NOVEMBER 30, 1905
&6s Nobrasko. Indopondcnt
PAGE 3
vould have been no more guilty of theft than it was when it supplied
its agents with false guages to discredit and ruin rivals.
John D. Rockefeller, II. II. Rogers, Henry M. Flagler and
other Standard Oil men have been subpoened to testify in the
Missouri suit. What these men will tell it is impossible to predict,
but it is not likely that they will imitate the example of the life in
surance officials, who are so weak in the financial world that thev
must confess their crimes under promise of immunity from punish
ment. The law has had no terrors for the Standard Oil kings in the
past. Thomas W. Lawson, indeed, has accused II. II. Rogers, the
directing genius in Standard Oil affairs, of perjuring himself in the
most cold-blooded fashion, and Mr. Rogers has never denied the" ac
cusation, nor has he ever filed suit for libel against Mr. Lawson.
t$
REIGN OF GRAFT NEARING AN END
Thomas W. Lawson's announcement that he has obtained
enough proxies to control the Mutual and Equitable life insurance
companies will be hailed with satisfaction not only by those who
desire a change of administration in these companies but also by
those who enjoy a frenzied financial fight. And unless the grafters
flee from their eager Yankee pursuer, he will certainly contribute
some new thrills to their feverish existence. It is reported that the
McCurdy family have already removed their banners from the bat
tlements and have run up the white flag of surrender, and if it be
true that they are to withdraw from the Mutual without a fight
there will be a feeling of sore disappointment in the Lawson
camp.
A new deal is demanded in the life insurance business and
thousands of policyholders believe that they can make the new deal
a square deal by accepting the leadership of Lawson. If the change
should result in honest life insurance, in the expulsion of all the
grafters and in the reduction of expenses to a point that will per
mit of lower rates, then Mr. Lawson will deserve the lasting gratitude
of policyholders and their beneficiaries. He possesses a dangerous,
power, but it is not likely that he can misuse it while the public con-
tinues acutely vigilant.
These are evil days for shams and hypocrisies, and the result -will
be an era of opportunity, for the honest business man. Success
will be open not so much as of old to those who transact business
by the rules of graft. That ancient and. honored maxim, "honesty
is the best policy," will regain its lost place. After all it has not
been obsolete so long as many of the younger generation might be
led to suspect by the revelations now being made. Its disuse has
been contemporaneous with graft, and graft is a noxious growth
which has sprung up and flourished in the last thirty years. Dis
honesty has always existed, and in a sense graft has always ex
isted, but graft as it is understood today has grown out of the com
plexities of modern business. Its tricks are new and their success
has been great because frenzied finance has been shrouded in mys
tery for the great mass of the people. But with-a clearer under
standing of financial ways and means the science of graft has ceased
to be a mystery. The new knowledge has made it possible to remedy
evils which hitherto have not been dealt with because they have not
been understood.
t& v&
WHY IS THE PRESIDENT SILENT?
President Roosevelt's treatment of Henry M. "Whitney of
Massachusetts prompts this question: "Why should a president
conceal his views on reciprocity and tariff revision."
Mr. Whitney stated in some of his speeches that tbe president
was for reciprocity with Canada. The president stoutly declared
that he had been wilfully misrepresented. Mr. Whitney then ex
pressed regret that the president was not for reciprocity, and the
president, in still greater rage, declared that Whitney was guilty of
"another willful misrepresentation."
Seemingly the president does not want his views on reciprocity
ami tariff revision known. Rut why should he remain silent on these
subjects? Roth are important issues and call for early action by
congress. President Rwsevelt should stale his views, and thu.-i
avoid ln-ing wilfully misrepresented.
Oftentimes when the, president allows himself to ! guided by
hve for a friend or hatred for an opponent he goes wrong. Then
it i that he forgets the "square deal" doctrine, which has won
him the admiration and the support of the American jeoplo regard
Km of party.
At one time President Rtevelt wan for free trade and m de
clared himself. Tt In to bo hojed that he was not wilfully inisrepre
tenting hia view. Apparently he U no longer for free trade, but
just what opinions he holds regarding reciprocity and tariff revision
are carefully concealed. Our downright president has been silent
on inese questions too long.
tC
NEBRASKA'S RAILWAY SENATORS
One useful purpose has been served by the publication of Sen
ator Foraker's bill. It has "smoked out" our Senator Millard,
whose recent refusal to declare himself on railway regulation led
to the suspicion that he was against the president. This suspicion
has now been confirmed by the senator, who says he likes the For
aker bill and "thinks it will -be satisfactory to everybody." It is
t be hoped that this broad statement does not take in Senator Bur
kett. It would indeed be sad to find Senator Burkett retreating
under fire after making such a brilliant reputation as an independent
'statesman in the republican convention.
It is reported that some of our state officials have "recanted"
on the pass question since the election, but there seems to be some
doubt on this point. At all events Senator Burkett should not be
influenced by the action of lesser statesmen. But hero a great dif
ficulty confronts him. The Foraker bill contains a provision against
passes. The nature of this provision is. not disclosed in the pub
lished reports, but if it is no stronger than the plank in the repub
lican platform adopted by the state convention it should prove
facinating to the senator and may even win him into a reluctant
support of Senator Foraker's bill in spite of his announcement that
he stands with the president on the question of railway regula
tion. ; " " '
"v fc? t$ fc-
REBATES IN LIFE INSURANCE
For an humble life insurance agent to "write business" by
granting rebates is rated a serious crime. It is a great temptation,
and many agents have been discharged for sharing their commissions
with those who take out policies. Some of the insurance companies
have made drastic rules regarding .rebates and the penalties pro
vided have duly impressed the agents, especially those new to the
business.
Now conies Gage E. Tarbell of the Equitable Life and admits
that as an official he was granted rebates on the policies he took out
in other companies. He testified that these courtesies are commonly
granted to life insurance officials, and yet in New York state, where
Mr. Tarbell lives, it is against the law to discriminate between pol
icyholders in the matter of premiums, and which is more to the,
point the Equitable makes it an offense punishable by dismissal for
its agents to grant rebates. As in the railway business the rebate
system makes it necessary to exact higher rates from the ordinary
shipper so in the life insurance business higher rates must be ob
tained from the ordinary policyholders to make up for the rebates
granted favored policyholders.
$ t , tr5
In the recent New York municipal campaign the question of
campaign funds was warmly discussed and some of the candidates
were in the habit of asking, "where did ho get it?" They were
referring plainly to Boss Murphy, who has failed to explain. W.
R. Hearst has just made a statement in which he frankly announces
that he got $08,000 of his campaign fund out of his own barrel.
Japan has perfected the Korean protectorate, which means that
Japan now owns and controls Korea. It will bo recalled that when
Japan went to war it was with the avowed purpose of driving Russia
out of Manchuria and it was strenuouslv denied that territorial
aggrandizement was contemplated.
The Independent yocs to press each Thursday afternoon , but
Thanksgiving day always males it necessary to have the press work
done on the. following day. This week, therefore, the paper goes to
press on Friday morning and is mailed to subscribers about a day
later than usual.
The cattle baron who escape! with a small fine and a sentence
of six hours in custody of the United States marshal were almost if
not quite "law-hoiMt" in Judge Mungr-r's eyes.
Seeing that it wax useless to end his warships against the com
bined naval forces of the powers the sultan has sent cigarettes instead.
Senator Millard might offer as his excuse that a railway senator
tdiould not lo expected to dvlare against his friend' in a crisis
