The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1907-11-03
By WILLIS L. EpoT

'an 70 End the Evil---Mr. Brysn on
the influence of the Country Press.
By WILLIS j. ABBOT.
Inc pubic service corporations Of
the city of New York ara having trou
pies or their own. I use the word
troubles in the plural purposely. The
unfortunate stockholders in the Mot
ropolitan Traction company and in the
Metropolitan Securities company are
troubled because they found the man
ayers or their properties becoming in
credibly rich while the dividends van.
ished. The other trouble seems to be
coming to eminent defenders of the
national honor and bitter opponents of
Democratic success in either state or
nation. The investigation shows Mr.
Thomas f. Ryan, who used to think
he'd like to be a Democratic candidate
for the presidency or for the senator
ship from Virginia, hand in glove with
Mr.. Quigg, a former Republican CON
gresham, later the chairman of the
Republican county committee and now
a lobbyist. Mr.. Quigs, who used tc
be a newspaper reporter, received in
four years S271 900 from the traction
company.
Now, let us be fair. One of the most
successful jugglers of Metropolitan
Traction was William C. Whitney,
Grover Cleveland's sponsor and man
ager in politics and President Cleve-
lands secretary of the navy. Mr.
Whitney engineered the nomination
of Cleveland in 1892. He did it with
a strong hand and a heavy purse, and
the demands he or the people back OF
him made upon the Cleveland admins
tration wrecked the Democratic party
for many years. Bryan made it a
fighting organization, but even his
wide popularity and vigorous leader
ship were not able to overcome the
burden of Clevelandism.
Mr. Whitney was strong for national
honor in 1896. and yet at that very
time he was doing things in connection
with corporation that he controlled
amounting to personal dishonor. Ii
may be urged that one should say
nothing but good of the dead. Person
think the maxim should be
\ knged. When the dead has done
much to debauch the government of
Nthe country. to encourage the idea that
he mere lavish use of money can
make president and that then the
power thus obtained can be used to
! enrich those engaged in the job. it is
time that truth was told. Today the
name of William c. Whitney, whom
/ knew and who was personally low
able man. figures in every dubious op
GRAFTON of the Metropolitan company
up to the time of his death. He was
the shrewd schemer, and perhaps to
him the distinguished secretary OF
state. Elihu Root, was next.
Secretary Root has the excuse that
all lawyers use--namely. that he acted
only as attorney. Some day the PEG
pie in this country, who in the end are
Its lawmaking authority. will enact
some sort of legislation to prevent this
subterfuge.
Why This Is National Issue.
The mere fact of the Overcapitaliza-
ton and the impending bankruptcy OF
the New York traction companies
would not be matter Of national con
Germ except for the truth that good
deal of the money which has reduced
these corporations to the point al
which they are unable to pay even the
interest of their bonds has gone to
hungry politicians-in practically ev-
cry case very prominent politicians-al-
lied with the Republican organization.
There is a mysterious check for $500
COO drawn in the campaign year OF
1900, which nobody connected with
Metropolitan Traction either can or
win explain. Mr.. William M. WINS.
who is Investigating the matter, makes
no bones about asserting that it went
to the Republican national committee
Then there was the 100000 fund raised
by Mr.. Hartman, largely from men
who were interested in the local street
railways, and turned over to MI. Cor
! nelius N. Bliss, treasurer of the Repup-
lican national committee, and by nm
Ito the present secretary OF the treas
Jury. George B. Cortelyou. Much OF
Esthe money raised by Mr.. Hartman
kcame from life insurance companies.
some from the street railways
III national political committees are
8oing to be permitted to raise cam
paign funds in enormous figures IRON
NE street railways of any city. IL De
comes Immediately apparent that these
&Qrporations are interfering In national
fairs and therefore subject to natloa-
"a attention. Nobody believes that lil'
United States government should III
terfere with the collapse of the various
traction companies in New York, ba'
s1 = whitney on the bygone Deinoefat
E side, Or Quigg on the present ~
ublicnn side. or Hartman. OF Cor
dalyou. or Ryan. or Bliss can use tne
szeasuries of these companies 10 pio
szGnre finds 70 debauch the electoiai