Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 October 1908 — ROOSEVELT-FORKER-TAFTAND STANDARD OIL [ARTICLE]

ROOSEVELT-FORKER-TAFT-AND STANDARD OIL

Tom Marshall promptly called Hanly’s bluff on the proposition whether he would sign a bill repealing the present county local option law. Here is his answer: “I would not sign such a bill unless the Moore remonstrance law were re-enacted and a vote given to the people in the wards and townships as set forth in the democratic platform.” Many of the best lawyers hold to the opinion that the county option law repeals the Moore remonstrance law regardless of the fact that it pretends not to do so. One law can not be used to defeat the provisions of the other.

At the close of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln saidt “Yes, we may congratulate ourselves that the cruel war is drawing to a close. It has cost a vast amount of blood and treasure. It has been a trying hour for the republic, but I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of our country. As a result of the war corporations have been entroned, and an era of corporations in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all Wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the republic; destroyed.”, These words should be pondered over by the voter before casting his ballot in the coming election. The condition which Lincoln foresaw is at hand.

Haring constructed Taft and th* officeholders’ machine that nominated him, President Hoosevelt is willing to go any length in an effort to help his candidate. His statement that the Standard Oil company is unfriendly to Taft shows how far he is willing to go. But if he expects the people to follow him his conceit must be colossal. Speaking of the president's utterance on this subject, the Louisville CourierJournal says: “If this did not emanate from an officer of such an exalted position as the president it would be farce. As it is, it is wcked audacity. The forces back of the Republican Foraker are back of the Republican party in this campaign. The whole Standard Oil contingent is not for Bryan, but for Taft for president. The steel trust magnates are not for Bryan, but for Taft. The stock gamblers, each and every one, are not for Bryan, but for Taft. Wall street is bodily in the Taft column. Aldrich, Cannon, Jim Sherman, Harriman—they're for Taft. You cannot go through the money-lined offices of tariff-protected industries without finding the atmosphere heavy with Taft sentiment. The whole crowd are all so xealously and shoutingly for Taft that they are circulating diligently the tip that if Taft isn't elected stocks will go to pieces, business will fall off and there will be another panic as bad as the Republican panic of last year—and this. Taft is good enough for any of them. Anything to elect him! The weak-minded child in the street knows this. The syndicates do not want Bryan. Mr. Taft, Mr. Roosevelt, Mr. Hitchcock, Mr. Crane, Mr. Jim Sherman —none of these can point out a single stock gambler, malefactor of wealth or Standard Oil officer who is for Bryan for president. Therefore the president discredits himself by his effort to make a case to overcome the stigma put upon the Republican party by the exposure of Mr. Foraker, supposing that Mr. Foraker is as black as he is painted.

"Nor can the president name any Democrat In congress who, backed by the 'sinister interests,* stood in the way of the reforms he demanded of the national legislature. The Democratic representatives and senators were the president's mainstays in the a. enactment of legislation which he now so vehemently boasts of as the achievements of his administration. Does not this refute his own claim that the Democratic party is the property of the Interests which backed Senator Foraker? For the president is as well aware as are the citizens with fair memories that the opposition to the Roosevelt reforms came from his own party! Right and left, in front and in rear the foes of his program stood, • all wearing the Republican label. The oombat was with them. They were the forces that *IOO-1 nn -piard for the Interests. If the president were not so anxious to fight his candidate’s fight at whatever cost he would be cheeked In his headlong vituperation by an iota of gratitude toward his Democratic - assistants " . ■ -p