The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1911-07-20

to Morgan the power of life and
death over business and industry
For the life of both is credit, and
the control of credit Taft would place
absolutely in Morgan's hands. 49,.
Democrats Making Honest Efforts.
The democrats are sincere in their
efforts to run the House of Repre-
sentatives on an economical business
basis. The report of Jerry South,
chief clerk of the House, just made
public, shows that during the month
of June a saving of $S,561.9O was
effected as a result of the abolishing
of useless offices. This item, which
does not include the big reduction on
the police force which the senate has
not yet concurred in but will approve
shortly, means a saving of $1O2,-
742.SO in a year.
| This is not stupendous sum, it
is true, but the spirit is in striking
contrast to the $35 wastepaper bask-
cts in the offices Of Postmaster Gen.
eral Hitchcock and the expensive rec
reations taken by the Aldrich mon
etary commission at public expense
at Narragansett pier.
Taft Bureau Regulated.
Once more the White House press
bureau has been forced to back-track.
1t was like this: Franklin A. Shotwell
of Omaha, secretary of the Progress
sive Republican League of Nebraska
came to Washington, had a talk with
the President, and was quoted by the
White House bureau as saying that
| Nebraska was strong "for Taft for
denomination and reelection" Now
it happens that the league which Mr..
Shotwell was made to appear as
speaking for, is strong" against
Taft instead of being for him. When
the officials of the Nebraska organ
ization heard of Shotwell's statement
they promptly passed resolutions re-
pudiating it., and wired them to
Washington. The fact is that the
real progressive republicans stand as
unit against Taft's denomination,
and every indication is that if he Sc
cures the nomination again they will
permit him to 60 down in defeat.
Then they will make an attempt to
reorganize the republican party.
Progressives Lose Ground.
When it is too late some of the Re-
! publican insurgents in the United
, States senate who are opposing reci-
procity may learn that they are COM
hitting one Of those huge political
plumbers that have been described
as worse than crimes.
Real Revision Downward.
! The wool bill, passed by the DEM
ocratic House but not acted upon as
yet in the Republican senate, re-
duces the tax on cloth out of which
the poor mans clothing is made, from
100 per cent to from 25 to 40 per
cent; on women's dress goods from
$50 per cent to from 80 to As per
cent, and on blankets from 100 per
cent to 80 per cent.
Facts About Steel Trusts.
The restriction of competition,
which is in violation of the law, was
the prime object of the organizers of
the United States Steel corporation,
according to information which has
recently come to light in Washing
ton. When formed, the steel trust
had property valued at $1,4O2,OOO,-
WV. VI C1C SdplIdl SlOCh, LU,UUU,-
600, or more than half, was water.
Three partners of J. P. Morgan ad-
vanced s2S.0O0,000 to finance the
trust and received stock worth $780,
OOO, 900. The average rate of profit
from 1901 to 1910 on the corpora
tions's actual investment was - per
cent. Although this combine is in
existence in plain violation of the
law, the Taft administration refused
to prosecute it. The Taft admins
tration, however, co-operated with
the steel trust by giving secrets of
our battleships to foreign nations
with the understanding that in ex-
change for, these secrets the countries
thus favored would give substantial
contract to the steel trust. The man
who permitted the exchange of vital
government secrets in order that the
illegal trust could increase her divi-
dends was Philander c.. Knox, now
secretary of state. Mr.. Knox helped
organize the steel trust and went
from position of steel trust attorney
to that of United States Attorney
General.
Notice Of PrObatinC WILL