The Washington herald., 1912-06-26

Sherman act were treated BY Repubu-
can oficials as repealed by implication
Need Il be said that the Protested In
terests, for these larger privileges. made
larger contributions?
Chickens Come Home to ROost.
I'VE are indebted to the President for
the evidence that his predecessor. hay-
ing hrst enjoyed an interview with
George W. Perkins. restrained his At
torney General from bringing SUIT aginst
the Harvester Combination
For the Steel Corporation he went
further, for he wrote his Attorney Gen
eral In advance OF its absorption Of the
Tennessee Coal & Iron Company that
he had decided to interpose no 'objee-
ton
Indeed, he apparently stood ready to
perform similar kindly ofnces for all
corporations, for he advocated the pas
sage Of a statute permitting voluntary
submission OF all engaged in interstate
commerce to Federal authority, with the
advantage to them of immunity from
prosecution because OF contracts made
II stamped IN advance with executive
approval as reasonable.
The view of executive duty which
these acts suggest is diametrically oppo-
site to that sterling Democrat, President
Jackson, who wrote The law of the
no discretionary power on the subject;
my duty is emphatcally pronounced in
the Constitution.
The effect Of these and acts In the
circumstance induced the result which |
Senator La Toilette referred to in re-
cent speech in these words:
Big CnpitaIiEatiOnS shown.
when Roosevelt became President |
the total amount OF the stock and bond
issues Of all combinations and trusts, |
including the railways then in combina- |
ton. was only $3,7S4, 100000. When he
turned the country over to Taft whom |
he elected as his successor, the total capi- |
talizatlon Of the trusts and combinations |
amounted to the enormous sum Of
81, So ,0OO,Oo, more than 20 per cent OF
which was water
Whatever Of excuses may be offered. |
the ugly truth is that the Republican |
national machine has received the moneys |
Of the corporate and individual beneh- |
ciaries Of the tariff and combinations. and |
In return has compelled Congress TO keep
high tariff rates and their Attorney Gen |
erals TO keep closed their eyes to viola |
tions Of the law.
Not until the special session Of Con-
gress in 1909 did the people generally |
appreciate that the protected interests ,
held the Republican Congress with such !
diate the pledge OF its party to revise |
the tariff. as the people understand the |
promise. downward. Now the truth is |
appreciated. OF that fact the election OF |
an overwhelming Democratic majority 10 |
the present House is evidence.
Money wrung from Trusts.
Tt is stiu true, however, that many |
have not discovered that the real power |
that chained the party 10 the interests |
was money contributed to help on cam |
paigns and that. worse still, a large |
part Of the money obtained was not |
thrust upon the party by the interests, |
but was wrung from them through or
ganized importantly in which public Of
icials took part.
On occasion even a President Of the |
United States has been known TO solicit
the financial assistance OF a great rail- |
road leader over whose railroad the |
executive department might hold either |
a stern or a gentle sway. The Presi- |
Dental attitude was gentle and polite. |
but firm and insistent.
Several letters failing TO produce the |
sheep for the shearing. another was ad- |
dressed to My dear Mr.. Hartman Mr.. |
Hartman read between the lines OF
that letter. hurried to Washington. hur- |
RED back and promptly raised the quar-
ter OF a million dollars demanded with
ure.
An Are PrOEreEsivss.
This Incident plainly discIoses the
llgament that binds the Republican party |
to the interests preying on the people
and defying the law. The latter fur
nIshed the money with which the former |
debauched the electorate in every de-
batable State Adams County. Ohio. is |
but an Illustration of the loathsome con-
dition which resulted.
The time has come when the salvation |
Of the country demands the destruction |
Of the leaders OF a debauched party, and |
the restora ton to place and power OF |
men OF high ideals who will wage un- |
ceasing war against corruption in poll |
tics, who will inforce the law against /
both rich and poor and who will treat
guilt as personal and punish It accord
ingly.
Victory will be ours, II We but do our
duty this year
What is our duty? To think alike as
to men and measures? Impossible. even
for our great party: there IS not a re-
dictionary among US. All Democrats are
that We shall not all agree that in a
single highway Is found the only road
to progress, or each make the same man
OF all our worthy candidates his first
choice.
1T Is possible however. and It IS our
duty 10 put aside all selhshness, to con-
sent cheerfully that the majority shall
speak for each Of US, and to march out
Of this convention shoulder to shoulder
intoninz the praises OF our chosen leader
and that will be his duty, which ever
Of the honorable and able men now
claiming our attention to be chosen"
The earliest record Of a marriage con-
tract was 81 B. c.