Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-12-09
Senator Talks on His Res
OIutiOn to Amend the
Constitution.
ROOSEVELT ATTACKED
Points to His FavoritiSm of Har-
veSter Trust While Ma
tion'S Head.

Washington, Dec. 9.-In a speech to-
day in the senate upon his resolution
for a constitutional amendment that
would provide a single RIx-year presi-
dental term. Senator Works OF Califor-
MIA, identified since his entry into the
senate with the progressive republican
faction, made a strong criticism Of
Theodore Roosevelt and the progress
Eive party for their affiliation with
George W. Perkins and other repre-
sentatlves Of large corporations.
Senator Works declared that both
Roosevelt and Taft deserved defeat.
lie asserted that Roosevelt, when pres
ident. had withheld action against the
harvester trust. with the natural result
that Mr. Perkins had been one of the
chief Roosevelt hackers in the fight
this year for the progressive nomina-
tion; and. with equal emphasis. he de-
Clared that President Taft had lost
the respect and good will of many good
people by going upon the stump against
Colonel Roosevelt" The attack upon
Roosevelt came in connection with
Senator Works assertion that the pres
idents office had been used to prevent
adverse action against corporations.
HARVESTER TRUST FAVORED.
I'VE are not without evidence of the
effecr of such action on succeeding
elections" said Senator Works. The
great harvester trust, one of the worst
and most oppressive of its kind, was
s5ff oil % hNrN NTr Dnnantn1f uvh
president I'm this respect II was not
prosecuted for violations OF the Sher-
man antitrust law because Roosevelt
ordered otherwise. What was the nat
ural result? When Roosevelt again
became a candidate, George w. Perkins
became his ardent supporter and chief
financial hacker. Perkins was largely
interested in the harvester trust. Per
lins knew by actual demonstration that
his company would be safe against just
prosecution II Roosevelt were elected.
unless he should change his mind And
he would much less likely change his
views If the harvester trust or its
stockholders. should lend him their sup
port
u am not saying that Mr.. Roosevelt
acted out OF improper motives in deal
ing with the harvester trust or the
eel trust. He may have been perfect
ly satisfied that the course taken by
him was the proper and just course. |
call attention TO these instances of
presidential favor and what followed
them as illustrating the power that
exists in the hands of a president in
lt Hre 10 a
second term"
Facts brought out in the senatorial
investigation of campaign expenditures
were cited by Senator Works TO show
the extent TO which trusts and their
millionaire stockholders" had contrib
Uted to campaign contributions He
declared that privilege seeking cor
porauons support the public official
who will grant them privileges"
EXPOSES DARK PAGES.
THE investigation Of the campaign
contributions. lately had. has exposed
some OF the darkest pages of the po
litical history of the country" he con
tinued. 1T has revealed the unpleas
ant facts that the money used for cam
paign purposes. both by republicans
and democrats. in past years was sup
piled almost wholly by men interested
I'm the large corporations that wer,
amenable TO punishment under the
antitrust law.
The new progressive party was
tainted in the very beginning by put
ting Itself in the hands of the same in
terests. II was managed and financed
By promoters, corruptionists, and trus
maguates In all these cases money
was contributed 10 secure the election
OF man who. II elected. would be en-
trusted with the power Of determining
conclusiyely whether OF not they shoulC
be prosecuted.
NO matter whether II was so un
derstood or not. 1t was nothing more o.
less than buying immunity from sucl
prosecution. They very naturally rea
souoC that the man who accepted thei
money 20 secure his election would no
use the power their money had givel
him 20 punish them for making tha
money uulawfully."
Senator Works referred to the SC
called Hartman contribution in tn
campaign fund OF 1904, fund whicI
Hartman said Roosevelt had aske,
him TO raise but which Colonel RoosC
Welt had testified was raised on Mr.
Hartmann own initiative
REWARD RECEIVED.
IL is no, very material which Wa
right or which was wrong" said Ser
a'or Works. Hartman received hi
reward whether the money was raise