Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-06-26

1t is necessary that laws should be
passed to prohibit the use of corporate
funds directly or indirectly for polit-
ical purposes; it is still more necessary
that such laws should be thoroughly
enforced. Corporate expenditures for
political purposes, and especially such
expenditures by public service corpor-
atoms, have supplied one OF the prin-
cipal sources of corruption in our po-
litical affairs
IN the light of all the testimony
and of these admissions, 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 people from the special
privilege hunters and graft-seekers, is
deeply rooted in corrupt alliance be-
tween the latter and the leaders of the
! republican party Upon that verdict
but one Judgment can be entered
that of eviction. When you find can
I Ger, you know that pills and plasters
will serve only to divert the mind OF
| the patient from his fate. Pills and
/ plasters have been literally and sensa-
I tionally 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 it out ere it is
too late.
Not until the special session of
congress in 1909, however, did the peo-
pie generally appreciate that the pro-
tected interests held the republican
congress with such an iron grip that
congress would repudiate the pledge
of its party to revise the tariff, as the
people understood the promise, down
ward. Now the truth is appreciated.
OF that fact the election of an over
whelming democratic majority to the
present house is evidence.
TT is still true, however, that many
have not discovered that the real pow
er that chained the party to the inter
ests was money contributed to help on
campaigns, and that, worse still. q
large part OF the money obtained was
not thrust upon the party by the in
Iterests, but was wrung from them
through organized Importantly in which
public officials took part.
ION occasion even a president of
the United States has been known TO
solicit the financial assistance of a
great railroad leader over whose rail,
road the executive department might
hold either a stern or a mild and gen
tie sway. The presidential attitude
was gentle and polite, but firm and in
sstent. Several letters failing TO pro,
duce the sheep for the shearing, an,
other was addressed to My Dear Mr.
Hartman. Now, my dear sir, you and
! are practical men. and you are on the
ground and know the conditions better
than | do. II you think there is any
danger of your visit to me causing
trouble, or If you think there is moth
ing special l need 10 be Informed
about. or no matter on which l could
give aid, why, 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 mat
ters-implying in the circumstances
railroad matters-prOved to be the
proper bait The discussion relating
to government matters has not yet
been reported. Probably it never took
place, for Mr.. Hartman read between
the lines of that letter, hurried to
Washington, hurried back and prompt
ly raised the quarter of a million de-
manded with $4,000 over for good
measure.
This incident plainly discloses the
ligament that binds the republican
party to the interests preying on the
people and defying the law. The lat
ter furnished the money with which
the former debauched the electorate in
every debatable state. Adams county
Ohio, is but an illustration of the
loathsome condition which resulted.
Like the hypocrites of old, who Low
ed to pray standing in the synagogues
and on the corners of the streets, who
|
that they were not as other men, sc
have these corrupt leaders covered
their vile misdeeds with hypocritical
professionals of righteousness. Woe
unto you, hypocrites, for We are like
unto whited sepulchers. which indeed
appear beautiful outward, but are with
in full of corruption and all unclean
ness that verify smells to heaveE,
Your day of doom is at hand!
in jeopardizing OUT form Of govern
ment and those dearly bought liber
ties which the fathers therein secured
to us. the republican apostles and pro
motors of misrule, federal usurpatior
and political corruption threaten the
very foundations of the greatest cathe
dral builded by modern civilization
The corner stone of that temple Is
Plymouth rock The declaration OIL
Independence and our matchless con
| stitutiOn are imbedded in the founda
tons thereof. The superstructure has
been reared block by block witt
weary years OF toll by true patriot and
able statesman. Within it's wall every
man may come to worship the one liy
ing and true God in such fashion as hi;
did his