West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1906-01-04
A NATIONAL EVIL.
Political Contribution ofInsurance and
Other Companies.

Some things that the INVESTIGATION ha,
brought to light bear only incidentally upon
the Insurance question itself Thus. the
matter that attracted the widest public
attention last month was the disclosure OF
the fact that the great New York companies
had been contributing at least fifty thous.
and dollars apiece to the Republican cam
paign funds In recent Presidential cleo
lions. They also. IL Is alleged. have put
money into State politics. The standing
excuse Tor these national campaign contri.
buttons has been the one that did service
In the Mckinley campaign Of 1896. II was
'hen asserted that victory for free silver
would so undermine the assets OF the in.
surance companies as to effect almost ruin.
ously the value Of every outstanding policy.
IL was held. therefore. that the best posi-.
BILE expenditure that insurance companies
as well as other financial institutions, could
make. for the bene At Of the policy holders
and shareholders. was handsome contri.
button to the cause Of the gold standard as
against Bryan and the free-siiver herssy.
such an argument Is too fallaclous TO re-
quire discussion. Men OF all sorts OF polit.
zeal convictions pay their money into mutual
lille Insurance companies for the strict and
sole purpose OF having their lives Insured
or their money saved and accumulated.
ihey do not pay penny for the purpose
creating secret political funds to be used
by the inner groups OF officers at their own
private discretion to influence the political
HE OF the country. In their capacity as
Citizens. the officers OF insurance compan.
les and other financial concerns may SUP
port their political convictions as literally
as they like; but they Lave no right 10 take
other peoples money. held by them In trust
Tor distInct business purposes. and throw
II into the game OF politics.
lnso far as contribution to State politics
are concerned. the matter has always saw
ored more OF blackmail or OF corruption
than In the case OF gifts 10 the national
campaign funds. State insurance depart.
ments can make themselves very disagree.
BILE to insurance companies. and such State
departments are almost always controlled
by the party leaders and bosses. Thus, IL
Is said there has grown up a system OF con-
tributing TO party managers.-often, IL not
always. to the managers Of both parties, -
Tor the sake OF maintaining pleasant rela |
lions with the State insurance authorities.
and Tor the sake. furthermore, Of rend erlng |
II more certain that Legislature will not |
make attacks, or enact harsh or precipitate |
laws. II Is perfectly well known that the |
whole system OF American State politics,
not alone in New York and PENNSYLVANIA,
but In many other States has for a good |
while rested firmly upon the foundation OF |
annual funds collected from corporations |
and put In the hands OF party managers to
maintain their organizations, TO control |
legislatures. and to dominate political lite
at every point and juncture. The largest
sums are paid. undoubtedly. by gas com.
panies. streetrailway companies. telephone
companies. and other corporations holding
franchises and exercising quas.public func.
tons. But many other companies. subject
more or less to public regulation and con.
troll have become the victims OF this vic
ious method. II Is going TO be a matter OF
great difficulty to break up the system. In
so Tar as II is carried on within State lines.
The use OF corporation money, however.
Tor national Campaigns will undoubtedly
have come to an abrupt end in the disclos-
ures OF last month. Nobody comes forward
to defend II. and everybody admits that
u must be stopped. Congress will be ex.
pected to deal with 1t promptly next winter.