The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1908-11-17
The Threat OF a Panic

due primarily to the support of the
business interests of the country.
During the latter part of his campaign,
Mr.. Taft appealed to the business in
terests TO elect him in order to avert a
panic. If Mr.. Taft had promised any,
thing of advantage to the business in
terests, he might feel more compli-
mented at the success of his appeal.
But what is the situation?
What legislation does Mr.. Taft pro-
pose in the interests of business? He
does not promise to protect the small
manufacturer from the trust (; he does
not promise to protect the merchant
from the greed of the monopolies /; he
does not promise to separate dishonest
business from honest business or to re-
lieve legitimate accumulations from
the odium which is invited illegitimate
Accommodations. His only argument is
somehow the Republican victor will
give confidence, and that Democratic
victory would disturb confidence, and
who indorses this proposition? Mr..
Morgan, who used last falls panic to
drive a rival corporation to sell to the
steel trust. He had the endorsement of
Mr.. Carnegie who has profited to the
extent of hundreds of millions out of
republican privilege, and he had the
endorsement of Mr.. Rockefeller, the
most conspicuous criminal of the age,
who is sure that Mr.. Taft will not
venture upon any trash experiments.
While the west was supporting Mr..
Taft on the ground that he was re-
former. those who were entrenched be-
hind privilege supported him on the
ground that he would not disturb them.
Have we reached the point where the
benefciaries of favoritism can coerce
the nation by threatening a panic if
they are disturbed? AS someone eX-
pressed it, they keep panics in cold
storage and threaten to bring one out
if the people attempt any remedial
legislation. Have we reached a point
where the employers can multiply their
votes by the number of employees and
thus disfranchise those who work for
them? At the close of the campaign
employers in many instances threaten
ed their employees with loss of employ
ment, and these threats were commu
nicated from those higher up.
If people demand purity in politics,
they are answered not by arguments.
but with the threat of panic if the
people demand the election of senators
by the direct vote of the people, they
are met not by argument, but by the
threat of panic; if depositors feel
insecure and ask for protection of their
they are not met by arguments
but with the threat of a panic. If the
victims of the trust show any discon-
tent, they are whipped into submission
by the threat of a panic if the labor
ing men ask for legislation which will
protect them in their rights, they are
told to be content with bread and but
ter and they are warned that these will
be taken away from them if they ask
for remedial legislation. If the con-
sumer grows restless under the ex-
tortion practiced through a higher
tariff, they are warned that any at
tempt by the consumers to REFUGE the |
tariff will result in a panic.
Thus everysdemand for correction of
abuses, whether at home or in the |
Philippines, and no matter on what |
subject, is answered by the threat of !
the plutocrat: "Be still or we will |