Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1904-06-29

Venuon, Ellnu Root, spoke In part as
follows:
The responsibility of government
rests upon the Republican party. The
complicated machinery through which
the 10000, 900 people of the United
States govern themselves, answers to
no single will. The composite gov
eminent devised by the trainers OF
the constitution to meet the condi-
tons Of national life more than a
century ago, requires the willing CO.
operation of many minds, the COM
bination of many Independent factors,
in every forward step for the general
welfare.
The president at Washington with
his cabinet, the 80 senator's repre-
senting As sovereign states, the 3Se
representatives in congress-are re-
quired to reach concurrent action up
on a multitude of questions involving
varied and conflicting interests anu
requiring investigation, information,
discussion and recollection of views.
From all our vast territory with its
varieties of climate and industry,
from all our great population active
in production and commerce and So
cial progress and intellectual and
moral life to a degree never before
attained by any people-difficult prob
lens press upon the national govern
ment.
NEEDS OF A PARTY.
Within the past five years more
than 66, 900 bills have been introduc-
ed in congress. Some method of Sc
lection must be followed. There must
be some preliminary process to ascer-
tain the general tenor of public judg-
ment upon the principles to be ap-
piled in government, and some or
ganization and recognition of leader
ship which shall bring a legislative
majority and the executive into ac-
cord in the practical application of
those principles; or effective govern
ment becomes impossible.
The practical governing instinct of
our people has adapted the machin-
cry devised in the 18th to the condi-
tions of the 20 century by the organ
ization of national political parties.
In them men join for the promotion
of a few cardinal principles upon
which they agree. For the sake Of
those principles they lay aside their
differences upon less important ques-
tions. To represent thvse principles
and to carry on the government in
accordance with them, they present
to the people candidates whose CON-
potency and loyalty they approve.
The people by their choice of candi.
dates indicate the principles and
methods which they wish followed in
the conduct of their government.
They do not merely choose between
men; they choose between parties
between the principles they profess
the methods they follow, the trust
worthiness of their professions, the
differences to be drawn from the rec
ords of their past, the general weight
of character of the body of men who
will be brought into participation in
government by their ~ascendency.
PRAISE FOR SHAW.
The secretary of the treasury has
been mindful of the needs of business
and has so managed our finances as
himself to expend and contract our
currency as occasion has required.
When in the fall of 1902 the demand
for funds to move the crops caused
extraordinary money %stringency, the
secretary exercised his lawful right
to accept state and municipal bonds
as security for public deposit, thus
1iberating United States bonds, which
were used for additional circulation.
When the crops were moved and the
%stringency was over he called for a
Withdrawal of the state and munich
pal securities, and thus contracted
the currency.
DISCUSSES THE TRUSTS.
Four years ago the regulation by
law Of the great corporate combina.
tions called trusts stood substantial.
ly where it was when the Sherman
antitrust act of 1890 was passed.
President Cleveland, in his last mes.
sage of December, 1906, had said:
Though congress has attempted to
deal with this matter by legislation,
the laws passed for that purpose thus
far have proved ineffective, not be.
cause of any lack of disposition or
ettempt to enforce them, but simply
because the laws themselves as inter
preted by the courts do not reach the
difficulty. II the insufficiencies OF
existing laws can be remedied by fur
Their legislation, 1t should be done.
The fact must be recognized, how.
ever, that all federal legislation on
this subject may fall short of its pur'
pose of inherent obstacles and also
because of the complex character OF
our governmental system, which,
while making federal authority SUI
preme within its sphere, has careful
ly limited that sphere by metes and
bounds that cannot be transgressed.'
INsINcERE DECLARATIONS.
At every election, the regulation OF
trusts has been the football of cam
paign oratory and the subject OF very
many insincere declarations.
Our Republican administration has
taken up the subject in a practical
sensible way as a business rather
than a political question, saying whaI
it really meant, and doing what lay
at its hand to be done to accomplish
effective regulation. The principles
upon which the government proceed
ed were stated by the president in hi
message of December, 1902. He said
"A fundamental base of civilization
is the invielability of property; bu'
this is in no wise inconsistent will
the right of society to regulate tn,
exercise of the artificial powers which
It confers upon the owners Of prop
erty, under the name of corporate
franchises, in such a way as to pre-
vent the misuse of these powers.
NOT HOSTILE TO TRUSTS.
1--WE can do nothing Of good in thu
way of regulating and supervising
---o.aAinnn mill mn a. nInnrl,