The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-26
SOME NEW BOOKS.


cent political and financial history in
the collected Essays and Speeches Of
CHARLES g. DAWES tHoughtoa Mif-
fin Coz. For the past fifty years, and
never more than to-day. the greatest
evil in our national life has been the
dishonest politician. Immediately fol-
lowing the civil war and during the
period of reconstruction his tribe
grew immensely in power and num-
bers. He became familiar everywhere
after the Country's cover from the
Ianic OF 1878, and the new prosperity
which came with the resumption of
specie payments in 1879, and the era
OF railroad building in the sos. His
numbc increased to such proportions
that the Legislatures Of many Of our
newer states, and fully as many of
u older states, were completely UNI
der his control. The national Con-
gross became. If not a breeding place
Of corruption. at least "A place where
the power If the lobbyist was said to
exceed that of the statesman. Rail-
road builders went there to secure
land grants. manufacturers for tariff
protection, and contractors for jobs.
The vcnal politician prospered as
never before. In many States i'm
proper legislation was secured by
paying members money for their votes.
Corrupt Governors stole campaign
funds. officials. legislators and
judges were impeGched or imprisoned
for stealing or accepting brides. This
has always been true to a greater or
less extent. and always will be true.
II Is oven r to-day.
Until a Few years ago Il was said
that the SIMPLEST and most common
method of brihing a Congressman, a
legislator or a state official was by
furnishing him with annual railroad
passes, with Pullman passes, with tele-
graph franks and with books G. trip
passes for the use of his followers. 1t
used to be in many States that that
Senator or Representative or State Of
fetal was considered n poor dub in
decd. without any influence. who was
not abe to furnish his political work.
crs with free railroad transportation
at Ill times If the year. The railroads
were forced iH;, this practice at first
for s'lf-prot"Ction, n afterward
found il a cheap and easy way to
purchase immunity from the strike
or "saudbacGinG'' bills which every
legislative session produced. AS a re-
sui they wrr" enabled to defeat not
only those bills which were black
mailing measures pure and simple
hut also rhr.P bills which were really
needed by the public for the regula-
ton of the roads and the benefit OF
commerce.
Later. however, the railroads, fol-
lowing the lead. possibly. of Mr.. Cas-
sat-, stopped giving passes to Con-
gressmen, aud many OF the State Leg
islaturcs were forced to pass laws
correctin" the free pass abuse. Then
the railroads n corporations gen
orally began TO reap the whirlwind
which they and their agents had
sown. Restrictive and punitive meas
ures were passed in a majority of
the States. Legislators. instead of
being friendly to the railroads. to cor
porations ana 10 capital, became their
bitter enemies. The pendulum had
swung from n extreme 10 the other.
The new Senator or Representative
who had succeeded his pass taking
nclghhor made loud and blatant asser-
tons of his friendship for the people,
his hatred OF the corporations and his
purpose of discriminating the money
devil.
Had the leopard changed his spots?
No, alas, lie had merely changed his
food. He had discovered that the
easiest way TO power and place and
ntlll.lSa NI4E hNs Aannnnatpp .T.ttYn,t-
lated wealth. Violent attacks were
begun on certain large corporations,
whose very success had aroused the
envy and hatred of the u%nthinkinG.
Suits were begun to dissolve their
charters. The businesses of other
corporations were first severely dam
AGED by false reports of their praC-
tees and then their owners were
threatened with Jail. Some compa-
MES We're convicted by proclamation
and then tried by the courts and
found not guilty. Big business gem
orally was sentenced before IL was in
dicted. \ President announced that
II q corporation became too big it
must bc suppressed and began suit
TO dissolve the biggest. Another
President stated that the banking
system Of the country stood convicted
without indictment. \ committee of
Congress employed an attorney TO
conduct IN investigation of the So
called money trust" for the sole pur-
pose of undertaking the Clearing
House bankers Of New York city.
During twenty years past Mr..
Dawes has been n conspicuous pio-
ncer in the education OF the country
IN the matter of the relation Of poll
ties to business and in inducing bust
ness men 10 enter actively into the
consideration and public discussion of
proposed Legislative policies and meas
ures. This method was inaugurated
on a large scale at the time the Fed
eral Reserve bill was before Con-
gress. and with what good results
oil the country knows.
Tho collection of Mr.. Dawes's writ
inGS, reports and addresses now pub
l,shed in book form towers the period
or inc past twenty-fOur years. during
nearly all of which time he has been
engaged in business either as an adj
Visory investor or in active manage
mont. His chief official experience
"a gained during the three wears
he served AS Comptroller Of the Cur
rcncy lie resigned from that posi-
~ Twb years before the expiration
of his Term to go into more active
business and is now the president OF
the Central Trust Company of Chi
ago.
A. n young man of % he APP