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Editorial
May 9, 1910
The New Haven Union
New Haven, New Haven County, Connecticut
What is this article about?
Editorial criticizes Attorney General Wickersham for drafting a railroad regulation bill that favored corporations by weakening anti-trust laws, after consulting railroad presidents. Democrats and progressive Republicans thwarted it. Accuses Wickersham of corporate bias under President Taft.
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WICKERSHAM THWARTED.
The Democrats, assisted by a handful of fighting progressive Republicans, have forced the administration to abandon some of the worst of the corporation-serving clauses placed in the railroad regulation bill by Attorney General Wickersham
Wickersham framed this bill after a conference with six railroad presidents.
Wall street knew long in advance of the public appearance of the bill that it would be so drawn as to annul the Sherman anti-trust law. Railroad interests bought and sold stock on the strength of their advance information.
Had the railroad regulation bill become a law as prepared by Wickersham, it would have practically destroyed all that has been accomplished in the last twenty years to give the government some measure of control over the railroads of the country.
No attorney general of the United States has ever been revealed in just the position Mr. Wickersham now occupies.
Instead of having drawn a bill that would tend to place greater safe-guards about the rights of the people of the United States, as might naturally be expected from a public officer who is receiving a salary on the assumption that he is giving such protection to the people, Wickersham has been charged on the floor of the Senate with having attempted to take from the masses even such inadequate safe-guards as they now enjoy, while at the same time giving the corporate interests the right to merge and to do other things that the Sherman law has forbidden them from doing.
At the time of Wickersham's appointment it was asserted that he had been selected by President Taft in deference to the wishes of the corporations of the country, who had spent money and coerced workingmen to vote the Republican ticket, and who demanded as compensation for this service the privilege of naming the attorney general.
The usual interest of special privilege in this office may be realized at full value when it is understood that the attorney general is in absolute charge of the prosecuting machinery of the government.
Whether Wickersham's appointment really was the result of a pre-election arrangement or not, the trusts have had no occasion to be dissatisfied with the President's selection. Whenever the rights of the people and special privilege come into conflict, Mr. Wickersham decides favorably to corporate interests and against the people. This is what the records of his office show.
The Democrats, assisted by a handful of fighting progressive Republicans, have forced the administration to abandon some of the worst of the corporation-serving clauses placed in the railroad regulation bill by Attorney General Wickersham
Wickersham framed this bill after a conference with six railroad presidents.
Wall street knew long in advance of the public appearance of the bill that it would be so drawn as to annul the Sherman anti-trust law. Railroad interests bought and sold stock on the strength of their advance information.
Had the railroad regulation bill become a law as prepared by Wickersham, it would have practically destroyed all that has been accomplished in the last twenty years to give the government some measure of control over the railroads of the country.
No attorney general of the United States has ever been revealed in just the position Mr. Wickersham now occupies.
Instead of having drawn a bill that would tend to place greater safe-guards about the rights of the people of the United States, as might naturally be expected from a public officer who is receiving a salary on the assumption that he is giving such protection to the people, Wickersham has been charged on the floor of the Senate with having attempted to take from the masses even such inadequate safe-guards as they now enjoy, while at the same time giving the corporate interests the right to merge and to do other things that the Sherman law has forbidden them from doing.
At the time of Wickersham's appointment it was asserted that he had been selected by President Taft in deference to the wishes of the corporations of the country, who had spent money and coerced workingmen to vote the Republican ticket, and who demanded as compensation for this service the privilege of naming the attorney general.
The usual interest of special privilege in this office may be realized at full value when it is understood that the attorney general is in absolute charge of the prosecuting machinery of the government.
Whether Wickersham's appointment really was the result of a pre-election arrangement or not, the trusts have had no occasion to be dissatisfied with the President's selection. Whenever the rights of the people and special privilege come into conflict, Mr. Wickersham decides favorably to corporate interests and against the people. This is what the records of his office show.
What sub-type of article is it?
Economic Policy
Partisan Politics
Legal Reform
What keywords are associated?
Wickersham
Railroad Regulation
Sherman Anti Trust
Corporate Interests
Taft Administration
Political Corruption
What entities or persons were involved?
Wickersham
Democrats
Progressive Republicans
President Taft
Railroad Presidents
Wall Street
Trusts
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Criticism Of Attorney General Wickersham's Railroad Regulation Bill Favoring Corporations
Stance / Tone
Strongly Critical Of Wickersham And Corporate Influence In Government
Key Figures
Wickersham
Democrats
Progressive Republicans
President Taft
Railroad Presidents
Wall Street
Trusts
Key Arguments
Democrats And Progressive Republicans Forced Abandonment Of Corporation Serving Clauses In The Railroad Bill
Wickersham Framed The Bill After Conferring With Six Railroad Presidents
Wall Street Anticipated The Bill Would Annul The Sherman Anti Trust Law And Traded Stocks Accordingly
The Bill As Prepared Would Destroy Government Control Over Railroads Achieved In The Last Twenty Years
Wickersham Is Accused Of Attempting To Remove Safeguards For The People While Allowing Corporate Mergers Forbidden By Sherman Law
Wickersham's Appointment Was Allegedly In Deference To Corporate Wishes For Supporting Republicans
The Attorney General Controls Government Prosecuting Machinery, Benefiting Special Privilege
Wickersham Consistently Decides In Favor Of Corporate Interests Against The People