Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-12-13
Stubs FLAYS ROADS
At Shippers FEAST
KANSAS GOVERNORS SEVERE
ARRAloNMENr OF KINGS
OF FINANCE.
HILL AND MORGAN PLACE
THEMSELVES ABOVE LAW
Maanatss Called Law peAsrs at iii.
nois Manufacturers Banquet-sys.
fem Of Exploitation Called Worse
Than British Tax on Tea - Guilty
Of Covert Acts.

Chicago, Dec. 13.-No more terrific
indictment Of monopolies and railroads
generally and James ]. Hill and ]. r.
Morgan specifically ever was returned
than that contained in the address de-
livered with a series Of trip hammer
blows by Governor w. r. Stubbs. of
Kansas, at the annual banquet Of the
Illinois Manufacturers Association last
evening.
The two hnanciers, said he. had prov
ed themselves to be "above the law and
higher than the courts in destroying
competition in the northwestern states
by doing what the supreme court had
decided was unlawful in the Northern
Securities case"
Railroads were described as Frank
enstein which, having grown far be-
yond the control Of its creators. the
people. constituted the greatest law de-
flying trust in the country.
The Kansas executive started out by
announcing that he did not intend to
use sugar-coated phrases. He didn't
He said just what he thought in un-
mistakable terms. He also said that
he wasn't there to entertain, but to
speak his mind. In this respect he was
in part in error. The 300 manufactur-
ers who made up the attendance at the
function, which was held in the Con-
gress Hotel, appeared to have been well
entertained by the denunciation Of
their arch enemy, the railroads.
waAdnAaes vn;lenn IL AAaed
The same class Of alleged violators Of
the law came in for their share of criti-
c;sm at the hands OF Governor-elect
Woodrow Wilson. OF New Jersey, who
followed Governor Stubs. But the for
lner head Of Princeton. who was greet
ed as O possible successor Of Cleveland"
by the banqueters. used softer gloves in
dealing with the corporations and put
not quite 80 much steam behind his
punches.
Toastmaster Laverne W. Ecye. said
that Kansas always had pointed the
way" and had acted as the barometer
of impending changes. He introduced
Kansas chief executive as the spokes-
man for that state, who would tell Chi
cago the way to travel at present.
Governor Stubbs' Speech.
Governor Stubbs proceeded to full
fill he promise in this manner:
"Let us have the courage to tell the
exact truth about unwholesome COM
mercial conditions that have grown up
in the last score Of years. Every stu
dent Of public affairs and every public
official charged with the enforcement
of law knows that the alliance between
professional politicians. corporation
lawyers and the financial and CONNER
cial interests, which are concerned In
shaping state and federal legislation to
serve their own special interests, is q
menace to the welfare and life Of our
republic.
1T is well known. for instance, that
within reasonable limits the packing
house trust exercises arbitrary power
to nx the purchase price Of cattle. hogs
and other livestock. and to determine
with accuracy the amount of profit
which they will take as their share Of
the transaction. 1t is we'll known that
the packing house trust was formed
and Is being operated in open and
hagrant violation of moral and statu-
tory laws.
.'1n this connection the transporta-
ton question is perhaps the most inn
portant issue before the American peo-
ple today The Wall street fnanciers.
tnfu a community "a AASC4SSS 0SAA0AAVS
have by indirect methods formed what
practically amounts to a gigantic rail-
road trust, which controls the rates
and policies Of the most important
railroad systems in the United States.
Covert Acts Punishable.
ssThere is q well-established prin-
ciple of law which prohibits q man
from doing indirectly that which the
law forbids him to do directly. II PEN
alties are provided by law for doing an
overt act, the same penalties should
attach when that act is accomplished
by indirect means.
ssThe Northern Securities Company.
which was organized to consolidate the
Great Northern, Northern Pacific and
Burlington railways. all competing
lines, was declared illegal by the fed
eral supreme court. James J. Hill. ].
Pierpont Morgan and their associates
proved themselves to be above the law
and higher than the courts by proceed
ing Immediately to destroy competition
in railroad rates thruout the north
western states by indirectly doing what
the supreme court had decided was un-
lawful for the Northern Securities
Company to do.
Creature Of Government.
s'The railroad Is a government agen-
cy and Is, therefore. supposed to be
subject to law. It is a creature Of
government. but the creature has
grown to such proportions of wealth
ana political power that provisions Of
law and DEGREES Of courts have proven
ineffective insofar as they were intend
ed 10 exercise control over the opera
ton Of these commercial giants.
s.In 1898 the dividends paid by the
railroads Of the United States amount.
ed to $50 900. In 1908 these divi.
dends amounted to $3s6.0o0,oo0. an in
crease Of 400 per cent in ten years.
I'm 1900 the railroads earned $751;
I 900 go more net revenue than they did
n iees, and for the nrst i've months Of