The Washington herald., 1908-01-25
Thomas w LAWSON

In Everybody's for February which is
already out, one Of the most interesting
items-it is advertised on the front cover
is that Mr.. Lawson quits. As he puts il.
he will discontinue his war against the
system for the benefit OF the people. and
go back TO gambling in Wall street
There is published some touching and,
meant to be, pathetic correspondence be
tween himself and Mr.. Cosgrove and Mr..
Ridgeway publishers of the magazine.
but heroically, Mr.. Lawson adheres 10
his purpose and, incidentally, he calls the
peopIe-that is. those citizens who Te-
fused 10 follow his advice-some pretty
hard names.
His grievance against the American
people is that they did not follow his ad-
vice implicitly; did not sell when he told
them to sell; did not buy when he urged
them TO buy. If they had done as he
advised, then the system would by this
time have been bankrupt Certain men who
are bitter enemies Of Mr.. Lawson. and, in
cideutally, are millionaires would now be
walking the streets I'm search OF work,
and the money they once owned and
which they have stolen from the people
would be back in the peoples pockets
Mr.. Lawson frankly Acknowledges that
when he took the task Of reforming the
methods Of Wall street he did it as a
volunteer, Nobody asked him to step
into the breach as a savior On his
own motion. he tells Us. he determined,
all of a sudden. 10 devote his fortune,
his God-g given abilities, his knowledge Of
the system" and everything he had, 10
the service Of the people. He points to
the Insurance failures and Investigations
the exposure of Heinze, to the recent
panic, as examples Of the good he has
done and he declares that the people
are ungrateful With a frankness pc
culiar TO Lawson, he explains in his
farewell address He tells us that he
knew when he told people that
stocks were falling that they would
rise, and that when he said they would
rise they were sure to fall He declares.
with his hand upon his heart. that these
results were 10 be fOreseen in consequence
of the manipulations Of his enemies. and
as justification. he declares that he has
persistently refused to profit by his
knowledge.
As final resort he links himself with
President Roosevelt. and SAYS that the
people have turned against both the
President and himself, and, cursing the
people for their ingratitude, he finds that
the times are out of joint that reform
Is not possible, that he has lost money
in his campaign against the system"
and that II is better for him to quit and
to smash the system by gambling In
Wall street, with his astute knowledge
Of the game, and winning all their money
Mr. LawsOn's frank confession Of
failure is a fine, il unconscious tribute
TO the common sense of the American
people He is forced to admit that in spite
Of his fiaring advertisements, his glitter
ing promises, his self-confessed disinter-
estedness. the great bulk of the peopIa
refused 10 fall into line The money he
spent in advertising he did not get back.
and therefore. ii is not worth while for
him TO continue the fight further. All
that remains for him is to go back to
Wall street and try to recoup the losses
sustained in his so-called campaign
against corruption.
The truth Of the matter is that Mr..
Thomas Lawson, Of Boston. frankly an
nounces that he is going back 10 his old
trade-that of a stock gambler. He is
man with money; money that he made in
the stock market With il he has built
up a model farm, purchased the most ex-