The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1910-05-12
Vital Washington News.

ting progressive Republicans, hav,
forced Republican administration t.
abandon some of the worst of tht
Z corporation-serving clauses placed il
the railroad regulation bill by Attor
ney-General Wickersham.
Wickersham framed this bill after q
conference with six railroad presi,
dents. Wall street knew long before
the public appearance of the bill that
it would be so drawn as to annul that
feature of the Sherman antitrust law
which prevents mergers. Railroad
interests bought and sold stock on the
strength of their advance informa,
ton. II is not plain as yet who sup
piled Wall street with information as
to the kind of a bill Wickersham
would draft.
Had the bill become a law as pre-
pared by the attorney general, it
would have practically destroyed all
that has been accomplished in the last
twenty years to give the government
some measure of control over the
railroads of the country.
No attorney general of the United
States has ever been revealed in lust
the position Mr.. Wickersham now
occupies.
Instead of having drawn bill that
would tend to place greater safe
guards about the rights of the peo-
pie, as might naturally be expected
from public office who is receiving
a salary on the assumption that his
office is giving such protection to the
people, Wickersham has been charg-
ed on the floor of the Senate with
having attempted to take from the
masses even such inadequate safe
guards as they now enjoy, while at
the same time giving the corporate
interests the right to merge and do
other things that the Sherman law
has forbidden them from doing.
AT the time of Wickersnam's an
polnment it was averred that he had |
been selected by President Taft in de-
ference to the wishes of the corpora
lions OF the country, who had spent
money, coerced workingmen to vote
the Republican ticket, and who de-
as compensation for this SER
vice the privilege of naming the at
torney general.
The feverish interest of special
in this office may be realiz-
I'd at full value when it is understood
hat the attorney general is in abso-
ute charge of the prosecuting ma
'hinery of the government.
Whether Understands appoint
nent really was the result of pre-
election arrangement or not, the !
rustS have had no occasion to be dis
atisfied with the Presidents selec-
ion. Whenever the rights of the =
'eople and special privilege come in :
0 conflict, Mr.. Wickersham decides
avorably to the corporate interests =
nd against the people. Some assert :
hat Wickersham leans toward the
Operations because of his tempera-
lent and others attribute his attitude a
D force of habit, he having long been
corporation lawyer in New York.
Whatever the reason, the records of :,
he Attorney Generals office show :,
nat Wickersham's opinions are in :
arlably favorable to the big cam .
align fund contributing corporations. 9.
President Taft's definition of a n
Republican" member of Congress
one who will vote for legislation Ii
dorsed by him whether said Con-
ressman believes the legislation is r,
bod or bad. -
The President complains that the in
surgents visit him at the White :
ouse and assure him Of their great o
'rsonal respect and well-wishes,
I'd then go to the Capitol and vote
!ainst his. railroad regulation bill.
"Why do you act this way?"
Republican was asked,
Do you not respect the President of
e United States?"
Il do, indeed, respect the Presi-
mt, both personally and officially" =
as the reply. ''But I have even 5
ore respect for the welfare of co.
O,0OO people of this country. The 4
sends the Congress a rail- Z