The Washington times., 1912-08-29
THE REAL ISSUE Palmer THAN EVER.

The charge has been made for years that certain
large interests have been not merely influencing
legislation at Washington, but have been writing it,
editing it, after it has been written by members
Of Congress, before it is submitted on the floor of
either house for public consideration.
1t was charged that several interests, wanting
monopoly of the American market and guarantee
of fabulous profits, actually wrote schedules Of the
Payne-Aldrich bill. At the time that bill was under
discussion the exposure Of the North letters proved
that such had been the case with the Dingley bill
1t was charged that the railroads and Wall Street
wrote the Wickersham railroad bill.
1t was charged that interests, desiring to exploit
public lands and public resources, wrote bill which
was intended to govern Alaska.
The list might be continued indefinitely. The
charges made, were seriously denied, and
generally known to be true in large degree if
not wholly so.
With the publication of the Archbold-Penrose
correspondence comes the prima facie proof that in
at least one instance the practice was followed That
correspondence proves that Penrose, as chairman OF
the industrial commission, actually sent to Archboi
for approval and amendment copy Of that com.
missions report before it was submitted to Congress
or otherwise made public
The report was returned with this letter under
date of February Fl, 1900:
Hon. Boise Penrose,
Senate Chamber
Washington, D. G.
My Dear Senator
have your kind note of yesterday with enclosure
which latter beg to return herewith. We think the
report is fair that will not undertake to suggest
any changes. With many thanks, am
Very truly yours,
JOHN d. ARCHBOLD.
The people now know that in at least one case
the Standard Oil Company acted as of i'm
portant legislative recommendations affecting the in
dustrial situation of the country.
There is no reason to doubt its being done by
other interests in matters that may affect them.
. The contributing to campaign funds is serious
problem, for it implies return of favors to the
tributors by the party which is the recipient. Blu:
it is not nearly so menacing an evil as the direct
purchase of legislation by large interests
The issue Shall the people rule?" looms larger
every day. 1t is very plain that under existing con-
ditions and according to the game played by both
old parties they have not Seen ruling. Direct pr-
maries and other election reforms as advocated by
the Progressive party will prevent the legislative
hall being filled by Penroses, and the power of recall
will speedily eliminate the few who do manage to
get elected under false pretenses fall from grace
after they have been elected
To this fact is due the tremendous effort of both
old parties and politicians to discredt Roosevelt and
the Progressive party by alleging the Republican
party eight years ago accepted campaign funds from
trusts and by arguing that because Of that the Pro-
gressive party of this year is insncere.
This crooked logic will deceive no one. 1t is be-
the Progressive party and its leaders, includ-
ing Roosevelt, first repudiated the old methods of
the old parties that all of this agitation is now pos
sible.
The men remaining in the wallow cannot make
people think they are clean because they throw mud
,Don those who have left the WallOw
The big fact remains that Penrose and his ilk in
both old parties did traffic in legislation, the people
did not rule under their regime, and they have not
repented of their ways or changed their views re-
gardng the right of Big Business to write the laws of
| the land.
The issue between the old methods as represent
ed and defended by the Penroses, Smoots and Baeys
and the new methods represented by the Pro-
gressve party is only clearly drawn by the agi
tation of the Penrose-Arcnbod letters