Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-08-29
Gov. Marshall
Speaks at Bangor.

| Bangor, Me-, Aug. 29.--The declara-
| ton that the protective tariff system
was directly responsible for campaign
| contributions from corporations was
made at Democratic rally here, to-
| night, by Governor Thomas r. Mar
/ shall of Indiana. the Democratic cam
| didate for Vice President.
bad as have been the eontribu-
items" said he, and vicious as have
been the expenditures of money in
the campaigns, worse than all has
been the system of protection. which
has compelled the trust magnates 70
keep lobbies at Washington. hire law
yers and finance legislators. Is it
much wonder, when these accessories
are necessary for legislation, that the
men, who have been held up by pub
lie servants, should in turn hold M
the public?''
Governor Marshall and Gov. Plais-
ted. the Maine Executive, who is seek
ing reelection, spoke from the same
platform at tonight's meeting The
Indiana Governor was given a vo-
cifereus greeting by the big crowd
present He said in part:
Tine man who has theory that a
system is wrong inevitably traces all
evils to that system. Opposed to high
protection, and believing as | do that
the trust is its offspring, | can not see
1t otherwise than that the investiga-
ton we are to have with reference to
the controversy between Messrs.
Roosevelt. Archbold, Penrose and kim
dred subjects need never to have been
held If the system had not been In
vogue.
president Taft really began the
discussion when he charged the ex-
President with concealing certain
trust papers in the garnet of the
White. House. The controversy was
as ludicrous as it was enlightening.
In substance, the answer was: Yes.
| hid them there. but with your
knowledge and CONSENT The rejoiner
was: 1 was not in America to con
dent | never heard the sub-rejoinder,
but | presume it was: i got your con-
sent by cable
Now the real point to that con-
troversy was not. who hid the papers.
but why were they hidden? So now
we need waste no time in a contro-
yersy as to whether Mr.. Roosevelt
knew beforehand of the contribution
of the Standard Oil Co., we need not
bother about whether his letter was
written in good or bad faith, as all
this is beside the issue. 1t is undis-
puted that the money was paid and
used That is the important thing.
1T has been the theory of the law
that corporations have no bodies to
be kicked and no souls to be damned,
but beyond all doubt they have pock-
etbooks to be fieeced. A corporation
does not vote OF itself it cannot be
interested in politics. Does anyone
dream that these contributions were
made voluntarily. l should like to
watch the heart beat of a corporation
and see If 1t has been quickened by
anything else than fear.
II hope and believe that this is the
dawn of a new day and these trust
magnates. whether aetuated by high
motives or not, will see that the best
thing for them to do, is to go ahead
and do business without the help of
Congress, upon the consideration that
Congress will permit them to do legiti-
mate business If the American is
what he says he is-The smartest
man on earth-and if he can have the
assurance that the tariff laws are
not to be tempered with every 80
minutes. and that it Is not necessary
for HIM to put around his schedule
a platoon of lawyers and lobbyists to
save it. and If he knows that his in
terests are going to be unaffected by
a lack of campaign contributions, he
can save enough money to make up
for the reduction in tariff schedules,
and he can go to bed with the as
surance that his interests are not to
be jeopardized over. night. and he can
sleep content without fear of being
awakened by the United States mar
shall.
During the day. Governor and Mrs.
Marshall motored out to Orono to
call upon President Robert p. Alley
OF the University of Maine, a former
Indiana man, and intimately associat-
ed with Gov Marshall