Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-05-09

pointment it was asserted that he had
been selected by President Taft in
Difference to the wishes of the cor
porations of the country, who had
spent money and coerced workingmen
to vote the republican ticket, and who
demanded as compensation for this
service the privilege Of naming the at
torney general.
The unusual interest of special priv
ilege in this Office may be realized at
full value when it is understood that
the attorney general is in absolute
charge of the prosecuting machinery
of the government
Whether Wickershams appointment
really was the result of a prediction
arrangement or not, the trusts have
had no occasion to be dissatisfied with
the presidents selection. Whenever
the rights of the people and special
privilege come into conflict, Mr. Wick
ersham decides favorably to the cor
porate interests and against the people.
This is what the records of his office
show.
President Taft's definition of ere
publican member of congress is one
who will vote for legislation indorsed
by him whether said congressman be-
lieves the legislation is good or bad.
The president complains that the
insurgents visit him at the White
house and assure him of their great
personal respect and well wishes, and
then go to the capitol and vote against
his railroad regulation bill.
''Why do you act this way?" pro-
gressive republican was asked. do
you not respect the president of the
United States?"
at do. indeed, respect the president,
both personally and officially" was the
reply But I have even more respect
for the welfare of 90,000,000 people of
this country The president sends the
congress a railroad regulation bin
which absolutely annuls the Sherman
antitrust law. Along with the bill
comes the ultimatum that our vote on
this measure will be considered a test
of our republicanism. Wickersham,
who drew the Infamous document
SAYS IudI IGDuDllCdhS WIZ W
vote for the measure are socialists.
We are willing to show all proper re-
spect to the president, but he seems
to fail to understand that distinct
moral question is involved. AS be-
tween serving our conscience or the
president, we are put to the painful
necessity of forsaking the president
and voting against his railroad bill"
The recently reformed" house COM
mittee on rules is proving to be as Sc
cure catacomb for proposed legisla-
ton antagonized by the special inter
ests as was the one of which Speaker
Cannon was chairman. Not single
resolution which might adversely
affect unlawful combinations such as
the sugar trust has been reported
favorabIy by the new committee.
Speaker Cannon dominates the re-
formed body Just as effectively as he
did the old rules committee.
Attorney General Wickersham has
given out two more of his famous opin-
IONS One holds that the secretary of
war cannot lawfully refuse to award
a contract for Panama canal supplies
to the lowest responsible bidder sim
ply because such bidder has been ad-
Indicated to be party to an unlawful
trust and monopoly or otherwise carry
ing ON business in violation Of the
Sherman antitrust law. The other de-
cision holds that Public Printer DoEc>l
nelly has no right to abolish certain
branches of the government printing
ONCE simply because he thinks they