The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-30
GOVERNMENT BY CORRUPTION.

GOVERNMENT BY CORRUPTION.
There Ia scant room for hope that the story
told by Colonel Mulholland, the lobbyist of the
National Association of Manufacturers as
printed In The Richmond Virot,tan yesterday
morning. Is not true There may be few
exaggerations and some of the congressman and
senators who alleged to have been "in-
fuenced" by the lobby may be able to clear their
skirts OF any deliberate crookedness. but names
are given with such holiness: dates and Incl
dents are related In such detail and all Ia backed
by such wealth of correspondence expense
accounts, kilograms check books and other
documentary evidence that conviction is forced
upon those reading that a great, Shiny serpent
has coiled itself about the dome of the national
capitol at Washington, controlling national legis-
lation and by the use of money. pressure and
influence hypnotzing the weak and corrupt as a
snake hypnotizes a bird.
This National Association of Manufacturers
has accused union labor and union labor leaders
OF all kinds of outrages upon life and property.
If all the charges they have ever brought were
true not half the harm was done that has been
done by the accusers All the Haywoods and
Meyers and Ffynns and all the scum of the In
dustrial Workers of the World have not the
power to strike blow at American institutions,
at free government and at the safety of the
nation such as has been struck by the National
Association Of Manufacturers, their agents and
their corrupt tools. Men of wealth and power
and position. blessed by Providence and
aided by the nation, men honored and respected
have stopped to bribery and corruption of the
vfest sort and OF the most widespread nature
They have bought like cattle brought
pressure to bear upon those they could not buy,
and have relentlessly broken, where they could.
those who resisted their temptations, their
cajoiery and their threats.
A few weeks since President Woodrow WI.
son made his famous delivery about the "in-
sidious lobby" which he declared existed In
Washington. This declaration was received with
boots of derision by some, with good-natured
tolerance by others, with fear on the part of
some OF his friends that he had overshot
the mark, but, as we have reason now to be-
lieve, with fear OF worse consequences on the
lobby committee bore out the presidents char
dGleTlAdtloH OIL lHOSe VINO were working, some
honestly. some dishonesty. for private gain The,
story secured from an ex-lobbyist by the New
York World and printed by that newspaper and
several others yesterday morning indicates that
even President Wilson had but faint idea of
the power Of the "insidious lobby" OF which he
spoke.
| The story told by Colonel Mulholland has
shocked the nation. 1t has shown that govern.
ment Of for and by the people has been a monu.
mental farce for twenty years 1t shows that
this great nation has been governed by few
men who have gained power through the use
OF money, through threats and corruption. 1t
shows that the nation has none too soon placed
in power a who is not only honest and
above board In his dealings, but is determined
10 make others thessame. ,4s7. s. 4;@8
One great good will come out OF II all. It will
awaken and arouse the people. 1t will force
upon their attention the knowledge that eternal
vigilance is necessary II the nation is to endure.
I The American people may we'll thank God
that In the White House they have man who
can be reached neither by money nor influence
J and who can not be bamboozed.