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Editorial
October 12, 1905
Iron County Register
Ironton, Iron County, Missouri
What is this article about?
Editorial denounces Republican use of massive corporate funds from railroads, banks, trusts, and insurance companies to corrupt U.S. elections since 1896, citing Mr. Perkins' testimony on New York Life's $50,000 contribution in 1904 and larger prior sums, warning of resulting graft and potential Wall Street rule.
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When the democrats claimed, in 1896
and in succeeding campaigns, that an
enormous corruption fund was raised
from the railroads, banks, trust companies,
insurance corporations and other
sources, it was indignantly denied by
the republicans. Since those campaigns
the evidence has been leaking out that
those charges were true and the amount
not exaggerated. Enough money was
subscribed to buy every voter that was
willing to sell his vote in the doubtful
states, and the result in 1896 showed that
of the votes so bought about 20,000 divided
between the close states decided the
election.
The latest evidence on the providers
of that corruption fund has been given
by Mr. Perkins, partner of J. P. Morgan
and also connected with the New
York Life Insurance company, before
the committee of the New York legislature,
now investigating the life insurance
companies of that state. He testified
that the New York Life Insurance
company paid $50,000 last fall to the
republican campaign fund, and that
greater sums were paid in 1896 and
1900.
These enormous contributions from
one corporation indicate the vast
amount of money used to corrupt the
voters of the United States, for there
is no doubt the other insurance companies
paid similar amounts, and the
railroads and trusts even more.
Eighteen hundred and ninety-six was
the beginning of the era of graft and
corruption that has since spread like a
prairie fire from one end of the country
to the other and that has resulted in the
scandals that have been exposed of the
republican management of our national
affairs and those states where that party
is in the ascendancy. Will the honest
voters allow such a system to continue?
If they do, it is not too much to say that
the republic will be undermined and a
Wall street oligarchy of wealth will
soon rule instead of the people
and in succeeding campaigns, that an
enormous corruption fund was raised
from the railroads, banks, trust companies,
insurance corporations and other
sources, it was indignantly denied by
the republicans. Since those campaigns
the evidence has been leaking out that
those charges were true and the amount
not exaggerated. Enough money was
subscribed to buy every voter that was
willing to sell his vote in the doubtful
states, and the result in 1896 showed that
of the votes so bought about 20,000 divided
between the close states decided the
election.
The latest evidence on the providers
of that corruption fund has been given
by Mr. Perkins, partner of J. P. Morgan
and also connected with the New
York Life Insurance company, before
the committee of the New York legislature,
now investigating the life insurance
companies of that state. He testified
that the New York Life Insurance
company paid $50,000 last fall to the
republican campaign fund, and that
greater sums were paid in 1896 and
1900.
These enormous contributions from
one corporation indicate the vast
amount of money used to corrupt the
voters of the United States, for there
is no doubt the other insurance companies
paid similar amounts, and the
railroads and trusts even more.
Eighteen hundred and ninety-six was
the beginning of the era of graft and
corruption that has since spread like a
prairie fire from one end of the country
to the other and that has resulted in the
scandals that have been exposed of the
republican management of our national
affairs and those states where that party
is in the ascendancy. Will the honest
voters allow such a system to continue?
If they do, it is not too much to say that
the republic will be undermined and a
Wall street oligarchy of wealth will
soon rule instead of the people
What sub-type of article is it?
Partisan Politics
Crime Or Punishment
Social Reform
What keywords are associated?
Campaign Corruption
Republican Funding
Corporate Contributions
Election Buying
Insurance Scandals
Graft Era
Political Oligarchy
What entities or persons were involved?
Democrats
Republicans
Mr. Perkins
J. P. Morgan
New York Life Insurance Company
Railroads
Banks
Trust Companies
Insurance Corporations
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Republican Campaign Corruption From Corporate Funds Since 1896
Stance / Tone
Indignant Exposure Of Corruption
Key Figures
Democrats
Republicans
Mr. Perkins
J. P. Morgan
New York Life Insurance Company
Railroads
Banks
Trust Companies
Insurance Corporations
Key Arguments
- democrats' claims of enormous corruption fund from corporations in 1896 and later were true and not exaggerated
- enough money was subscribed to buy votes in doubtful states, with 20,000 bought votes deciding the 1896 election
- new york life insurance company paid $50,000 to republican campaign fund in 1904, and greater sums in 1896 and 1900
- other insurance companies, railroads, and trusts paid similar or larger amounts
- 1896 began era of graft and corruption spreading across the country
- republican management led to scandals in national affairs and states where party is in power
- honest voters must not allow such system to continue or republic will be undermined by wall street oligarchy