The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1906-03-21

70 hHAe unusually good appeatee
also since this plan was adopted
last August.-Parkersburg Senti.
mel.
More Honesty and Discretion Need.
ed.
The country is aroused, just
now, as it probably never was be-
fore, to the domineering influence
of the great corporations For
years these immense aggregationl
of capital have been controlling
not only the commercial business
affairs of the country, but have
been debating and shuping legisla.
ton, state national as we'll. Their
grip upon affairs was and is abso
lutte, but like a giant arousing from
his long sleep, the country is be-
coming awakened. Legislatures
are Investigating the insuzanee
companies; the courts are filled
with prosecutions of the beef trust
and monopolies, while Congress is
wrestling with the railroad rate
question and resolution has been
offered looking to an inquiry into
the relation of the Pennsylvania
railroad to the B & o, @. & o
and N. & W., roads.
The magazines aud newspapers
are filed with articles on the sub.
ject of monopolies and monopolists.
In fact to attack the monopolists
has become fad, it's now the
thing to "crack a head wherever
you see it," end in the exciting
chase the monopoly hunt that is
now on it will be passing strange
if an innocent head is not cracked
or bystsnder accidentally shot.
How comes it all? Why the
present situetionP To whom is it
due?
Following the great panic of
1893, which began under Harrison's
administration and was due to natu.
raj, or at least not due to political
causes, or to Democratic national
legislation, as is erroneously and
falsely claimed by our Republican
friends, there came again period
of prosperity which has grown and
become more general as time wore
on, as crops we're larger and more
gold discovered. Then it WAS.
aided by the large increase in ma.
tional bank circulation, an expan-
sion of the currency, although in
the camp aign of 1896 the -Repnbli.
oans claimed there was money
enough. The corporations were
the first to reap the fruite of this
prosperity, natural and artificial.
They waxed fat and ssuoy. They
clamored for more protection and
got it. They wanted special favcrs
here. special privileges there, and
got them.
The Democratic party protested,
warned, but the protests were un.
needed and warnings disregarded.
They eaid we are anarohists, that
We we're threatening the prosperity
of the country and that it would
not do to disturb the splendid
business conditions. Let her go
whoopee-every ybody was getting
rioh and everybody happy.
The corporations, or tTusts at
least, were making hay all the time.
Finally the people began to look
around. Graft was rampant every
where. Then signal went up and
now there is hue and cry and all
the politicians. big and little, who
have no great interests of their
own. have joined in the popular
chorus for popularity's sake.
Stringent laws are needed, have
been needed, but it is time for
conservative action and honest
methods. It is not time for po-
litioal plunder OF demagogery in
Congress or in State legislatures.
Unnecessary and vicious legisls-
tive attacks may lead to financial
panic, even with prosperity and
plenty throughout the land.
Corporations that have trans
gressed the laws, and trusts that
Disregard the statutee, should be
brought to book, but there should
be no general or indiscriminate as
sauIts upon the legitimate and
honest business of the country.
This is the time when the demaeo
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