Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1911-11-03
Washington News.
BY Clyde Il, Tavenner.

"asnib gton, Oct. Sl.-TaTitf ism
The only thing the Republicans are
AFRAID iof in the coming campaign
There is another item that is giving
them worry. They are wonderipe how
they are to give an answer to the
charges of corruption, ineumpeiencv
and m decentralization that have been
brought out and proven by the various
Democratic investigating committee.
Republican leaders realize that t,is
problem is gong to present exception.
al difficulties by the fact that when
the Democrats started Investigating
taey, the. Republicans, shouted in de.
fis'on OF such tactics, declaring there
was nothing TO investigate; that an,
der Inc Republican rule affairs of yov-
eminent had been conducted ir the
onlyi Perfect manner and that the
wholespurpose of the Democrats was
10 make political thurder.
That there was really need of some
Investigating in and around Washing.
ton was amply proven before the
probes Of Republican rule had we'll be-
gun, and despite all the revelations of
extravaganza aud NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
that have come TO light, many of the
investigating committees are just get
ing ready TO go TO woik, So far they
have not scratched the surface.
The Moss committee brought to light
the shameful manner in which the
plotters in the pure food bureau had
stripped DIR. Wiley of all power, and
made farce OF the law designed to
protect the public from the greed of
inscriptions food dopers.
The Star ley committee learned that
he steel trust for years paid tremen-
dous profits on capitalization repre-
scented largely by water and blue air,
and that the trust gobbled up the Ten
nessee Coal and Iron company, its
principal rival, with the aid aud con.
nlVance Of republican administration
ostensibly to prevent a panic, but ac-
tually to stifle Its main competitor. 1t
was further brought out that men
were acting as counsel FIR the steel
trust while receiving morey from the
government as special "trust busters"
The probe of the state department
revealed that money was expended
for one thing, and charged to another,
while the committee in expenditures
in the navy department discovered
that more than So ,000, 900 worth of sup
plies had been taken from the Wash
ington navy yard without an account
! ing, and that the bookkeeping system
in use there is absolutely ridiculous.
These are but . few of many Illus
tration that could be given TO show
the value of honest Investigations.
M ore than dozen other committees
have turned up equally important
evidence.
81 am surprised" says Attorney
| General Wicsersbam, "that the bust
ness men of this country have OF
taken more advantage of that section
of the law which permits the collection
of threefold damages when they have
been injured by a trust. That section
is powerful lever, and would make
those illegally organized have more
respect for the law"
Likewise, the people are surprised
| that Mr.. Wickersham AS attorney
general does not take advantage OF
the law which makes it possible to
send guilty trust magnates to jail.
They believe it would be an even still
more powerful level"
The Wooden trust is the most insis-
| tent of all the trusts in its demand fol
high tariff. This trust still calls itself
an "infant dustry, nand its agents told
the mem bers OF the Ways and Means
committee tina. the trust would stsrve
to death if the tariff were taken off Of
wool.
At Boston, on October l6, William
| Wood, President of the Wooden trust
was witness in suit filed against
him by a man whom he had knocked
down and run over. The Judge asFec
Wood how many automobiles he own
ed.
81 don't know" Wood replied.
"How many chauffeurs do you en-
pIoy?n asked the court.
81 never tried to keep track ofthem,
w osd answered.
Imagine a man so rich he canno,
keen track of the number of automt
biles be owns? Then reflect on how
many of the workingmen who pur'
chase Mr.. Woods highly protected
products are unable to keep track OF
the number of wColen suits they OF
their children own.
Tee Stanley steel investigating com
mittee has made public the export