Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-07-31

LaFoIlette'S Treason.

LaFouette'S Treason.
A desperate attempt is being made to
discredit Senator LaFollette by accus-
ing him of conspiring with democratic
senators to embarass the administra-
ton and kill the rate bill by amending
it to death. The PILOT is not con-
cerned about the fate of Senator La
Toilette but it is interested in keeping
the record straight. What are the
facts?
First, that President Roosevelt en-
tered into a secret compact with certain
democratic leaders and independent
republicans in order to pass the rate
bill. The go-betweens in the transac-
ton were ex-senator Chandler and
Attorney General Moody, both republi-
cans selected by the president. His
purpose was to prevent the passage OF
any amendment granting review By
the courts, it being his wish and de-
termination to confer upon the Inter
State Commerce Commission absolute
power to fix rates.
Second, that without warning, even
to his own attorney general and trusted
envoy, the president suddenly aban-
doned his self-sought allies and Joined
hands with the great senatorial corpor-
ate triumvirate, Knox, Aldrich and
Spooner, for the passage of an amend
ment granting the broadest possible
plan of court review.
That the treachery of President
Roosevelt may be properly appreciated
it is necessary to recall certain facts OF
recent history.
Senator Knox as attorney general IN
the presidents cabinet, conducted the
case against the Northern SECURITIES
company-the merger of the Northern
Pacific, Great Northern and Burlington
Railway companies, and secured de-
cision in the United States Supreme
Court, March 1904, that it was an I'M
lawful combination in restraint of trade.
AS proceedings against the Pennsyl,
vania and other coal carrying railways
were in prospect it was evident to the
managers that Attorney General Knox
was a dangerous man for the great
corporate interest and his speedy re-
moval from the cabinet was desirable.
President Cassat of the Pennsylvania
railway, and representatives of the bill
lion dollar steel trust and the Standard
Oil Co, Rogers and Fricke, if our recol-
lection is not at fault, held a consulta-
ton and decided that Knox must be
made United States senator, there be-
ing a vacancy in the senatorship from
his state, by the death of Matt Quay.
President Roosevelt was called by tele-
phone and informed of their wishes and
he promptly consented. The governor
of Pennsylvania, corporate tool, i'm
mediately appointed Knox senator and
the conspiracy against the people was
complete. Concerning the other
members of the senatorial triumvirate
it need only be said that Senator Aid
rich is one of the most corrupt poll
ticians that ever disgraced legislative
body and that Senator Spooners whole
life has been devoted to the service OF
the corporations.
These three men shaped the rate bill
as 1t was finally passed. 1t is not de-
MED that the bill was improved in many
respects but in ways over which there
was no controversy. Any one who
thinks they labored to give the COVER,
ment prompt and efficient control OF
rates must be very simple. They are
not traitors to their masters, the COR
pOratiOns. President Roosevelt vas a
traitor to his own oft avowed principles
of rate regulation as well as to his self
sought allies. Senator LaFollette prob
ably knows whereof he speaks when he
says the bill has no legs to stand on.