The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-05-24
END OF MACHINE.
Gov. Woodrow Wilson in Speech
at Minneapolis
Predicts an Early End to Old PO-
litical Methods.
ATTACKS THE TARIFF.
Says 1t Has Been Chief Source
of Corruption.
Publicity Almost a Cure All for
Public Evils.
ATTACKS THE TARIFF.

MINNEAPOLIS Mimi, May 24--Gov'
Woodrow Wilson addressed the PUP
licity club Of this city at luncheon to-
day. Governor Wilson devoted most
of his address to a discussion OF the
connections between business and leg
islation, speaking particularly about
the business interference with legls-
lation which has created some OF tne
worst influences in our recent politics.
He said in part:
The modern world is. of course,
business world A great many of the
older and more fundamental questions
of our politics we regard as long ago
settled. The business of politics is
nowadays a business of adjustment
of meeting new conditions as they
arise and making law suitable to our
changing life.
It is perfectly legitimate, of course,
that the business interests of the
country should enjoy the protection of
the law not only, but that they
strengthened and facilitated by leg
islation. The country has no jealousy
of any connection between business
and politics which is a legitimate con-
nection.
But the illegitimate connections be-
tween business and legislation are an
other matter. Every community is
vaguely aware that the political ma
chine upon which it looks askance has
certain very definite connections
with men who are engaged in busi-
ness on a large scale, and the SuSpic-
ion which attaches to the machine it
self has begun to attach also to busi-
ness enterprises just because these
connections are known to exist. If
these connections were open and
avowed, II everybody knew just what
they involved and Just what use was
being made of the alliance, there
would be no difficulty in keeping an
eye upon affairs and in controlling
them by public opinion. But unfor-
tunately the whole process of law
making in America is a very obscure
one.
Opportunity of the Machine.
1t is the confusion and obscurity and
privacy of our legislative method that
gives the political machine it's oppor-
tunity. Apparently nothing but the
political machine can bring order out
of the chaos. There is no central force
in any legislature which can itself
guide the course of lawmaking. There
is no publicly responsible man or group
of men who are known to formulate
legislation and to take charge of it
from the time Of its introduction until
the time of it's enactment It has,
therefore, been possible for an outside
force-the political machine, the body
of men who nominated the legislators
and who conducted the contest for their
election, to assume the role of control
Business men who desired something
done by way of changing the law under
which they were acting or who wished
to prevent legislation which seemed to
them to threaten their own interests,
have known that there was this definite
Z body of persons to resort to. and they
have made terms with them. They
have agreed to supply them with mon
ey for campaign expenses and to stand
by them in all other cases where money
was necessary if in return they might
resort to them for protection or for
resistance in matters of legislation.
There are two kinds of corruption-
the crude and obvious sort which con-
sists in direct bribery, and the much
subtler, more dangerous sort. which
consists in corruption of the will
Business men who have tried to set up
control in politics through the ma
chine have more and more deceived
themselves, have allowed themselves to
think that the whole matter was a
necessary means of self-defense. have
said that it was a necessary outcome
of our political system. Having reas-
sured themselves in this way. they
have drifted from one thing to an
other until the questions of morals in
volved have become hopelessly obscured
and submerged.
Methods Are Known.
The methods used are well enough
known. Money has not only been sup
piled to those men in public life who
would be serviceable to big business
interests by way of promoting the Ieo1
islation they desired and preventine
the legislation they feared, but It has
also been denied to those who would
not be serviceable. 1t is this latter
use of the money power which has at
tracted very little attention. but which
is after all the most insidious and cor
temptible part of the whole ugly svs
tenn. Again and again it has happen-
ed that individual legislators who
wished TO render conscientious and in
dependent public service found them
selves suddenly embarrassed when
they refused to serve particular busi-
ness interests which were seeking Iag-
islative favors. They have found that
thew could not renew their notes -
the bank. They have found cre6it
denied them and obstacles put in their
way in the conduct of their business
The whole thing can be easily roor
aged without attracting public atten-
ton and in such subtle ways that even
the man injured can not always nrova
that there is anything Intentional or
deliberate in the injury done him b11+
the grip of the money market tigh+ans
on him none the less and strangles
him If he exercises too great inde-
pendence and does not lend himself fo
the purpose which the machine bes
consented to promote at the biddino of
the business me nwith whom they are
allied.
A man can not get into Office with
out the expenditure of a good deal of
money, even If he confines the ~
penditure to perfectly legitimate on
jects. The sources of money are
therefore the sources of political oro
portunity and of power, and those who
supply the money can generally con-
troll the nominationes, that is fo sav
the selection of those who are to ever
else the powers of government and of
laWma king. VI
Tariffs Source of Corruption.
One of the best instances that could