Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-10-28
CONTROL VS.. OWNERSHIP.

CldlCo III Poc>
operation of the anthricite coal
mines. This is evidently done
for the purpose of holding to the
party that class of democratic
voters which is most deeply ting
ed with socialism and shows
purpose OF embracing social de-
mocracy. 1t is to be expected
that democratic leaders in New
York and elsewhere will frame
party platforms and convention
resolutions so as to appeal as tor
cibly as they dare, to both social
lists and populists. Indeed this
has been done so long and per-
sistently that cd line democrats
find little in modern democracy
they eau recognize except the
name. Hill, the New York
leader, knows that the question
Of government ownership is not
now, and cannot now be made
an issue. He knows that the
American people, the plain, hon
est, conservative masses are not
desiring, much less demanding,
public ownership of mines, rail-
ways, telegraphs, etc. The peo'
pie desire the least possible exer-
else of paternalism in their gov
ernment. In its older and better
history no party was more de-
termined in opposition to govern
mental paternalism than the dem
o:ratic party and but for the in
fuence of political demagogues
in its councils paternalism would
not raise its voice in the demo
cratic camp.
Governmental control is the
American doctrine. Whatever
menances the public welfare,
whether it be mighty aggrega-
tions of capital controlling trans
portation, forming manufactur-
ing trusts or monopolizing the
production of commodities neces'
sary to the we'll being of the peo
pie must be adequately controll
ed. "The welfare of the people
is the supreme law" Comport
ing best with the genius e
American institutions we choos'
governmental control as the
most efficient means of enforc
ing this law.
The republican party unequiv
ocally stands for this. 1t is
possible, reasonable and practi
cal method and conserves publi
rights without interfering will
private rights. @
It has long been the DO
a few men that congress has am
pie constitutional powers to enac
and enforce laws controlling thes
combinations. The tenacitv wit
which the democratic party clun'
to the doctrine of state right
was, for many years, the chic
obstacle in the way of congres
enacting such measures. Th
legislation heretofore applied ha
been made defective and inehi
cient by captious opposition. Be
sides this more urgent matters
as the Spanish-Americau wa
and the questions arising there
from have engrossed the time AM
energies of congress and the ad
ministration, so that it has beel
necessary to defer the careful con
sideration of this subject. Blu
the hour has struck, the day c
reckoning is at hand. Presiden
Roosevelt is determined in hi
purpose to control the great col
porations and trusts. He is wise
ly and courageously enforcin
such laws as are provided by con
gress. He will call for additioH
al legislation and it will be giver
The party leaders, the most com
petent men in the country, th
whole party and the people al
in harmony with the presiden
Both organized capital and labe
have been brought to a realizin
sense that they must regard 9Th
supreme law" Of course, state
must enforce their own constitu
tions and laws. Whether the
do so or not the constitution (
the United States and the Law
of congress will protect the PEI
pie from organized greed, rapac
ty and lawlessness.
It is somewhat remarkable th;
among the great railways the
is one that is earnestly in tavt
of governmental control. Pres
dent Cassatt of the Pennsylvan
Company has always advocate
it, and always acquieseed in tt
laws enacted for that purpos
He has had the provision to st
that only so might the ant
American alternative of publ
ownership be aveided.i
There will be no public owne
shin hut there will he full a.,