The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-06-26

tons which effectuaily banished home
competition Need It be said that the
perfected interests for these larger priv
leges made larger contributions.
Combinations of course multiplies rap
idly under such stimulation especially as
the evidence accumulated. The executive
department of the government could be
relied upon for protection even in case
Of attack by enemies.
I'VE are indebted TO the President for
the evidence that his predecessor, having
first enjoyed an interview with George w.
Perkins, restrained his Attorney General
from bringing suit against the harvester
combination.
Helped Steel Corporation
For the Steel corporation he went fur
Their. for he wrote his Attorney General
In advance of its absorption of the Ten
nessee Coal. Iron and Railroad company
that he had decided to 'interpose no OBJ
lection
THE view of executive duty which these
acts suggest is Numerically opposed TO
that of that sterling democrat, President
Jackson, who wrote the laws of the
United States must be executed. have
no discretionary power on the subject.
My duty is emphaticaly pronounced in the
constitution
THE effect of these and similar acts
in The circumstances induced the result
which Senator LaFolette referred to IN
a recent speech In these words:
=" When Roosevelt became President the
total amount of the stock and bond is
sues of all combinations and trusts. In
Guiding the railways then in combina-
ton, was only s3,7S4o00,oe0. When he
turned the country over to Taft, whom
he selected as bis successor, the total
capitalization Of the trusts and combina-
tons amounted to the enormous sum OF
$31 .672, 100000. more than 70 per cent of
which was water
Whatever excuse may be offered, the
truth is that the republican national ma
chine had received the moneys of the cor
porate and individual benefciaries of the
tariff and combinations and m return mas
compelled Congress to keep high the
tariff rates and their attorney generals to
close their eyes to violations of law. Need
we seek further evidence than the ad-
mission of President Taft? He said at
Cincinnati September q, 1910:
" The country is reused against the
corporate or corrupt control of legisla-
tive agencies
IF, however, there remain a doubling
Thomas. let him read the confession Of
the only living ex-President He said at
Ossawtonie
1t is necessary that laws should be
passed to prohibit the use of corporate
funds directly or indirectly for political
purposes. II is still more necessary that
such laws should le thoroughly enforced.
Corporate expenditures for political pur-
poses, and especially such expenditures
by public service corporations, have sup
piled one of the principal sources of cor
| ruption in our political affairs
Indicts Republicans
I'm the light of all the testimony and of
this admission, I submit that the jury
of the people should find as a general
verdict that the failure of the executive
and legislative branches of government,
both federal and state, to protect the peo-
pie from the special privilege hunters and
graft seekers, is deeply rooted in a cor
rupt alliance between the latter and the
leaders of the republican party.
Upon that verdict but one judgment
can be entered-that of eviction. When
you find cancer you know that pills and
plasters will serve only to divert the mind
of the patient from his fate. Pills ana
plasters have been literally and sensation
ally prescribed for some years now by
those republican leaders who would hide
from public gaze the misconduct of their
party, yet the cancer is still growing. We
must cut II out ere 1t is too late.
MOT until the special session of Con-
gress in 1909, however, did the people gem
terests held the republican Congress with
such an iron grip and that Congress would
repudiate. pledges of its party to revise the
tariff as people understood the promise
downward. Now. the truth is appreciated.
OF that fact the election of an over
whelming democratic majority to the
House is evidence. 1t is still true, how
ever, that many have not discovered that
the real power that chained the party to
the interests was money contributed to
he on campaigns and that, worse still,
a l-rge parx of the money obtained was
not thrust upon the party by the interests
but was wrung from them through organ
ized Importantly m which public officials
took part.
President Solicited Funds
"On one occasion even a President of
the United States has been known 10 So
licit the financial assistance of a great
railroad leader over whose railroad the
executive department might hold either
a stern or q mild and gentle sway. The
presidential attitude was gentle and polite,
but firm and insistent. Several letters fat
ing to produce the sheep for the shearing,
another was addressed to My Dear MIR.
Hartman
+" Now, my dear sir, you and I are prac-
teal men, and you are on the ground
and know the conditions better than do.
visit to me causing trouble or II you think
there is nothing special need to be In
formed about, or no matter on which l
could give aid, of course give up the visit
for the time being, and then a few weeks
hence, before write my message ! shall
get you to come down to discuss certain
government matters not connected with
the campaign. With great regards
The suggestion of government matters
implying In the circumstances railroad
matters-proved 70 be the proper bait.
The discussion relating to government
matters has not vet been reported. Prob
ably 1t never took place. for Mr.. Harri-
man read between the lines of that let
ter hurried to Washington. hurried back,
and promptly raised the $250,0o demanded
with $4,000 over for good measure.
This incident plainly discloses the liga-
ment that binds the republican party to
the interests proving upon the people and
defying the law. The latter furnished the
money with which the former debauched
the electorate in every debatable state.
Adams county, Ohio. is but an iilustra-