Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-07-02

ing 10 coHlpacIS ana UNDERSTANDINGS. we
do not care to destroy or cripple the bust
ness of these corporations; we want to pro-
tect the business and at the same time
protect the public welfare. Thus it is that
we are compelled to call into action a re-
serve power of the government-the power
to regulate. That is the power we invoke
In dealing with so-called trusts and monop-
olies. What we need to do is to provide
protection against abuses. We do not wish
to punish the innocent, but the guilty we
must pursue.
Evils of Competition.
We are compelled to admit as an eco
nomic principle, that evils attend competi
tton as well MS combination. The evils of
unbridled competition are many. Because
this is so labor is organized and for the
Same reason capital is organized. If 1t
were desirable 1t would not he possible to
prevent men from using all the resources
at their command to secure just compensa-
tion for their labor, to preserve their prop
erty and to increase their legitimate bust
ness gains. Therein is the great field of
competition, and whatever else we may
undertake to do, 1t is to be hoped the
policy of gripping the energies of men in
that field of competition will not be seri-
ously undertaken
Regulation of Business.
The government represents the common
welfare There is no dispute that protec-
ton must be given to the individual in his
person. 1t is likewise the proper office of
government to protect the individual in his
business undertakings. Yet society must
reserve to itself the right of control. Thus
the individual is restrained of his personal
liberty, and the business combination must
be answerable to public regulation.
The policy of regulation is not new with
us, but under modern conditions Of bust
ness sensible need has increased of eXpan7
sion of the policy and for its immediate
employment in new directions.
We had bitter times in, Iowa under the
Larrabee administration over our railroad
situation, but the battles then fought out
have not been renewed. The state assert
ed the power of regulation, and that right,
state and national, Is now uncontested.
Such quarrel as remains relates to the APP
plication of conceded power and to ways
and means for making the power of the
law effective in promoting the public well
fare without injury or injustice to legiti-
| mate corporate enterprise.
The Entire Problem.
| And herein, think, is the entire trust"
problem. 1t is altogether wise to proceed
with caution. To sap the strength Of bust
ness enterprise, to weaken business conf
| dcnce in the security of capital honestly
| invested. would be destructive of interests
common TO all our people.
/ believe l am safe In saying that the
course pursued by the present administra-
| tion In the matter of dealing with the Or
ganization and operation of business COM
binations, in part altogether commendable
and in part utterly indefensible, meets
with the hearty approval of the republicans
| of this state. The endorsement runs equal
| y to the congress, without whose support
the efforts of the administration could be
of slight avail. To my mind 1t is matter
1 for very general congratulation that the
| advice of the president has been conserya-
tive and the action of congress altogether
prudent.
| In working out this problem there is yet
much to learn on either side, but / am dis
posed to say that the progress that has
been made Is gratifying and that 1t af-
| fords good promise of adjustment on lines
of enduring and mutual interest.
Roosevelt For President.
The situation, as it seems to me, must
| Illustrate to temperate and we'll ordered
minds the Importance of maintaining n
man of wisdom and high character in the
office of chief executive; and this gives
| me confidence that Theodore Roosevelt
will be nominated and elected for full
| term in the presidency in his own right.
! am also encouraged to believe that under
the same scrutiny and judgment the con-
| gress to be chosen next year will be chos-
| en- from the ranks OF the republican party.
Iowa Politics.
| Iowa in all the work of the immediate
| future occupies position of large respon-
| sibility. The time has not been since the
republican party was horn that this state
| has not been in the leadership Mt Washing
ton. and it is gratifying to our home pride
to know that in the national councils Of
the party the state never occupied as many
| front seats as it does now. While / al
4 ways insist that Iowa Is the best state in
| the union, it is not improper to admit that
as respects politics Iowa has advantages
| peculiar to itself We are comparatively
free of conflicting interests. We have no
/ great cities, with their attendant weak
nesses, but every county of our ninety
/ nine has it's small cities and enterprising
/ towns. with such lap rs to cover the state.
The railroad. the telephone, and the free
rural delivery of mail have brought us face
to face, ear to ear and mind to mind Our
i people are of high intelligence and of high
character, and their environment leaves
/ judgment in freer play than in any other
state. Therefore ! say they are in position
of high responsibility, which they have
well met in the representatives they have
sent to Washington, and which Is well ac-
knowledged in the honor those representa-
tives have achieved for themselves.
An Important Convention.
/. | meHllOH tulS HOW 10 suggest the TeSpou-
4 siblity of this convention and the import
ance which / think attaches to 1t through
! out the country.
In defending competition and inviting 1t
| in its broader and more wholesome chan
Inels, let us not begrudge the democratic
party such competition as 1t is able to offer.
i | would even welcome harmony In the
ranks of that party. Parties, as men, need
the whip.
\. Obstruction and Construction.
1 am not disposed to say, however, that
democratic temperament is suggestive of
the best results Obstruction is easy; con-
struction is difficult 1t is easy to contrib
ute to weakness; 1t is another matter to
/ contribute to strength.
i A Critical Moment.
4 have not vet forgiven the democratic
party for the part it played in 1896. That
/ was time of severest trial. That was a
time when men We're broken in their cour-
! age. 1t seemed to me Mt the time, and 1t
seems to me now, that the democratic
party played n great game to make ma
tional weakness ccntributory to democratic
desire for power. 1t seemed to me then,
and it seems to me now, akin to crime to
Systematically campaign to break down
the residue of courage of a people in sore
straits. What people need above all else
in time of trouble is fertilization for their
courage. 1t seems to me the republican
1 49,