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The Commoner,
VOLUME 12, NUMBER
I
Henry's Fight Crowned With Victory
Following aro self-explanatory Associated
Press (llBputclies: Washington, Feb. 23.-
Democrats of the house hnvo compromised the
"money I rust" Investigation, the question that
has agitated the party for so many weeks, and
which will come up tomorrow for final determi
nation. Opponents of tho Bryan plan for an
investigation by a apodal committee insist that
tho compromise is ono of phraseology only,
whllo Representative Henry, chairman of tho
rules committee, who led the fight for an Inquiry
by a special committeo instead of by standing
committees of tho house, claims a victory.
Representatives of both sides today expressed
satisfaction, however, over a re-draft of tho
resolution introduced by Representative Pujo,
chairman of tho banking and currency com
mittoo, to which will bo referred tho major por
tion of tho investigation. It was mado by the
democratic members of tho rules committee.
, Tho original Pujo resolution provided merely
that there bo an Inquiry into the financial con
ditions of tho country as to what financial legis
lation might bo necessary. This was by direc
tion of tho democratic caucus, which voted down
tho resolution of Representative Henry which
charged tho existonco of a money trust and in
cluded a long list of allegations of control by
tho money power.
After many days of conflict tho democratic
mombers of tho rules committeo today agreed
to insert in tho Pujo resolution a clause that the
committeo on banking and currency also be
directed to inquiro into such matters "touched
upon in house resolution No. 405 as may come
within thoir jurisdiction. House resolution
No. 405 is the Henry resolution, which was
turned down in tho caucus.
Though tho resolution to be reported to the
houso tomorrow will contain no specific men
tion of tho Henry allegations of tho power of
tho "money trust," tho referenco to his charges
in tho resolution has done much to smooth over
tho party quarrel, although tho rules committee
chairman is still disappointed bocauso tho in
quiry was not referred to a special committee.
Though tho resolution to be roported tomor
row will not mention tho points in the Henry
resolution, Mr. Henry intends to refer to them
n a speech, calling attention to charges that
tho managoment of tho finances of many great
Industrial organizations, banks and railroads
aro controlled by a few groups of New York
flnanciors; that those groups dominate the New
orlc stock exchange and tho clearing house and
have the financial affairs of the country gen
erally within their grasp. h
Tho same subject will bo considered in the
senate tomorrow by the interstate commerce
commission, when Samuel Untormeyer of New
York, who mado tho original charges before the
house rules committee, will appear to discuss
ln?es8tUibg3aetlin COnBOOttott a neraftS
tho United States, operating througlfoMn con
nect oh with tho national banks, was ordered by
tho houso today by a vote of 270 to 8. White
republican regulars and insurgents nrnSi
a" LrT rP08Gd wS5 a Am" d
a delusion," tho democratic forces united in
support of a compromise money Lust resolu
tion and succeeded in securing 'all but Xht
republican votes in its support g
Anothor branch of the investls-nUm,
These aro expected to form the basis foJ '
second and third branches of the Seat ZJt?
gation of financial, transportationTnduS
Port tho plan of Representative ji " o tIT
for a special investigation ZIf exas
avoided by a compromise resoh,Hn iUo was
the rules committee e irly 7n tie dPavPa?d .by
ntructed the banking and cur?onCy oommitt"
which Representative Pujo of Loui8K?fi, S?' .f
man, to make a full Investigations Xi ? chaIr;
currency conditions, including nil nkingaud
touched in house resolution No an ral1 .matters
jurisdiction of said Z 405. within tho
reference to Mr Henrys ort.nni18 ,dIrct
"Wlllnll onnnifl.J ' UU1 8 Original rORnlllH
- many charges on which win'
, n i-1 mmn f Vl Ck IflTCfl
street, tho raliroau imanmiu biuuo, " "
financial concerns and other financial powers
aro alleged to have conspired to control indus
trial and financial affairs, was accepted by the
Henry and Bryan forces of the house as an
adequate concession.
The republicans, regulars and insurgents alike
denounced the compromise resolution as failing
to carry out the original declaration of the
democrats for a money trust investigation.
Representative Norris of Nebraska and Repre
sentative Lonroot of Wisconsin, insurgent lead
ers, insisted that tho restrictions placed on tho
banking and currency committee by the words
"within tho jurisdiction of said committee,"
would prevent it from making any sweeping in
quiry, and would prohibit it from inquiring into
tho operations of tho New York clearing houso
or tho shifting of money reserves by private
parties, to meet' alleged demands of financial
interests.
Tho united democratic forces carried Mr.
Henry's motion for the previous question after
two hours' debate by a vote of 170 to 106.
This was the point at which the democratic
split had been expected. Only three democrats,
Diffenderfer of Pennsylvania, Gray of Indiana
and Thayer of Massachusetts, opposed the reso
lution, which had the effect of cutting off all
amendments and stopping all debate. All of the
republican insurgents fought for an opportunity
to amend the resolution and broaden the scope
of tho investigation.
On the final passage of the resolution the
eight votes cast against it were those of Repre
sentatives Austin (Tenn.),. Cannon (111.), Dal
zell (Penn.), Gillette (Mass.), Piggins, Tilson
and Henry (Conn.), Thistlewood (111.) and all
republicans.
"This investigation will be complete, fair and
effectual," said Chairman Pujo, of the banking
and currency committee, in reply to charges by
the republican insurgents that the resolution did
not give the committee sufficient power. If it is
found that the committee has not sufficient
authority we will come back to the house and
ask for more. This will not be an investigation
for tho yellow press nor one in the interest of
one class of financiers as against the other."
Representative Campbell, republican member
of the rules committee, declared that the demo
crats were trying to dodge "the real money trust
investigation," which they at first favored
Representative Vreeland, New York, a mem
ber or (he national monetary commission
favored the resolution for th proposed investi
gation for its "educational effect."
He declarod Wall street's monopoly was a
ikme?. by New York,s suJor -
Representative Mann also favored the resolu
tion but declared any assault bv the house on
h Svn?,f r, S.nnnoIal credlt "mint be foHowed
by ruin and disaster in the business world "
"Tho p.ni iit , m." my Persons.
currency plan," declared Mr Ubercr lCh
Representative HphMti nf ak 7s'
upon republican lnvi?Hl abam? in an attack
affairs declireo corporation
departmen ofcommerco nnTi Ch0VtGP of the
the corporations to l"!? labo had gone to
badge on h s coat JnXelge them wth a
paign Comm itee " Kaid "T1 Cam"
gate you," and thev ?i?fl rr me to lnvesti
wantT" said RepenTauVe IZin d yU
RoSntalvervcKreS reSlutlon
no panic if the InvestlSX i here WouId
He said the financial I SS i I? undei,ten.
at first declared So investhraH W ,Iork had
and any attempt at such wo ?,? hb,Uli? bo held
a Panic. Mr. Henry said that FthUV"a by
sroups possessed such nwl fbe flnancial
was imperative to show unZ an "sation
Representative Lenroot of Cnd,t.lonB
sent republican, attacked tSi Wlsnsin, insur
that it was a harmless i S, JSf resol1utln stating
Power the commUtee o S aml dId not -
an investigation of the Money trust," said Mr
Lenroot, "is an attempt to perpetuate a fraud
on the members of this house and the people of
tho country. To get at this question we will
have to get at the men behind flnancial institu
tions, and that will not be done under this
resolution."
In connection with the debate on the Money
trust resolution, Chairman Clayton, of the judi
ciary committee, announced he had introduced
a resolution empowering his committee to make
a comprehensive investigation of the entire trust
question with a view of amending the Sherman
law.
R
It i
Race
ooseveit in
Following are Associated Press dispatches:
New York, Feb. 25. Colonel Roosevelt's
eagerly awaited statement as to his exact atti
tude toward the republican presidential nomina
tion was given out tonight at his office here dur
ing his absence on a trip to Boston. It was un
expectedly brief, but definite."" It follows:
"New York, Feb. 24, 1912. "Gentlemen: I
deeply appreciate your letter and I realize to the
full the heavy responsibility it puts upon me,
expressing as it does the carefully considered
convictions of the men elected by popular vote
to. stand as the heads of government in their
several states.
"I absolutely agree with you that this matter
is not one to bo decided with any reference to
the personal preferences or interests of any man,
but purely from tho standpoint of the interests
of the people as a whole. I will accept the nomi
nation for president if it is tendered to me and
I will adhere to this decision until the conven
tion has expressed its preference.
"One of the chief principles for which I have
stood and for which I now stand, and which I
have always endeavored and always shall en
deavor to reduce to action, is the genuine rule
of the people; and therefore I hope that, so
far as possible, the people may be given a
chance, through direct primaries, to express
their preference as to who shall be the nominee
of the republican presidential convention. Very
truly yours, THEODORE ROOSEVELT."
"The Honorable William E. Glasscock, gover
nor of the state of West Virginia, Charleston,
w. Va.
- "The Honorable Chester H. Aldrich, governor
0 itS? stato of Nebraska, Lincoln, Neb.
The Honorable Robert P. Bass, governor of
,,rp!:ate of New Hampshire, Concord, N. H.
rhe Honorable Joseph M. Carey, governor
Sf stTate of Wyoming, Cheyenne, Wyo.
the Honorable Charles Osborn, governor of
the state of Michigan, Lansing, Mich'.
I he Honorable W. R.'Stubbs, governor of
.,ate f Kansas, Topeka.'Kan.
nf ,.Ule honorable Herbert S. Hadley, governor
of the state of Missouri, Jefferson City, Mo."
nn Jlle,above named governors assembled at Chi
r?S!JiW? weGkB ag0 and drafted a letter to
lnr l Roseve t, asserting there was a popu
liinliS nd50IllI,m to be president again, and
wm,i!? declare himself as to whether ho
Jiiil ,2 Publican nomination if "it
came unsolicited and unsought."
thJ iintS? 7e?,ks .polonel Roosevelt considered
intention rif indi1catInS Plainly that he had no
intention of making a hasty reply.
The governors' letter follows:
BlB,ned1CXhIl1l:, Fb' 10' 1912We, the under
vnvnoJ n? JCmt ,S07Qrnor assembled for the
the continLn11811 what wIU be ure
useful nnoti0nr0f the Publican party as a
our belSf nVf g0d government, declare it
facts that' n it0r Caref,ul investigation of tho
voters of Lnars? ma3ority of the republican
IlaSe milnrHvntJ,yiavoryour nomination and
Son 5? thf 3 U.y of the DePlo vor your elec-
Wo ?ellv?tfi?Pf Sldent of the Unltd States
success lr fill ? J1? yUr candidacy will insure
you represent6 nXt clS- We believe that
prlnctolea ,i ?ther man represents, those
appeal for im,iP cleB. upon wuich we must
can peonlo nmf Sf ty .f the votes of the Ameri-
w?y for tho nnl?1' ln 0ur opIuIon' are neces
countr?. haP1noBB and prosperity of the
manlSuM iD V,l0W ot thiB IJU"lIc de"
nomlnatton fnr m Bn declare whether, if the
solicited and V1 came to you un-
'In suffittinf n?iht' you wI11 accept it.
Bldorlng vour nLJhi8 ,rG?uest w are not con
regapdit ZjJv ,0f1'sonal interests. . We do not
or the nrefZnnt0 c?nsIder either tho Interests
nominat on for ,h -Y man as regards the
unauon for the presidency. Wo are express-
ffKfc.
