The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-04-09

long as dividends are paid we ask No
questions as to how the money is EARNED
sometimes, as was the case with the
iilinols Central railroad, also worked I'D
by Detective Burns, millions of dollars
go into the pockets of faithIess officials.
we must become active and intelligent
partners In our government and in our
business If our government and our busi-
ness are 10 endure. The people should
De educated to their obligations and their
enlightenment must largely be done by
word OF mouth. Ny object is to organize
small State committees and to have such
committees organize downward to coun-
ties, townships. cities, and villages that
the meaning OF proposed legislation may
be explained and the character and ca
rabiiity of candidates for office be ascer-
tanned and published. Big business men
say that / am right"
big Business" and BIackmafI.
is 1t true that managers of corpora
lions have been blackmailed by Office
holders and have gone into politics in or
der to protect their property" / asked
That is the excuse they make
Schmitz was followed by two years of
honest government in San Francisco.
Then the city was turned back into bad
hands again and the regions of fine resi-
dences, where men of business and cap
tains of industry lived. helped the ten
derloin to vote the good administration
out Big business expects and hopes to
be held up when it asks for things 1t
has no right to receive, and when it
wants men in Office who can be pur-
chased. Ruef did the gas company no
harm. An appeal to the people with the
facts will prevent injustice every time.
but the case of the corporation must be
fair to every interest concerned. A more
direct way to catch blackmailers is to
pay the money and have detectives and
stenographers secreted behind doors or
curtains. We followed that plan in San
Francisco. The belt didn't slip and every
cog worked to a turn
Were attempts made to take your
life?"
We all felt that we might be killed
most any time. man at Oakland made
bombs and intended to throw them into
my automobile when Heney and / were
on the way to court. His assistant be-
came frightened and confessed to Burns.
Every day We passed between two lines
OF thugs in the corridors of the court
house. Under their breath they called
us vile names. They wanted US to at
tack them so that they could shoot US
down. and with their own witnesses pres
ent, enter and establish pleas of self
defense. But we understood their game.
In the meanwhile" Mr. Spreckles
Il am also talking reform in
all kinds of big business as / travel
from city to city-in semi-public corpora
tons and in banks and manufactures.
My theme is the liberation of govern
ment and business from the tyranny of
money. A banker in New York recently
told me that 1 was anita gonizing the men
OF my own class They are the only
men with whom you can associate he
said, and they are sorry your are alien |
ating yourself from them and are vast |
ing your time on impracticable ideas
- But / am weary OF the slavery to
money l replied You have won a
great fortune I said. by your enter
prise. wisdom. and ability Surely you
ought to be independent, if any man can |
IL independent in America. But let me |
ask if you would enter upon a new |
that promised big profits |
10 yourself, and the employment of |
Grge number of worxingmen. without |
inst consulting and getting the permits |
sion of the interests
WELL he answered, closing his eyes |
Until they were only Sits in his face. |
would see how certain men felt about |
he proposition
Copyright. 1911. By James B. MorrovJ