right even If he did make
show Of himself at the Council
Bluff banquet. The federal prosecut-
ing officers also may have been neith-
er inefficient nor wilfully negligent.
The result may be all that the cir
cumstances might properly warrant;
but the people will remain convinced
that they have been buncoed again.
There has been some brag about
how the Paper Trust was recently
brought to book; but, aside from the
federal Supreme Court decision which
points the way in which corporations
can be reached for unlawful practices
If individuals cannot, the alleged vic
tory is a barren one. The old Paper
Trust has allowed the court to enioin
Its farther existence in the old form;
but the same sinister combination in
new form is said to be again in pro-
cess Of development. The Officers
were ordered by the court to show
their books; but, rather than do this,
they allowed Judgment to go against
them in the civil suit. The govern
mert attorneys, on their part, did not
insist On having the nominating evil
dence produced though it was and
perhaps because it was clear that it
might pave the way to a criminal
conviction.
Why this sham fight and compro-
mise with evil? Well the govern
ment's special counsel in charge was
Frank Kellogg of st. Paul-republic-
an national committeeman from Min
nesota, chief counsel in Minnesota for
the Steel Trust and one Of the keen
est and most hide-bound corporation
lawyers In the state. Isn't that say
ing enough? How can President
Roosevelt achieve any substantial
practical results so long as he fails to
break with the corporation ridden re-
publican machine.
Is 1t not as clear as the noon dav
sun that all these pyrotechnic dis
plays are, In their flnality. but aha r,