Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1899-09-21
DECLARES IMPERIALISM
The PARAMOUNT ISSUE
Fred White Denounces the Admin
lstration's Expansion Poliev
In Opening Speech.
PHILIPPINES WAR A CRIME
"In the Long List of Bloody Deeds
That Disgrace Humankind" 1t
Has No Parallei-.Othcr
Issues Supot iinatcd.

Inat Disgrace HNmankjnd" 1t
Has No para',el--Othcr
Issues Supoi .iinatcd.
Davenport, Ia, Sept. 16.-".This issue
of Imperialism, which from the very
nature of the case, in view of the mo.
mentous consequences which must inn
mediately and necessarily begin to fol-
low, has become so transcendently inn
portant that we are safe in saying it
sweeps temporarily aside all other
questions.
I'm the long list of bloody deeds that
me, is so entirely black and dastartlly
lng-the carrying of war by
ed homes of an innocent people who
never did US the slightest wrong, and
who battled for Their freedom Gem
turies before the American colonies
raised the banner of revolt against
George III, 10 heed not the holy as
pirations of II people who are striving
to secure only their God-given heritage
ct freedom is worthy of the barbarian.
10 slaughter such a people and apply
the torch to their homes are acts that
define the tyraht' Tel ME not that 1
Shall be conservative in the use of my
language, diplomatic in my utterances
and tolerant in my criticisms. AS 1
study this question from day to day
and learn fact after fact my indigna-
ton intensities and ] find it imposs bile
to dilute my language with modifying
sentences"
This is the keynote of the opening
speech of Fred White, democratic cam
didate for governor. Mr.. White
opened his campaign at the Turner
grand opera house, in this city, last
night, fairly large audience turning
out to hear him. Mayor Baker pre-
sided and introduced the nominee as
the farmer, soldier and democratic
candidate for governor"
MIR. White, at the opening of his
speech, devoted some time to the
tariff. He quoted declaration in the
republican state platform, chat in
dustry and commerce should be gov
erned by natural laws This, he de-
clared, was out and out free trade.
1t was a meaningless and absurd
utterance in the platform of party
that still adhered to Dingleyism, and
was put in to fool the people, 1.-THE re-
publican politicians hearing the omi-
nous sounds of the gathering storm.
Having sown the wind, they are now
trying to avert the inevitable, the
reaping of the whirlwind."
The Trust Evil.
Mr.. White then discussed the trust
question. He said:
The rapid multiplication of trusts.
which If not speedily arrested must end
in radically revolutionizing our state of
society by eliminating all competitive in
dustries and individualism and substitute
Ing therefor an enervating. degrading,
serfdom, is a truth becoming every day so
self-evident that it is forcing itself even
into unwilling minds This truth has
stimulated inquiry and discussion; these
in turn have generated distrust and APP
prehension. and these in turn are cul1ni-
mating in protests and murmurings
among the voters. This has so frightened
the republican pub pol;ieians that here in
heroic remedy of imploring the blessings
''of the natural laws of the world." The
republican party thus puts itself upon
the destructive consequences of its own
acts, by invoking the beniiicent action of
the very law-the law OF nature-which
for over thirty years, this party has
The trust evil, as any other evil. is cur
able only when the active causes that
produce it are eradioated. You can as
easily conquer intemperance by continu-
ing the drink habit as easily subdue the
flame by feeding 1t oil. as to crush out
the trusts by leaving untouched. the ac-
tive causes that made possible their for
nation. Three potential causes exist UNI
der the joint operation Of which the trust
evil so Justify flourishes. One is natural
cause. has always existed and will so
fr1ya ic n Il,
other. two are purely artificial causes, and
are far easier of solution. The natural
cause is mans everlasting, unreasoning
avar1ciousness. The two artificial causes
are tirst. the protective tariff and sec
ond, rail1 load discrimination. 1t is self
evident that IL mans greed be given full
latitude that some trusts could exist even
II we had no tariff or railroad discrimi-
nation; but Of this subdivision of the sub
ject. l will speak later on.
II l had the power should promptly
pealing; first the trust fostering part of
the tariff. and. second, by bringing about
government ownership of railroads.
This latter should certainly not do
from choice. but froxs actual necessity
II could be convinced. (and 1 always
hold myself ready when found in error
to conform my convictions to the TRUTH
laws that would so regulate railways as
to serve and preserve the public interests;
that would do justice not only to the rail-
roads but also to the people who must
use them; then ! would certainly be one
of the last to seek to disturb private and
corporate ownership, for / verify believe
IN the Jeffersonian doctrine that the
en- the widest field consistent with the
public good. But all our experience for
twenty-five years has been so Invariably
disappointing in trying to regulate these
public carriers, that all earnest students
of this question are concluding that gov
eminent ownership is the only solution of
the railway problem.
Government Railroads.
For a government to own and operate
the railways of the country is as yet a
bugaboo that scares some timfd people.
It has long since ceased to brighten me-
We are told government ownership would
be ruinous, as it would bring into public
employ such vast array of voters that
It would be ever after impossible to dis
say, this point Is not we'll taken. Under
public ownership all the people of the en-
tire country would be equally interested
in efficient railway. service and manage
ment, and why? Simply because of their
very natural anxiety for the safe trans
portation Of themselves and of their prop
erty.
Thus. by the very force of circumstan-
ces. this would be business affair and
not a political consideration: and hence
all the people, regardless of party, in
spite of all their preiudices. may say,
even In spite of themselves. would unite
| in demanding that railway employees be
rendered absolutely independent of all
political influence.
Let me now recur to the question of
trust evil, mans greed. Let me first tell
you how the republican party has dealt
with 1t. 1t has studiously encouraged
mans greedy. disposition by multiplying
the opportunities for its qualification.
THE SECRET ne MINN REAnINC