Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-04-08
'LAFoLLETTE's MAGAZINE MERci-
LEssLY SCORES WALTER /.
SMITH, OF IOWA.
HIS "sRUTAL BETRAYAL
OF PUBLIC INTERESTS"
.LaFoIIette Shows That Iowan Has Been
Consistent Supporter Of System" in
Its Subsidy Grabbing Efforts-op-
posed Important Roosevelt Meas
urss.


Roosevelt's merciiess exposure of Con-
gresham Walter I. Smith, of Council
Bluffs, Iowa, two years ago, paled into
insignflcance today with the issue of
La Follette's Weekly Magazine con-
tanning lurid picture of Smiths
brutal betrayal of public interests
under the facetious caption: Cannon
aide of the House" Smiths record in
favor of the moneyed interests has been
given more regularly than that OF Can
non, or Tawney, according to La Fol-
lette's.
During Smiths first session in the
house of representatives, his votes on
three measures show how thoroughly
he was already imbued with the divine
right of big business to rule" says
Senator La Toilette.
'"The first of these measures was the
Ridgely bill to restrict the definition of
unlawful conspiracy as applied to
labor unions, and to prevent the abuse
Of the power of injunction in labor
disputes. The bill was reported by
Littlefeld from the judiciary commit
tee, so eviscerated as to defeat its pur-
pose, and Smith voted to put it on it's
passage in that form without oppor-
tunity for amendment. Even such
doughty systemites as Cannon, jenkins
and Tawney lodged the vote and an
swered present.
I'm the second session of the Fifty
eighth congress, Smith spoke in be-
half Of the famous congressional mile
age grab of congress-to pay congress-
Nf he
for constructively travelling to their
homes during the minutes between two
sessions of congress, at the generous
rate of 20 cents mile, both ways.
Washington to Council Bluffs and re-
turn is something over 1900 miles
"Of all the system schemes to get in
to the treasury of the United States for
subsidies, bonuses, and gratis for
American shipping not the least subtle
nor the least reprehensible was the
shipping bill of the second session Of
the Fifty-eighth congress to give the
shipping combine a monopoly of all
ocean transportation of government
freights. It would cost the public about
twice as much as competitive shipping,
but it mean millions for special inter-
ests. Smith voted for the special in
terests!
also in. the next congress Smith
voted twice on ship subsidy for the
same interests
Opposed Roosevelt Measures.
| g & sSlni tbs, consistent opposition to
FRooseveIt's reform program is depicted
in detail. He opposed the feature of
the Hepburn-Dolliver railroad bill de-
|manded by President Roosevelt to ap-
propriate 100000 to provide for uni
form railroad accounting and publicity
under the supervision of the interstate
commerce commission.
President Roosevelt said, in his
message to congress, that failure to
provide such an appropriation would
amount to an attack on the law at it's
most vital point. and would benefit, as
nothing else could benefit, those rail-
ways which are corruptly and incompe-
tently managed" says Senator LaFol-
lette
But those railways which are cor
ruptly and incompetently managed
and also those railways which by con-
cealment are able to rob the people
thru extortionate charges, are of the
system. Hence the system was against
this measure. SO Tawney and Smith
suffered an attack of .economy-not
the kind of economy they experienced
when railroad special facilities graft
and congressional mileage grabs were
being appropriated. And they stood
together In the committee where the
public could not Witness to defeat an
adequate appropriation to enforce the
law which they had voted for when an
intelligent public sentiment was watch
ing congress. The bill which they re-
ported carried $50, 900 for the work for
which the commission said 500, 900
should be allowed.
ION the floor Of the house an amend
ment was offered to increase the
amount to $35O,oO0. Against this
amendment Tawney and Smith fought
for two days. In the course of his
speech against it, Smith states that
while he had joined in reporting the
bill carrying $4,000, he was opposed
to any appropriation whatever for this
specific purpose. FINALLY however, the
friends of railway regulation won, and
the amendment increasing the appro-
priation was adopted in spite of Taw-
ney and Smith and their kind"
After showing Smiths opposition to
Roosevelts methods of exposing land
thieves by secret service force, SEN
ator La Toilette concludes:
Tool Of the System.
TN the present session he fought to
prevent an invasion of the speakers
power Of committee appointment in the
selection of the Ballinger -Pinchot in
vestlgat1ng committee. Naturally, with