The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1913-01-04
70 PUNISH THE WEALTHY PLUM
DERERS.

Ueen properly punished for unlaW-
full destruction of life and property,
It would be refreshing to see some
CT the wealthy plunderers of the peo-
pie given a dose of the same medl-
tne-Lake Charles American-Press.
most readrs will idly approve the
ABOVE remark, at the same time real
!zlng that there is absolutely no way
70 reach the wealthy plunderers, as
they keep themselves snugly within
the protection of the law, even while
violating it's cardinal principle OF
equal justice to all But is it cor
rect to say there is absolutely no
way?" To say so is to ignore I'M
justifiably the conclusions reached in
the able articles by Thomas Lawson
in popular magazine.
Lawson contends that the finan-
cial distresses of the mass OF the
people of this country, and the high
cost of living are traceable to gam.
bling in stocks and bonds, and to
the interlocking directorates of the
trusts. He believes that the manipu-
lations of the New York Stock Ex-
change land presumably like Organi-
zations) in creating fictitious values
in stocks, not only enable men to
get more than their rightful share OF
the wealth of the country, more
than they do or could earn possibly;
but it also has the effect Of produc-
ing the continual unrest and insta-
b!lity in financial affairs.
Mr.. Lawson recognizes however
that no new law aimed at this evil
and at the expressions of the trusts
could pass Congress and not be IL
nally knocked out by the Supreme
Court, judging by the experiences OF
the past. But he claims to have found
out the way to deal with these pow
erful evils, namely, in the same way
that the Louisiana State Lottery was
put out of business, that is, through
the powers given the postal depart
ment Of the government by the con
stitutiOn of the United States. Che
| Louisiana Lottery was denied the
use of the United States mails, and
despite its vast wealth and power
it went out like a snuffed candle
Thos. Lawson believes that the same
method would apply to the stock ex
changes and the trusts. Deny then
the use of the mails, and since thu
courts have already ruled that Thu
power of regulation of mail matte
inures to the postal department, III
legal battle is already fought an,
won.
Lawsons idea-or should it not b
called discovery?-seems entirely fec
sible. and to get it put into practica
execution is worthy of the best Ell
fort" of the country press of tn
nation. We say country press advis
, eddy, for, although Mr.. Lawson's al
, ticles have been running for severa
D months, they have been treated wit
7 cold silence-neither favorably no
) unfavorably-by the hordes of critic
that the press in the cities is repu
ed to employ. Hence, if there b
any good in Mr.. Lawson's suggestio
the country press removed from tn
: influences of the money power wi
have to push it. And this fact alon
S should give a clew to the situation
+, Testing it, will. at least, be MOI
t practical than merely wishing If
the wealthy plunderers" to pl
+ themselves within the power of II
: law. which they will never do, IL
r der present conditions, as they hay
: able attorneys to show them no
+ closely they may steer into lay
Y breaking, without actually beir
caught in its maelstrom.