The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-09-29
ADDRESS OF JUDGE
ALTON B, PARKER

raise a quarter OF II million dollars
TO be used in an election in which
the president was interested, an oc-
currence not by any means iso-
lated
Whatever Of excuse may be offer
ed the ugly truth is, that the re-
publican national machine has re
ceile ed the moneys of the corporate
and individual beneficiaries OF the
tariff and in return have compelled
congress to keep high the tariff
rates, and their attorney generals TO
close their eyes to violations OF
law. Need We seek further evidence
than the admission Of President
Taft? He said at Cincinnati Sept.
21st: The country Is reused against
the corporate or corrupt control OF
legislative agencies If, however,
there still remains doubling Thorn
as. let him read the testimony oi
one who believes be knows. Said
the cX-president at OsaWatomie: 1t
Is necessary that laws should be
passed to prohibit the use of corpo-
rate funds directly or indirectly for
political purposes; it is still more
necessary that such laws should be
thoroughly enforced. Corporate eX-
penditures for political purposes, and
especially such expenditures by pub
lie service corporations, have sup
piled one of the principal sources
Of corruption in our political affairs.
"Iu the light Of all the testimony
and OF these admissions, ! submit
that the jury of the people should
find as general verdict That the
failure OF the executive and legisla'
tive branches of government both
state and federal to protect the peo-
pie from the special privilege hunt
ers and graft seekers, is deeply
rooted in a corrupt alliance between
them and the republican political
machines Upon that verdict but
one judgment can be entered-that
Of eviction. When you find cancer
YOU know that pills and plasters
Will serve only TO divert the mind
of the patient from his fate. Pills
and plasters have been literally and
sensationally prescribed ior some
years now, yet the cancer is sull
growing. We must tear it out ere it
is too late
However much the people have
suffered in dollars and cents through
| the polluting tariff alliance they
have suffered still more because OF
the lowering OF the moral standard
of public men and of the youth
who are to take up the responsible
tiles Of official life in the near lu-
| ture.
1t may be said in passing that
some republicans who were benefit
Charles of this degrading and danger
Gus alliance now advocate surren-
| der of certain powers of the states
! to the federal government, because
the states failed to perform their
! duty as to combinations in restraint
/ of trade. Looking back six years,
/ we recall that the matter Of com
/ bnation was then seriously consid-
/ cred. The president insisted then
/ that the difficulty was the absence
/ Of proper statutes. and that more
| drastic laws should be passed by
congress To the answer made that
( the law was adequate, the only trou-
/ bic being lack OF enforcement OF
existing law, he entered a denial
with plea for the opportunity for
his party to secure additional law.
Later it was demonstrated that
the law was adequate, although care
was taken not to attempt to enforce
it against individuals. The plea suf-
feed for that emergency
AS the combinations in restraint
of trade still flourished, a new line
was adopted, but for the same gen
eral purpose as the one of six years
ago, viz. to relieve the federal gov
ernmcnt from censure. Now the rem
edy suggested is that the federal
government should have the power
that states have failed to exercise
then all will be well. 1t is true the
states neglected their duty. SO too
did the federal government. And the
failure OF both was due to the com
mand OF the recognized master, the
republican organization.
The practical remedy which our
institutions afford to the people os
the states is not in the surrender
OF their powers, but in their eX-
ercise. The first step in that direc-
ton should be to turn out the un-
faithful steward, and resume the eX-
.raf-a # In functions under