The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1913-08-07
snlss,'s Checks aud Corporations IL
Politics.


Eycry Intelligent person recognize
the wisdom of legislation enacted Il
prevcut corporations from oontrihut
Ing 10 political campaign funds
There Is danger. however. lest W
overlook the fundamental principle Il
volycd aud that il rs not SO much /,
guard against mere money as 10 pre-
vent corporations from obtaining un
4 due Influence with public servants,
II follows rs . matter OF courss
that unwholesome influence OF cor
porations with governors and heads
of departments and Legislators ana
other public servants dealing with
the pubic service secured through
means other than campaign eontribu
tions is Just as Objectionable as II
would be were Il secured through
campaign contributions directly,
The disclosure OF checks for con.
tribntious 20 Governor suffers cam.
paign fund, which for some myster
ious reason did not appear In his
sworn statement. serves to emphaiEo
the ways in which a corporation MAJ
contribute to campaign fund indir-
ectly through individuals.
With the interstate commerce com
mission ever exercising increasing
authority over public service oorpor.
ations, there is corresponding multi
plicatlon OF temptations for great
corporations to take hand In the
choice OF public servants.
As we have already indicated the
real question is whether the people
through their supposed public ser
wants shall control the public service
corporations, or whether the public
service corporations In spite OF the
people shall control the public ser
wants supposed TO regulate such cor
porations and thus In effect defy
the people whom they are supposed
to serve.
Governor Sulzer manifestly had
the usual experience Of candidates In
New York. The great corporations
are no respecter OF political parties
any more than OF persons II is not
unusual for their individuals TO give
campaign contributions to different
political parties at the same time,
and they are thus on the safe side
no matter which party wins. In
deed this fact has already appeared
In course of the national investiga
tions.
Another feature OF the participa
tion of corporations In politics Is
their usual selection of the most
suaye and affable men they can find
We of the Champlain valley had an
excellent illustration Of this IN Com
gresham Sbley, one of the Stand
ard Oil legislators.
Uncle Joe" Sibley was one of the
most lovable men who have ever
come to this valley. He was prince
Of entertainers. democratic, approach
able, genial and likable man per
sonally in every way.
That is the style Of representa-
tiyd trust usually employs and
that is why some Of us newspaper
men find II so difficult to oppose
them, especially when we have un-
wisely borrowed money from them tI
help buy equipment or In other ways
become corporation organ, as once
in a while happens.
II is much better TO borrow money
from private individual and stay
independent, better for the news
paper man and better for public in
terest the newspaper Is supposed to
promote.
With this increased temptation on
the part of the public corporations II
is up to the people OF Vermont as OF
every other State TO say In what