Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1910-04-29
LaFolle,,e Attacks The Administration

LaFoiIefte Attacks The Administration
Soon after Mr.. Taft wac nominated
to the presidency in 1905. Senator
Robert Nj. LsFoilette sent to Mr.. Taft
tuis dispatch: awhile the platform is
disappointing in some fundamental
provisions and omissions, and | shall
claim the right to say so, congratu-
late you most sincerely, and in the
faith that , on are more nearly in ac-
cord with The great body of republican
voters Than the platform, | shall do all
IN nay power toilsare your election"
flaimly, Senator LaFoIlette has
changed his opinion. On April 18th he
delivered speech in the senate and
that speech fairly bristled with de-
nuhciations of the Taft administration.
Following are extracts from the report
made by the Washington corrospon-
dent fer the Denver News:
Paintng j. p. Morgan us ''beefyn
red-iaced, thick-necked financial bully
whose operations in the commerce of
the nation are q ruination 10 the peo-
pies rights" characterizing Attorney
General Wickersham as "A former chief
trickster of monopolistic interests, and
condeming in fiery language the mer-
ger Of the Boston and Maine railroad
with the New York, New Haven and
Hartford, Senator LaFellette today de-
livered his long-promised arrsignmsnt
Of Tafts railroad minstration bill.
AT the bottom of the attempt to
place more power in the hands of the
railroads, the Wisconsin senator de-
clared there was force fresh from the
White House willing aud anxious to
odd to the already great pile of corrupt
branch of transportation in the United
State.
ten use the name Of the president. but
behind every argument was the we'll
founded intimation that ii was through
the efforts of the chief executive that
the big men of the financial world
were going to be allowed to gobble up
everything iE sight, regardless Of the
rights Of the people who, after all,
LaFellette shouted, are supposed to be
the benefciaries of the corporations.
h. ptI tor arf IF he a
bill LaFoliette picked out as bad WAS
the provision allowing railroads to
take over the holdings of other con-
Germs. He charged openly that the
Massachusetts legislation allowing the
consolidation OF the Boston and Maine
was consummated at the dictation of
President Mellen Of the New Haven
road, and for this he held the attorney
general and the president of the United
States directly responsible.
Mellen, he said was simply the tool
of Morgan, ga hireline,n the westerner
emphasized by pounding his fist upon
his table until the crowed galleries sat
motionless in preparation of the de-
nunclation they knew was to follow.
"This bill, r. President" he said,
sis the boldest raid upon public right,
in the form of legislation upon
this great subject, that the highhidders
of big business have ever succeeded in
having forced dpon the serious consid-
Grafton of congress. Never before has
any one undertaken seriously to ask
congress fer charter for the monopo-
lization and oppression for the COM
merce of this country, such as is car
ried in the devious language and hid
den purposes of this measure.
"Never before has it been attempted
to foreclose the people of this county
of their rights and to fasten irrevoca-
bly, upon the commerce of the country
the public burden of transportation
charges, to pay interest and dividends
upon all the watered stocks and bonds
which unrestrained corporate green,has
set afoat in the financial channels Of
JAlS COnntfy.'
Mr.. LaFollette asserted that at tie
pehest of the New Haven company the
Massachusetts, Legislature had under
taken to repeal federal law and IL
cense an act which congress had de-
clared to be crime against the peO-
pie.
"And,n he said, "the attorney gener-
al, the highest law officer Of the federal
govern inert sworn to preserve, protect
and defend the constitution and en-
force the laws of congress, gives his
Official approval of this legislative com
pact between the New Haven company
and the Massachusetts legislature to
nullify the laws of congress and de-
cares that it EXPIRE ssly authorizes
what congress has expressly forbidden.