Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1904-09-15


examine ---he e7npioyf4 ,ie~g MANUAL Ia
Dor in any great ma l!ac;ory or on any
great railroad and find out how large
is the proportion of men between the
ages of GO and 70 and whether these men
| are still en-. n.ployed at the highly paid
tasks which they did in their prime. AS
/ a matter OF fact, many railroads pension
| their employees when they have reached
| these ages, ard In nations where old age
pensions prevail! they always begin some-
where between the two limits thus set.
In addition to those acts of the admin
istration which they venture to assail
| only after nisreprcsenting them, there
| are others which they dare not overtly
or officially attack, and yet which they
covertly bring forward as reasons for the
overthrow of the party. In certain great
centers and with certain great interests
our opponents make every effort to show
that the settlement of the anthracite coal
strike by the individual act Of the presi-i
dent, and the successful suit against the
Northern Securities cofnpany-the merger
suit-undertaken by the department Of
justice, were acts because Of which the
present administration should be thrown
from power. Yet they dare not openly
condemn either act. They dare not in
any authoritative or formal manner say
that in either case wrong was done or
error committed In the method of action,
or In the choice of instruments for put
ting that action into effect. But what
they dare not manfully assert In open
day, they seek to use furtively and
through special agents. 1t is perhaps
natural that an attack so conducted
should be made sometimes on the ground
that too much, sometimes on the ground
haf uttIo haa haan Anna EnYna nf
our opponents complain because under
the antitrust and Interstate commerce
laws suits were undertaken which have
been successful; others, because suits
were not undertaken which would have
been unsuccessful. The democratic state
convention in New York dealt with the
anthracite coal strike by demanding In
deliberate and formal fashion that the
national government should take possess
sion of the coal fields; yet champions, Of
that conventions cause now condemn the
fact that there was any action by the
president at ALTHOUGH they must know
that It was only this action by the presi-
dent which prevented the movement for
national ownership of the coal fields from
gaining what might well have been an
irresistible impetus
So much for what our opponents openly
or eovertly advance In the way of an at
tack on the acts of the administration.
When we come to consider the policies
for which they profess to stand we are
met with the difficulty always arising
when statements of policy are so made
that they can be interpreted in different
ways. On some of the vital questions
that have confronted the American peo-
Pile in the last decade our opponents take
the position that silence is the best pos
sible way 10 convey their views. They
contend that their lukewarm attitude Of
partial acquiescence In what others have
accom- plishGG entities them to be made
the custodiars of the financial honor and
commercial interests which they have
but recently sought to ruin. Being un-
able to agree among themselves as to |
whether the gold standard is a curse or |
a blessing. and as to whether we ought |
not to- have free and unlimited coinage |
Of silver, they have apparently thought |
It expedient to avoid any committal on |
these subjects, and individually each to |
follow his particular bent. Their near |
est approach to a majority judgment |
seems to be that II Is now inexpedient to |
assert their convictions one way or the |
other, and that the establishment Of the |
gold standard by the republican party |
should not be disturbed unless there is
Hl AnN AtanNAtS VI
production Of silver and gold. Men who |
hold sincere convictions on Vital ques-
tions can respect equally sincere men |
with whose views they radically differ: |
and men may confess a change OF faith
without compromising their honor or
their self-respect. But It ia dificult to
respect an attitude Of mind such as has
been fairly described above; and where
there is no respect there can be no trust.
A policy with 30 slender a basis Of prin-
ciple would not stand the strain Of
single year OF business adversely.
Federal Judge Dickerson has begun
3 crusade against gamblers In the
Southern district Of Indian territory.
L NJ. shaw. secretary Of the treas
ury, win speak in Kansas city. Kan,
u and In Fort Scott. Kan,
Is
The Magnolia -four mills Of Hanni-
bal, No. among the largest m Ms
souri. were sold to satisfy claims sg-
--,.--sf~- ano nnn