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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 3, 1906)
-'wflWr',"rf AUGUST 31906 3 T-rvftninHv-fvw, ! WHY NOT "STAND BY ROOSEVELT?" A hot fight is on in republican ranks in Chi cago between Representative Mann, who seeks renomination and State Senator Parker, who liopes to win the congressional seat now held by Mr. Mann. The Cnicago Record-Herald charges that Mr. Mann voted for the famous "mileage grab" at a former session of congress; that he has been caught sending out to the voters some 40,000 campaign letters and copies of his speech free of postage; and that he belongs to that class of men who "develop a theory that the government exists for their benefit." Mr. Mann's opponent, Mr. Parker, . boldly charges that Mr. Mann has been "the active friend or the innocent instrument of the illegal combina tions and trusts or greedy corporations which have lately sought legislation adverse to the pub lic or resisted reasonable remedial and regulative legislation." Parker asserts that Mann was really hostile to railway rate regulation and that in conjunc tion with Dalzell of Pennsylvania, and Senator Elkins, Mann put through the amendment to the interstate commerce law, providing that rich vio lators of the interstate commerce law should not be punished by imprisonment. Mr. Mann does not waste his time in going Into details as to his defense. Indeed, he does not waste energy in an effort to make any de fense. He simply falls back upon the republican party's 1906 slogan, "Stand by Roosevelt," and presents the following letter: "Oyster Bay, N. Y., July 14, 1906. My Dear Mr. Mann: Unfortunately that pen has already been given to Senator Heyburn, the author of the pure food bill in the senate. Otherwise it would have been a real pleasure to give it to you, either for you to keep your self, or put in the Chicago Historical, society, for I feel a very lively appreciation of the work for the public that you did, both in connection with securing the passage of the pure food bill and in connection with all mat- ; ters for effectively furthering the work of the Panama canal. We are all of us under genuine obligations to you for the signal work you have accomplished in these regards. ' ."With all good wishes, believe me, sincerely yours. "THEODORE ROOSEVELT." 'Hon. James R. Mann, M. C, House of Repre sentatives, Washington, D. C." What matter though Mann was, at heart, op posed to railway rate legislation? What matter though he cast his vote in favor of the "mileage grab?" What matter though he used the mails for the distribution of campaign documents? iWhat matter though as a member of congress lie is the tool of corporations rather than the servant of the people? Does he not bear the Roosevelt stamp of approval, and has it not been written by no less an authority than the president himself, that but for the vigilance of Senator Hqyburn, Mann would be entitled to one of the famous "Roose velt pens?" Why should any republican under take to go behind the Roosevelt stamp? With what reason does the editor of that fine old republican paper, the Chicago Record-Herald, question Mr. Mann's right to renomination? .With what reason do other of Mr. Mann's "per sonal and political enemies in Chicago raise ob jection to his renomination and present in sup port of their objections the proof of Mr. Mann's services to the special interests? When Mr. Mann is renominated and when other republican congressmen who have been just as faithful to the corporations as Mann has been are renominated republican editors and repub lican orators will be pleading for the re-election of these republican congressmen, in order that we may "Stand by Roosevelt." If it will be the part of patriotism to "Stand by Roosevelt" on election day by swallowing every little corporation tool who wins nomination at the hands of the republican party, then why not "Stand by Roosevelt" at the primaries in the support of one bearing the Roosevelt credentials? JJJ TRY OIL Secretary of Agriculture Wilson has made public the regulations, under the new law, re garding inspection of meat products for inter state and foreign trade. The regulations are said to "cover the situation thoroughly." The" Asso ciated Press describes one feature in this way: "The provisions in regard to labeling carcasses which are found diseased, and which have been The Commoner. r condemned, are very complete. A system of tags, numbered in duplicate with rojwrts to the Inspector in charge, who in turn reports to Wash ington, will make it impossible for any carcass which has once boon tagged by a department em ploye to escape the vigilance of the inspectors. .If such a carcass were spirited away the inspec tor would know the fact at once. Running through the regulations is a carefully prepared scheme which will effectually prevent the en trance into sausage, curing, canning and other, chopped meat establishments of any carcasses which were not inspected fold passed by federal inspectors at the time of slaughter. Whenever tho proprietor of an establishment questions the action of an inspector in condemning any carcass or meat he may take an appeal to the inspector in charge, and from the inspector in charge, if he desires, to the chief of the bureau of animal industry, or to the secrotary of agri culture, whose decision is final, so far as the department is concerned." But why depend upon tags or "reports of tho inspector In charge?" Why rest entirely upon "the vigilance of the inspector?" That Chicago inspector who, becauso of his practical method of treating condemned carcasses lost his job, gave a valuable hint; but the secretary of agri culture seems not to have profited by it. When ever that particular inspector condemned a meat carcass, he Injected into It a liberal quantity of kerosene. There was then no danger that tho carcass would be used. A little coal-oil would come nearer prevent ing the use of condemned carcasses than all the regulations that might be framed by tho department of agriculture. iutimmim JJJ MAYBE l"VHr The next governor of tho state of New York will be a democrat. The next governor of New York will be the next president of the United States. New York Sun. No democrat will be elected governor of New York this year. The next president of the United States will not be a democrat. New York World. Which is interesting, apart from tho radical difference of opinion expressed, because the re publican prophet is predicting democratic suc cess, while the democratic oracle guesses the re publicans will win. Sioux City (Iowa) Journal. It is also interesting from the fact that when the Sun and the World were agreed they made the greatest mistake in the record of prophecy. The Sun and World insisted that if the democratic party would become reorganized in 1904 it would win, and if memory is not at fault the party re ceived the worst drubbing ever administered to a political organization. Maybe it don't make much difference what prediction either one of these great nevrspapers and poor public advisers make. Maybe Now York will choose a governor not to the liking of either the World or the Sun, and maybe America will choose a president without waiting for the aid or consent of either J. Pierpont Morgan or Joseph Pulitzer. JJJ "THE SAME OLD STORY IN THE SAME OLD ' WAY" In all the "trust busting" proceedings under the present administration with two exceptions, that of the broker Thomas and his clerk at Kan sas City the corporation or the individual has escaped with a fine. A complaint against the corporation itself seems to have been the preferred plan. But when proceedings against an individual seemed necessary, the complaint has with the exceptions referred to been in such form as would preclude the necessity for a prison sen tence. In one instance tho arrogant monopolists came very near the danger line. That was when the beef trust magnates were in the federal court at Chicago called to answer criminal indictments. But lo, and behold! it developed at the critical moment that Mr. Garfield, a distinguished repre sentative of the administration, had taken the pains to give the defendants an "Immunity bath" , and thereby they were spared the humiliation of serving a term in jail. We' have had from representatives of this administration, promises galore with respect to the "trust busting" program. Tho latest was a noisily given promise that the Standard Oil trust would be proceeded against, "not- maliciously, of course, but vigorously." The first move made in this "vigorous prose- ' culion" after tho delivery of the president's fa mous Standard Oil messago to congress waa an inquiry at Clovcland, Ohio, by tho federal grand jury. That grand Jury returned no indict mont against these people, and it dovoloped that tho Jury had been drawn by a jury commissioner who had intlmnto personal and business rela tions with John D. Rockefeller. Perhaps this fact was not significant, although many people so regarded It. Then it was announced that tho government would begin proceedings against the oil trust at Chicago when "no mercy will bo shown," And now for the latest on this lino. Tho Chi cago Record-Herald prints In its issue of July 25, a dispatch from Cleveland, from which dispatch, the following Is taken: "Fines Instead of Imprisonment will bo the punishment asked by tho United States government for those found guilty of law breaking in connection with the oil Industry. "It was learned on excellent authority to day that the proceedings soon to bo Instituted in Chicago in connection witli the federal inquiry will class tho offenses ns misdemean ors Instead of felonies. Fine and imprison ment, or both, attend conviction on tho latter charge, while a fine alone is tho punishment for tho former. This decision, It is learned on tho same authority, will do away with any grand jury inquiry in Chicago. Instead the district attorney of Northern Illinois, if pres ent plans are adhered to, will simply 'fllo In formation,' in legal parlance, against the ac cused men or concerns. They will then bo haled into court as in an ordinary civil case, and If the trial results in their conviction they will be fined within tho limits proscribed by the statutes of the United States govern ment. Tho decision thus to change the lino of attack Is of national 'import. The depart ment of justice at Washington, it is learned, has decided results can befit be obtained under this new plan. Tho infliction of heavy fines under the Elkins law or the general conspi racy statute, it is held, not only will satisfy the ends of justice, but at the same time have a salutary effect in curbing illegal discrimin ation and rate favoritism or trade opprossjpn in tho future. It Is also believod that the re sults aimed at can bo more speedily reached than if an attempt were made to put offend ers behind prison walls. Considerable specu lation was caused as to what effect tho change in plans would have upon the personal move ments of John D. Rockefeller. Inquiry in well-Informed circles brought the reply that he personally was not considered in tho pros pective change. That he will be one of those against whom 'Information' is brought is more than probable, but if he is convicted the fine assessed against him is likely still to leave him a comfortable bank account." This Is "tho same old story in the same old way." Imprisonment, the only effective method of dealing with lawlessness, is avoided. "The infliction of heavy fines" will not only "satisfy the ends of justice;" but will have "a salutary effect" in "curbing trade oppression in the fu ture!" Also it is believed that "the results aimed at can 6e more speedily reached than If an at tempt were made to put offenders behind prison walls!" ' How much longer are the people to be treat ed to this campaign of buncumbe? JJJ NOT LAFOLLETTE Senator Foraker, of Ohio, -was recently talk ing about a politician whose erratic conduct had estranged him from hte party. "This man," said the senator, "was showing a visitor over his new house in Washington the other day. He exhibited the large drawing-room in white and gold, the "spacious dining-room In mahogany, the vast ebony hall with Its onyx pil lars, and then ho led his visitor into the littlest bit of a room off tho hall a mere cubby hole containing nothing but a table and two chairs. " 'Not very large, eh?' he said. 'Small and cozy, isn't it? Here I entertain my political friends.' ) "'Ah,' said the viBltor, 'it -will be large enough for that.'" One republican newspaper reproducing the Foraker story says that it is plainly directed at Senator LaFollette. If that be true then It is a " misfit. No hall in Washington would bo large enough to serve as a reception room for the "po- ' litical friends" of the Wisconsin senator. I ,ri.n,iti. ..... jarW.iaa. .j.fcj... it. ... . . . . . . .m...! - IU-44.rf.A4M . . . .w.ijit., iiifj' ., maw8'rtltai' Mwi
