Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-01-01
OUR CANDIDATE IN 1900
President Gates of Grinnell College
Denounces Plutocracy.

Government Control or Ownership Of
the Great Monopolles a
Public Necessity.
A few weeks since President Gates
OF Grinnell college addressed large
audience in Plymouth church in Des
Moines and.in the afternoon address
sed the Y. M. G. A. His address to
that body calls from the Dubuque
Herald severe criticism. After al
luding to Rev. Geo. d. Heron, one
OF the grandest men of the age, to his
speeches and magazine articles in
very uncomplimentary, not to say
unjnst and untruthful terms it speaks
OF President, Gates and his address
above alluded to thus:
and now comes the president of
the college, Rev. Mr.. Gates, who was
believed to be as sound, conservative
and correct as the head of such an
institution should be. But short
time since he delivered a discourse at
Des Moines full of the new doctrine.
which proved to be not bad second
to the matter sent out by his profess
sor. So much so that the Des Moines
papers took it up, and announced
their total disapproval and renunci-
alton of what President Gates said.
How would it do if the trustees of so
respectable an educational institu-
ton as Grinnell claims to be should
suggest to the faculty the ADVISABLE
" OF confining their energies to their
regular duties and forego their efforts
In behalf of the new doctrine"
The Herald is not sufficiently hon
est to publish even a synopsis of the
address it condemns, that the people
may judge for themselves whether it
was of the dangerous character and
tendency attributed to it by that
paper. The truth is, the address
was severe only upon the truculent
subserviency the Herald and like
sheets has exhibited in betraying the
people for the thrift that follows
fawning at the feet of power, and
that is why it squirms.
His topic for the day before the
Y. M. Q. A. was Free Demo-
crazy" incidentally abiding to
the tendency of the government
to act for the rich instead of for
the entire, people. The following
points in that address we clip from
the Des Moines Daily News and pre-
Stunning they are correct, ask the pnb-
lie to read and judge for itself.
He stood up for the national gov
ernmental ownership of railroads,
telegraphs, coal mines, gas wells and
all such great industries. He said
three obstacles were in the way of a
complete democracy. The enormous
extent of territory, the university
of our interests and the numerous
race and, sectional problems. He
said that while universal manhood
suffrage existed, it was not enough.
He argued for woman suffrage and
said he had never heard a good ar.
gument against it. This country has
political and a social theoretical
democracy. but not yet an industrial
theoretical democracy. The United
States are seven times richer today
than at the beginning of the war.
This war cost 1000 millions of dollars.
That is the price we paid fooling with
right. Mr.. Gates declared we are
already a plutocracy in industry.
Wealthy men can purchase them
selves into power politically, ecclesi-
astically. educationally and other.
wise, He referred to the great gifts
of Rockefeller and called them plain
stealing. He said the Grinnell col
lege would not accept such gifts. not
while he was president, He argued
for Christian manhood, an ideal CT
tizenship. In another vein he said
that the laboring men, farmers
mechanics, etc., are doing the read
ing and thinking on the great ques
lions of reform and not the merchant
and banker. This he considered E
good omen. He said there is danger
that the educational people may be
domi mated by wealth; that editors
sanctums, university presidents of
fees and even the public are in dan
Z ger of being throttled. He said it ii
indeed serious matter when wealth
shall dictate what shall be taught tn,
young. Coming to the last campaign
he said it was not based merely on
the money question but there were
moral phases to it. In it was found
that the smooth politician had giver
way to another kind, a straightfor
ward advocate of right and justice
The people had become tired of hav.
ing the country managed by the
adroit politician. He said the PEG
pie were not SO welded to politica
parties as formerly; that the big
newspapers failed to run the cam
paign as they desired and on every
hand are seen evidences of reform
He believed In estimating men above
their possession. He wanted the jni
tiative and referendum, also that
government savings banks be oper'
ated for the beuefit of the masses Of
the naonla and said ALI ytheae reforms