The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-10-24
VITAL WASHINGTON NEWS
TAvENNER, WRITER AND THINKER" GIVES THE
FACTS AS THEY REALLY EXIST.

Washington, Oct. 21.-Tariff isn't
the only thing the Republicans are
afraid of in the coming campaign.
There is another item that is giving
them worry. They are wondering how
they are to give an answer to the
charges Of corruption, incompetency
and maladministration that have been
brought out and proven by the vari-
Gus Democratic investigating commit.
tees
Republican leaders realize that this
problem is going to present exception.
al difficulties by the fact that when
the Democrats started investigating
they, the Republicans shouted In de.
rision of such tactics, declaring there
was nothing to investigate; that under
the Republican rule the affairs of
government had been conducted in the
only perfect manner, and that the
whole purpose of the Democrats was
to make political thunder.
That there was really need of some
Investigating in and around Washing
ton was amply proven before the
probes of Republican rule had well
begun, and despite all of the revela-
tions of extravaganza and maladminis-
tration that have come to light, many
of the investigating committees are
just getting ready to go to work. SO
far they have but scratched the usr-
face
The Moss committee brought to light
the shameful manner in which the
plotters in the pure food bureau had
stripped DR.. Wiley of all power, and
made farce of the law designed to
protect the public from the greed of
unscrupulous food dopers.
The Stanley committee learned that
the steel trust for years paid tremend.
Gus profits on capitalization repre-
sented 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 and con
nivance of Republican administra-
ton, ostensibly to prevent panic,
but actually to stifle its main compel
itor. 1t was further brought out that
men were acting as counsel for the
steel trust while receiving money from
the government as special trust bust
ers."
The probe of the state department
revealed that money was expended for
one thing, and charged to another,
while the committee on expenditures
in the navy department discovered
that more than $3,000,000 worth OF
supplies had been taken from the
Washington navy yard without an ac-
counting, and that the bookkeeping
system in use there is absolutely ride
ulous.
These are but a few of many illus
trations that could De given to show
the value of honest investigations.
More than a dozen other committees
have turned up equally important evil
dence.
Mr.. Wickersham Again.
Il am surprised" says Attorney Gen
erai Wickershaw," that the business
men of this country have not taken
more advantage of that section of the
lew which permits the collection of
three-fold damages when they have
been injured by trust. That section
is powerful lever, and would make
those illegally organized have more re-
spect for the law"
Likewise, the people are surprised
that Mr. Wickersham as attorney gen.
eral does not take advantage of the
law which makes it possible to send
guilty trust magnates to Jail. They be-
lieve it would be an even more pow
erful lever"
A Starving Industry.
The wooden trust is the most insist
ent of all the trust In its demand for