The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1910-05-14
Some Clauses Stricken From
; I Railroad Bill.
No Letters From Teddy to
President Taft.
Some Interesting Facts on
Tariff in Italy.

Gratis, assisted by handful OF night
ing progressive Republicans, have
forced the administration to abandon
the worst of the corporations serving
clauses placed in the railroad regula-
ton bill by Attorney General Wicker
sham.
Wickersham framed this bill after
dents. Wall Street knew long in adj
vance of the public appearance of the
bill that it would be SO drawn as to
7annul the Sherman antitrust law.
Railroad interests bought and sold
stock on tho strength of their adj
vance information
Had the railroad regulation bill be-
come a law as prepared by Wicker
sham, it would have practically de-
stroyed all that has been accom-
plished in the last twenty years to
give the government some measure of
control over the railroads of the coun-
try.
No attorney general of the United
States has ever been revealed in just
the position Mr.. Wickersham now oc-
cupies.
Instead of having drawn a bill that
would tend to place greater safe
guards about the rights OF the people
of the United States, as might natur-
ally be expected from Il public officer
who is receiving a salary on the as
sumption that he is giving such pro-
lection to the people. Wickersham has
been charged on the floor of the Sell
ate with having attempted to take
from the masses even such inadequate
safeguards as they now enjoy, while at
the same time giving the corporate in
terests the right to merge and do 9TH
err, things that the Sherman. law has
forbidden them from doing.
At the time Of Wickersham's ap-
pointment it was asserted that he had
been selected by President Taft in
Difference to the wishes of the corpor-
ations of the country who had spent
money and coerced the working men
to vote the Republican ticket, and who
demanded as compensation. for this
service the privilege Of naming the
attorney general.
The unusual interest Of special priv
ileges 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 understands appointment
really was the result of a pre- election
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
sporate interests and against the peo-
pie. This is what the records of his
Office show.
President Taft's definition Of Re
publican" member of Congress is one
who will vote for legislation endorsed
by him whether said congressman be-
lieves the legislation is good or bad.
The president complains that the in
surgents visit him at the White House
sonal respect and we'll wishes, and
then go to the capitol and vote against
his railroad regulation bill
..Why do you act this way?" a
progressive Republican was asked.
do you not respect the president of
the United Stateso"
IT do, indeed respect the president,
both personally and officially" was the
reply. But l have even more respect
for the welfare Of 100000 people of
athis country. The president sends the
Congress a railroad regulation bill
(. which absolutely annuls the Sherman
antitrust law. Along with the bill
comes the ultimatum that our vote on
this measure will be considered test
!. of our Republicanism. Wickersham
5f:who drew the infamous document, says
# that Republicans VINO refuse to vote
for the measure are socialists. We are
willing to show all proper respect for
the president. but he seems to fail to
III. understand that distinct moral ques-
ton is involved AS between serving
II our conscience or the president, we
are put to the painful necessity of for
saking the president and voting
# against his railroad BILL"
The recently reformed" house CON-
Ssgmittee on rules is proving to be as Sc
III cure a catacomb for proposed legisla-
s5it ton antagonized by the special inter-
IN ests as was the one of which Speaker
II Cannon was chairman. Not single
LlirAS< ,1,,As 4. til.