New-York tribune., 1910-04-13
La TOILETTE ON WARPATH
Attacks Railroad Bill, Taft and
WickerSham.
NEW HAVEN MERGER TEXT
J. P. Morgan and Massachusetts,
Officials Assailed-Lodge and
Gsllinger Reply.
rr-om The Tribune Rsreau.l

TF-orn The Tribune BGreaul
Washington. April l2-For three hours
this afternoon Mr. Ia Toilette addressed
the Senase IN criticism o. the s6ministra-
tion bin 10 strengthen the interstate COM
merce sct Heretofore the Wisconsin Sen
stor has confined most of his attacks 10 his
colleagues and members o. the House, but
he went a step further to-day and included
IN his list Of "enemies OF the people" Presi-
dent Taft Attorney General Wickersham,
Governor Draper OF Masss schusetts, the
Massachusetts Legislature and the Repuh-
.ican leaders of the New England states
The speech was a carefully prepared docu-
ment and was given out IN advance 10 the
press. accompanied by 2 summary OF its
most sensational and denunciatory feat
prcs Apparently 81 is intended for a cam
paign document for Mr.. la Toilette would
not consent 20 Interruptions, and showed
anger when Senator Buckley sought 10
show that there were glRring inaccuracies
in his statement OF the railroad geography
OF New England.
The burden of Mr.. la Follettes attack
was Section u OF the bin. which authorizes
railroad mergers unoer certain conditions.
With this as his text AR. Ia Toilette
charged that in dropping the suit against
the merger of the Boston & Maine and the
New York New Haven & Hartford lines
Attorney General wIckershsn had fastened
a milestone on the neclls Of the people OF
New England. He declared that The repre-
seutstives OF the railroads and the great
snancisi interests hsd dictated the course
Of the Attorney General. and that the ad-
rniuistratlon bin contsined unknown and
unnumbered II iainies. some OF which he
promised 10 point out later.
The Wisconsin Senator took up the de-
tailed steps leading 70 the merger. and de-
clared that the railroad interests, with the
support % Governor Draper, had put
through the sssachusetts Legislature
bin authorizing the creation % q holding
company Ia aie OF the proposed merger.
Calls Them Morgan Meeaphones."
Speaking OF President MeIen and Vice
President Byrnes OF the New York, New
Hsven & Hartford Railroad. Mr.. la Fol
lette said:
The mask is Of. We have all of us
done Injustice TO Nr MeIen: gross injUs-
ticp Nor is Mr.. Byrnes. in his private
Cspacity. or ia any capacity except as a
corporation enploye. the truculent braggart
that he seems IN the press reports of rail-
road hearings. Both q these men and
others of their kind are but hired mega
phones through which beefy, rcd-fsced,
thick-neclzed financial bully, drunk with
wealth and power. hsVls his orders TO stock
markets, directors. courts, governments
and nations We have been listening to
Mr.. Morgan"
u was toward tho close Of HIS speech
that Mr.. Ia Toilette made his sharpest
reference 10 Mr.. Nickorsl am. Rising 20
his tiptoes. he exclaimed:
Mr.. President. H. this the wise legis-
lation. srlbod,-ing no sudden impulse. but
matured view expressed in party council
which the Attorney General in his recent
speech Al Chicago. said IS pressed for
enactment Is II for legislation such as
this that tho Attorney General commands
all who would not be read out OF the Re
publican party 20 Get in hnce"
Speaking Of the Massachusetts legislation
authorizing the acquisition OF tire Boston
4 Maine stock by holding company.
ny. Ia Toilette asserted that Mr. Wick
erSlsm had permitted state legislation 20
supersede federal legislation in q matter
iE which interstate commerce was largely
concerned. lie declared il had been steam
rolled" through the Massachusetts Iegis-
lstUre.
Wiokershsnn and TIE Merger
Think OF it, ne shouted This great
case, involving the transportation Of New
England and al the people OF tne country
engaged IN trade with New England after
eleven months Of preparation and success
ful prosecution on the part OF the govern
ment. reached . stage where the defendants
ere compelled 10 take The stand and make
their showing. and then. like thunderbolt
from q clear sky. comes the order from
Washington Dismiss the government $
case
And be- continued, tho Attorney Cen
|. eral, the highest law officer of the federal
u government. sworn 20 preserve protect and
defend the Constitution and enforce the
lave % Congress-. gives his Official approval
Of this legislative compact between the
New Haven company and the Massachl-
setts Legislature 20 nu1lfy the law Of
Congress. and declares that II expressly
authorizes D.hat Congress has expressly
forbidden"
Lodge Defends His State
Wrrr ~ IA T--fIa-sa f-seLoz e.---.o.-