Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-28
Business Interests and Politics.

The following would be important if II
represented more than the idle talk of a
passing day:
Democrats connected with corpora lions
In New York and other states declare that
never again will they support a republican
candidate Tor President governor They
have been doing this, they say, since 1895,
In the belief that republican candidates
for President and governor would be safer
for the business interests. represented
by these corporations
These corporation democrats, according
TO their testimony, in the future to
support the candidates of the democratic
party for governor and President on the
theory that no matter how radical the
views of their candidates. they Will at least
know what manner of men they are getting.
These corporation democrats insist that
they have given their campaign contribu-
tons and votes to republican candidates
for President and governor who have as
a reCOmpense turned upon them and in
jurrd them in a business way.
Republican corporation men are in the
same boat their democratic corporation
allies and the republican corporation men
are as indignant and hostile in this matter
perhaps more than their democratic
business brethren.
1T is an old saying in national political
circles that no candidate for President was
ever elected to whom the business interests
OF the country were opposed.
Democratic business men by the thou
sands gave their votes to Mr. Mckinley
both in 1896 and 1860 and were certainly
not disappointed. 1t was claimed by the
managers of the first Mckinley campaign
that republican success would mean a gem
eral revival of business. and never did poll
tiCians speak more truly. Business, of all
kinds. revived Immediately. Orders began
pouring in upon manufacturers. the mills
were opened, wages were raised, and the
armies of men left the roads. where they
had been tramping in search of work and
returned home. where work awaited them
Mr.. Mckinleys reelection was easy
Prosperity was great it carried the day
over Mr.. Bryans eIoquence giving the re-
publiCans larger majority than before
Business had doomed beyond all previous
figures, and wage-earners had more money
to their credit in savings banks than ever
before. Business men of all parties were
delighted with the situation
In 1904 the tide of prosperity was still
running so high 1t was idle to talk of a
change to business men. The Parker cam
paign was a sort of politicians masquerade
Under color of soicitude for the general
welfare, huddle of factions patched up
truce among themselves, and made play
Tor the federal offices. But the movement
was predestined to failure. General Pros
perity and Colonel Theodore Roosevelt put
the combination to complete rout, and bust
ness continued to boom. 1t is still BOOM
Ing. Notwithstanding a few ffurries In Wall
street brought about by stock gamblers
and their kind
Next year the business interests are go
Ing 10 do what they have previously done
consider and act according to business
lights. They are not because they could
not afford to be, influenced in politics either
by sentiment or revenge. They must sup
port what is best for themselves and for
the people. If, therefore. prosperity con-
tinues, and the republicans nominate a
good man on a platform supporting what
has been done for the country since 1897
and promising safe policies for the future,
the chances are a hundred to one that the
republican ticket will again draw largely
from the business interests In every state
where there are real party contests