Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1906-03-22

position through contributions OF
money for campaign purposes through
out this District? 1t is an old adage
that silence gives consent; but in
this case l sincerely trust that Mr.
Lewis silence cannot be construed as
favoring any such illegal and corrupt
ing use Of money.
l also stated that / favored a modi
fication of our present laws concern,
ing national banks, by repeal of the
special privileges which they now en-.
JOY over all other banks of circulating
notes issued to them by the govern,
| ment, while their entire capital is in.
vested in interest bearing bonds; but
upon this subject Mr.. Lewis is also
silent. Is it right that national banks
should have given to them notes is.
sued by the government to the amount
OF their capital, while their entire
capital Is invested in government
bonds, on which the government pays
interest, regardless of the fact that
the government has returned to these
banks all money which has been in
vested in the bonds? In other words,
is it right for national bank to loan
the government all it's capital, and
then for the government to immedi.
ately pay it back, but continue to pay
interest on the loan so long as this
bank is in existence? That is exactly
what the government does. Yet, Mr..
Lewis seems to favor it's doing so,
He is a member of the Banking Com,
mittee in Congress, and could easily
put himself on record as opposing
such measures; but the Record fails
to disclose where he has ever advo-
Gated a repeal of this privilege which
national banks now enjoy over all
other banks. AS a matter of fact, his
position on national banks is open to
question. When a bill was before the
House giving power to national banks
to withdraw from circulation more
! than three million dollars of their
bank notes during one calendar
month, thus allowing these banks to
restrict the currency, to bring about
panics, wreck and ruin the finances
of the country, Mr.. Lewis was found
voting in favor of the banks. Can it
be that his interest in national banks
was such that he should openly es-
Can it be that Mr. Lewis desires to
avail himself of the privileges of this
measure to contract the circulation
and aid in the depression of business
throughout all parts of the country
and bring about repetition of the
stock-jobbery operations of ]. Pierpont
Morgan and his confederates, the or.
ganizers Of the Steel Trust and the
Shipping Trust, and many other such
corporations and trusts which have
their existence by virtue of, and
through the control of the currency
| which is now enjoyed by these banks
| privileges?
Mr.. Lewis states in his platform
that he does not approve of millions
of dollars being paid as a subsidy to
ship owners that we may build up a
large merchant marine; but his po
sition on the subject of subsidies be-
lies his words. His record on this
subject is decidedly at variance with
the sentiments contained in his plat
form; for when a bill was before the
House authorizing subsidy Of $142,
728.75 to be paid to the Southern
Railroad, operated by J. P. Morgan
nf of 10
$4,000 to some other road out here
in the West, Mr.. Lewis is recorded as
voting that this subsidy be paid.
For eight consecutive times he has
voted for this subsidy, amounting as
it does to nearly million and a half
dollars to be paid to J. Pierpont Nor
gan, ''the world, the flesh and the
devir', when that money could have
been better expended by creating
more free delivery routes throughout
his past position upon this subject
with the statements contained in his
platform?
Mr. Lewis further states that he be.
lieves in the maintenance and i'm.
prOvement Of the Agricultural Depart
ment and the broadening, correcting
and purifying of the same by a dis
charge of the unworthy and dishonest
clerical officials. But last year. when
Holmes, Hyde and Mrs. Burch were
rohbing the people of the South of
millions of dollars by false reports
upon the acreage and condition of the
growing crop, what did Mr.. Lewis ever
do to correct this evil? 1t was an
open secret that these reports were
being manipulated and used to depress
the price of cotton; yet Mr.. Lewis
did absolutely nothing to investigate
these charges, and bring about a
reformation of affairs. Mr. Richard
Cheatham, of the Southern Cotton AS.
ISOLATION, deserves the credit Of the
people of the South, for unearthing
this scandal, and Mr.. Lewis state,
mentS upon this matter at this late