The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-06-08
HE'LL STAND PAT
BriStOW Won't Back Up on I'm
patriotic Utterances.
Furthermore, He viii Not Re-
sign From p. e. C.
THIS rs A RICH MANS WAR"
BriStOw Says 1t Is To Protect
Big Loan to Allies.
If Conditions Continue, 1t Is
National Chaos, He Says.

Joseph L. Bristow, chairman of the
state public utilities commission, will
war conditions in Washington. He
does not expect to resign as a result
of a statement published over his
signature. While he denies that he
sought a political issue in his state
ment, he is willing to defend his posi-
ton in the senatorial fight next year.
In interview given the State
Journal today, Bristow ripped holes
in President Wilson's cabinet and Bit
terly criticised the action of the adj
ministration in Washington. He reit-
Grated his statement that the war
with Germany is a rich mans war.
The war declaration, he declared, was
brought on by agitation launched by
the Morgans and other financial in
terests. While he stated that he did
not charge President Wilson with evil
motives, he declared the president
had been too willing to listen to ap
peals of the money interests
There is little probability that Bris-
tow will at this time attempt to go
into detail concerning his charges of
graft and greed and loot and plumber
at the national capitol He stated that
his editorial, which has aroused state
and nationwide criticism, was a per-
sonal observation of conditions which
he found in Washington.
Has No Apologies.
Concerning conditions in the cap
itol Bristow declared that a continual
ton of these conditions would bring
chaos to the nation. He was severe
in his criticism of the war department
and declared that the action of the
senate committee in drafting the war
tax bill shows a condition of mind
which tends to push the burden on to
the little man and ultimate con-
sumner"
Il have no apologies or explana-
/ tons to offer for my statement. L am
| willing to let it stand just as it was
| written said Bristow. mo utter
ance which 1 have made in years has
| aroused such spontaneous and gen.
eral commentator and 1 have receiv
| ed hundreds of letters endorsing my
stand, with just one letter of criti-
ciSm.''
Did you have in mind or do you
| contemplate the giving of specific in
stances of corruption or graft in
Washington? ' was asked.
There was no definite instance in
| mind when 1 wrote home to my pa
| per-only an observation of a general
| condition. city filled with rich men
seeking a place to sleep while they
| 1obbied to get from under the pay
| ment of a just tax 1 am honestly
| convinced this is a rich mans war, a
war brought on by the money inter-
ests of the nation. The Morgans and
| other interests held two and a half or
| three billion dollars worth of Allied
paper. They saw Russia crumbling on
| the eastern front and concentration
| of German forces on the west. De-
| feat of the allies meant their loans
needed the great credit and support
| of this nation to make good those
| loans and to win the war.
BIames Wilson.
| us it your opinion that President
| Wilson was led by these interests to
| bring about a WARP"
Il don't think President Wilson had
a corrupt or evil intention" said Bris-
| tow. But President Wilson has his
| faults. One of them is to try to do
| too much He has shown himself
lacking in his selection OF administra-
| tive heads. He was too willing to
listen to the appeals of the money
| interests and listened too much.
IF conditions are to continue, 1t
means a national chaos. 1t is the dis
organization of the departments that
seriously confronts the nation. Take
the war department. Major General
Wood announced establishment of
twelve cantonment camps in the
south. Secretary Baker suddenly re-
| duced the number to siX-not after a
| conference with General Wood, but
on his own motion. And the first
General Wood knew of the change
was in press reports
Bristow declared that a shake up of
the presidents cabinet was needed.
and that a purging of the minds of
men in charge of affairs in Washing
ton was a national demand.
| Little Man to Pay.
The Washington attitude is reflect
ed in the work of the senate commit
tee in framing the tax till,'' said Bris-
tow. 1T is not a tax which hits the
rich man. 1t is a tax which he can
| pass on to the little man and the ulti-
mate consumer. They talk about al
lowing the munition makers, the steel
men and the manufacturers or 10
per cent profit But who is to deter
mine the capital on which this profit
| shall be allowed, or the depreciation
which shall be charged? Let me tell
you. The little fellow who gets the
| thing last, will pay. 1t won't be the
| manufacturer of an automobile but
the man who buys the car 1 don't
i charge that President Wilson permits
or approves of these things because of
an evil design. But they are being
permitted
There is no thought entertained by
Bristow which will lead to his resigna-
ton.
Il certainly don't propose to resign
on the demand of a joke congressman
like Helvering and 1 haven't thought
of resigning. In fact, expect to stay
right here, at least until the end of
my term
Would Bristow seek to make an is
sue of his charges in the 1918 cam
Ipaign?
TT isn't my intention" he said, ito
make an issue. 1 stated my thoughts
-