Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1910-05-13
Washington News
BY 'Tavsnner.

PNeA w osniHstvh correspondent va
thissnewspaper.
Washington, May l2-The Demo-
Gratis, sssisted 10y handful of fight
ing progressive Republicans, have
forced Republican administration to
soeudon some of the worst Of the cor
porsiiot serving clauses placed in the
railIoad regulation bill by Attorney
0enersl Wiekersham.
Wickersham framed this bill after q
cNnt-ience with six railroad presidents.
wall sueet knew long before the pub
he appearance of the bill that ii would
be 80 draw n as to anAul that feature
OF Tie Sherman antitrust law which
prevents mergers Railroad interests
oon9ht and sold stock en- the strength
Of their advance information. 1t is not
plato as yet who gave Wall street the
Information AS TO the kind of bill
| Wichershsn would draft.
Had TIE bill become a law as pre-
pared by the attorney general, it
would have practically destroyed all
that has been accom- lished in the
last twenty years to give the govern
! ment some measure of control over the
railroads of the country.
No attorney general OF the United
States has ever been revealed in just
the position Mr.. Wickersham now &C.
eupies.
Instead Of having drawn bill that
would tend to place greater safe guards
about the rights of the people, as
might naturally be expected from a
public Off Ger who lie receiving salary
on the assumption that his Office is
giving such protection to the people,
Wickersham has been charged on the
floor of the Senate with having at
tempted to take from the masses even
such inadequate safeguards as they
now enjoy, while at the same time
giving the corporate interests the right
TO merge and do other things hat the
Sherman law has forbidden them
from doing.
AT the time of Nlckersham's APP
pointment it was averred that he had
been selected by President Taft in def
erence TO the wishes of the corporations
Of the country, who had spent money
and eoerced workingmea to vote the
REPUBLICAN ticket, and who demand
ed as compensation for this service the
privilege Of naming the attorney gem
eral.
| The feverish 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 Netherlands appoirt t.
ment really was the result of pre-
| election arrangement or not, the trusts
| have had no occasion TO be dissatisfied
with the Presidents selection. When
ever the rights Of the people and spec
| ials privilege come into conflict, Mr..
Wickersham decides fevorably to the
corporate interests and against the
people. Some assert that Wicker
sham leans toward the corporations
because of his temperament and others
attribute his attitude to force of habit,
he having long been corporation law
yer in New York. Whatever the reason
the records of the Attorney Generals
office show that WickersharE opis-
ions are invariably favorable to the
big campaign fund contributing cor
porations.
President Taft's definition of a Sire
publican" member or Congress is Que
who will vote for legislation Endorsed
by him whether said Congressman
believes the legislation is good or bad.
The President complains that the
insurgents visit Inn at the White
House and assure him of their great
personal respect and we'll wishes, and
then go to the Capitol!and vote against
bls railroad regulation bill.
"Why do you act this way" pro-
gressive Republican was asked.
"Do you not respect the President OF
the United States?'
al do, indeed, respect the President,
both personally and officially" was
the reply "But l have even more
respect for the welfare of 90,0GU,0J0
people of this country The President
| sends the Congress railroad reEula-
ton bill which absolutely anRuls the
| Sherman az ti-trust law. Along with
| the hill comes the ultinatum that our
vote on this measure will be consider
ed test Of our Republlcanism. Wick
ersham, who drew the Infamous doc
| uynent SAWS that Republicans who