The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-11-18
THE UTILITY OF PANIC.

recommended that the enforcement of
laws against corporations be stopped
for awhile SO that confidence might
| be restored. He thought Roosevelt
ought not to talk so much, that Hadley
| over in Missouri would better cease
bringing suits against corporations,
that the Kansas railroad commission
ought to let up on making the Missouri
Pacific repair it's track, and also cease
talking about reducing freight rates
all this in the interest of restoring
confidence"
Which, of course, is just what the
criminal corporations desire. What else
Is panic good for?
The Washington Star makes a few
pertinent comments concerning the
panic as a shield" which are very good.
Apropos of the announcement that
District Attorney Jerome will push pro-
ceedings in the case Of the crookedness
alleged in the purchase Of street rail-
way in New York which figures in the
street railway scandal there, the Star
states that the names of prominent
men are involved, and prison sentences
would follow conviction. William c.
Whitney is charged with having engi-
neered the transaction, but he Is dead
Shall we not hear complaint against
this?" asks the Star. What business
has Mr.. Jerome to keep the light turned
on such q matter at a time when the
financial world is so shaken? Are not
some of the men accused influential in
financial circles and doing their best to
insure the country a happy issue out
Of it's afflictions? Does not their pres
emit conduct condone anything, every
thing, wrong they may have done in
the past? Why not forget it? Public
confidence can never be restored while
such men are threatened with punish
ment. And SO on.
This Is the argument in the case OF
the president and the offending trusts
and their managers. He is told to let
up in his insistence for law and fair
dealing. Did he not bring on the panic
by his course toward the Standard Oil
company? And yet how beautifully Mr..
Rockefeller and Thomas F. Ryan and
others behaved when their fortunes
along with the fortunes of others were
in dire peril the other day! How nobly
they responded to the first law of ma
ture, and in preserving others preserved
themselves! And shall these men and
these corporations be further pursued?
Should not the Lands fine be instantly
remitted? And has not the Standard
OIL company, through this latest act of
Mr.. Rockefeller, earned the right to go
it's own gait in future, and feather its
nest wherever geese are found? The
thing to do is to restore public conf
dence, and this can never be done
while men who command so much
money are harried for past or present
offenses, and restrained as to opera
lions for the future. Balance all. Ev-
erybody dance.
Railroad rebating, railroad owner
ship of states through political cam
paign contributions and power over
officials thus elected; poisoning for
profit by selling putrid meat through
means of a trust; cornering the mar
ket for the sale Of oil at a corporations
own figures-on all of this the light has
been turned. and it will not be turned
off. Let the public confidence be re-
stored by all means. But how long
would it stay restored by clearing the
path for all sorts of skullduggery by
old offenders of proven skill and insati-
able appetities? Both Mr.. Jerome and
Mr.. Roosevelt should proceed with their
duty and enforce the law