Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1899-10-11

| tnat congress Will ultimately act on
this matter for the protection Of the
people, and / believe that the several
states would promptly ratify a consti-
tutional amendment looking to the ac-
complishment of this important end"
The speaker referred at length to
the Spanish war and went into the
official records in detail and in con-
clusiOn said:
Without violating the traditions of
the fathers responsibilities are upon
us; opportunities are with us, and it
only remains to be seen whether we
will fail our country in meeting these
grand opportunities, when in doing so
we will not only bless our own people
but carry blessings to other lands. Let
us not run from the higher command
which orders us to aid in the civiliza-
ton and advancement of other parts
of the world, and above all let us not
run from an unfriendly gun. Let us
never for one moment contemplate the
disgrace of the American republic by
admitting that we are incapable with
all our vast power of sending our
civilization to territories blessed by
the American flag"
Gov. Shaw at Jefferson.
Governor Shaw was the speaker at
Jefferson. He devoted considerable
time to the consideration of the trust
question and said:
Personally believe very much can
be accomplished through methods
which have been quite generally ap-
proved, that of publicity. If the differ
ent states would provide that corpora
lions organized within their confines
should make report of the original
expenditure Of their capital, so as to
reveal the fact whether it was watered
or not, and make reports at stated
times concerning their business and
profits, as banks are required to do,
believe it would go far toward curbing
the evil. For instance if corpora
ton were paying 10 per cent. dividends
it would invite competition, and with
plenty of money there would be no
difficulty in organizing a competing
corporation"
He suggested that If the Democrats
were so anxious to destroy the trusts
they ought to formulate bill, and If
such one was formulated that could
be enforced he would recommend it's
passage.
Such a bill should contain certain
points, as follows: 1t must permit
the organization sof laborers into
unions for the purpose Of adj
yancing the price of labor;
but it must prohibit the consumers of
labor from organizing to advance the
price of the products of labor. 1t must
permit the southern planters and the
northern wheat growers to organize to
limit the output Of cotton and wheat,
so as to avoid excessive production,
but it must prohibit the manufacturers
of cotton goods and flour from combin-
ing to limit the output of their plants.
He spoke at length on the Philippine
question and said he had no more SYM
pathy with those who wanted to see
our forces in the islands defeated than
he had with those who called the boys
in blue Lincoln hirelings."
A. b. Cummins at Charles City.
Mr.. Cummins opened his address
with a hearty Endorsement Of the reso-
luton adopted by the last general as
sembly for a constitutional amendment
providing for biennial elections. OF
Fred White the speaker said he be-
lieyed him to be an honest man, but
disqualified for any office, state or ma
tiOnal, because he miscOnceives nation
al character, national needs, national
growth, and indeed fails to comprehend |
what nation is and how it can sur |
vive. "His views upon public affairs"
continued Mr.. Cummins, ''are so
cramped and distorted, so narrow and |
that it would be crime |
to assign to him the leadership of the |
magnificent state that marches along |
in the forefront of the national col |
umn."
Mr.. Cummins then gave an eloquent |
tribute to the battleship Iowa at the
battle of Santiago, and added that |
while the heart of every person in |
Iowa thrilled when it was known that |
the Iowa had the place of honor in
that final encounter of the war, there
was one man who should have sat |
silent and alone at that glad hour.
That man was Fred Z. White who in
the Fiftysecond congress at every OPP
pOrtunity voted against the appropria-
tons for the building Of the Iowa and
the Brooklyn. The speaker did not
feel frightened over the Democratic
charge that we are violating the con-
stitution and the principles Of the
declaration of independence. because
the Democrats have continually
charged us with mutilation Of the con-
stitutiOn, and besides the Democrats
are poor expounders Of that document.
The Democrats have constructed a
Trojan horse which they have labelled
'The Philippines" and on which they
hope to ride into power, but inside that
horse are the true soldiers of De-
whose war cry is the free coin
age of silver. The speaker then referred
at length to the money question and
with strong presentation Of
the true facts concerning the Philip
pines. He also spoke of the trusts and
lfter careful discussion of them said
that while it was the duty of all to
ponder upon this manifesto
ion Of commercial life he had nothing
put Indignation and contempt for the
man who attempts to make the sub I
ect a partison one.
Other Speeches.
The other meetings were held at
Srinnell by Congressman Lacey and
Hon. G. ID. Perkins; Shenandoah by
Mcpherson and Hep
)urn; at Stuart by State Treasurer
Ierrcott; at Indianola by Congressman
Hull; at Algona by Congressman Cou- (,
ins. The limits Of this article will not
,ermit of reference to all Of them and |
hey must be reserved for another !