Show J r 4 COURTS COURT'S CURIOUS DECISION r t 1 Once more has the Iho New York sui supreme supreme su- su i- i preme premo court rendered a decision that is fearfully and wonderfully made In Inthe t the thu case ol or the lne insurance companies cOI ac accused usel of having wrongfully given of oC S. S company compan funds for campaign pur- pur i poSe the tho court holds that no crime crimea cS 4 has a be been leen oa committed and yet that tho time timeS S 5 money can bo 10 recovered in a civil civi suit suitS full i S b by an any stockholder in the time company S or by a policyholder S J How can the they rec recover ver the money in ina ina a civil action acton unless the time officials t I wrongfully disposed t of oC thu mono money And how can on tho they wrongfully dispose e el l S of trust funds without being gUit guilty of 4 violating tho timo criminal laws It I Is one of f the tw things thing's the tho New York supreme court renders Impossible of oC under under- r- r I standing It I t Is far from the time province of this timis S paper to say that the he election electon of or Mr Bryan DInn in 11 1896 would not have been beena f a t great Injury to the country Ver Very likely that contingency a as tho time campaign cam- cam proceeded was was viewed with wih a 1 5 great gret deal of or alarm by men of the thet S t S r. r Fi soundest judgment rem Very Vel likely every t honest honet eCo effort t seemed Justified to prevent pre pre- S t vent the result But nut was wa any man S' S r i warranted in taking money a part part of C Cr 5 which was contributed b by followers r of Mr r Bryan believers in him and spending it I for the defeating of or their ik candidate candidate ate 11 Suppose an nn Income tax bill bi had imd hl been Ir l before congress congre and the tho men men muon managIng manag- manag 1 Ing Ins the tho finances of the Insurance cornS comI companies com corn S I S had imad hal been boemi very ery sure aure such a lawS law Jaw S I would bu bo hind bad tal t for l' l tho the bu business interS Inter Inter- eti elt of or the country In tho the faca of or 1 S S tho the fact that certainly some somo policyholders policy policy- holders differed from front that view would the directors director have been warranted In fn spending company funds In fn trying to defeat detent the tho enactment of oC much uch a n law Suppose a nl now nw w state hind bad hal been heen I knocking for 0 or admittance to the union and amI the time directors director were very sure that Its admission ion would bo be bad for foa the alm rest ret of or the time nation naton woul would be he detrimental detrimental detri detri- mental to the Interests of business and destructive of or the tue political balance balance bal hal ance now so BO nice nicely adjusted Would they be bo warrant d in spending compa company com coin pa pany papy 1 funds in propagating a doctrine contrary to to that of ot admission ion Certainly not And if It the they were not warranted In using trust funds In such a n cause by imy what logic could the they be warranted In spending It i to lo Influence the time political action acton of oC time the country Besides this was not even so subject to discretionary discretionary Investment as a trust fund would be It I simply was other i peo pies pie's money They Timey were taking the cash caRh of or certain mon at ai least a re respectable re- re minority of oC those who cm- cm them and amI using It I for Co the time de do- do feat fent of time tho tw political aim of those same minority men mEn Ve We think the time political leaning of the directors was right and ahl that the country countI was menaced b by the success sought by Mr fr Bryan BIan But that does not warrant an any milan man In using mone money not his own In lie tho struggle It I was unfair It I was wa u a lol violation tOI of oC political freedom It I was an invasion of the time rights of or citizens And no result resul of an aim election could be he so harmful l as is the principle that a n custodian of noney monC may disburse it I according to he tho dictates of his lila own prejudice and andIn andin In n violation of or law nw It n is to he be hoped hopel that the time case may maybe maybe be better betor a adjudicated and that AmerIcans Amer- Amer leans cans may go forward to to future campaigns campaigns cam cam- unfair lr advantage on omi onither either ither side and with wih a a universal roe roe- of the fundamental fact tact that thai the he sacred discharge e of a trust Is more Important that thai the time defeat or election of f an any citizen of the time republic |