The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-28
HITS STRAIGHT.
Governor Cummins, Of Iowa,
DenOunces the Trusts.
Likens Their Organization to
One to Invade White House.
PROTECT THE WEAK.
Governments Purpose to Set a
Limit to Injustice.
Says Labor Unions May Also Go
Too Far.
PROTECT THE WEAK.


men to organize a corporation to mon
Opolize transportation as it would be to
organize an army to drive Theodore
Roosevelt from the White House and
install J. Pierpont Morgan in his stead.
The latter would be treason-the former
ought to be crime"
This is a declaration made by Cover
nor Cummins of Iowa last night before
the Kansas State Bar association in de-
livering the address which is the feature
of this years meeting of the lawyers of
Kansas.
THE government is created for no
other purpose he declared, than that
a man may do what, according to the
civilization of the age, he may lawfully
do; to preserve the common welfare,
and to set a limit to the injustice which
the weak may inflict upon the strong.
1T is just as hostile to the common
good" continued Governor Cummins,
Ito promote an industrial association
like the United States Steel corporation,
with its millions of worthless stocks, its
ruthless methods of business, and it's
obvious effort to suppress competition,
as it would be for the same men to
shoulder their rifles and pillage the
homes and the treasures of the people.
For the latter they would be consigned
to the penitentiary. The former merits
no less penalty.
For labor unions, or those who gather
In sympathy with labor unions, to ter
rOrize honest men who want to work,
tntimidate innocent tradesmen who de-
sire to sell to all who want to buy, and
prevent by force legitimate industry, is
no better than revolution, and is an IN
pardonable offense against the millions
of men and women who depend for their
livelihood and their happiness upon the
ordinary and continuous conduct of at
fairs.
For employers to enter into solemn
compact to destroy labor associations by
refusing their members employment
simply because they are such members,
is to run up the pirates flag upon the
sea of commerce. And in this fight
without quarter the innocent as well
as the guilty must perish"
Governor CumminS' subject was ''The
Rights of Man" He said he believes
the time has come to lay down new
laws regarding these rights, in the
light of modern advancement and civil
ization. The entire address was along
the line OF the conflict between labor
and capital and the speaker expressed
the belief that the government should
combinations of employers for the pro-
lection of the weak against the strong
and for the common welfare of all.
Lawyers. he said understand that
men are not made for constitutions and
laws, but that constitutions and laws
are made for men, and that, therefore,
as men develop, laws must change, as
new phases of humanity appear, new
regulations to direct and control them
must appear also. They have always
taken the first step forward; theirs is
the voice most potent in every reform;
theirs the hand that has nodded new
ideals, and theirs the leadership which
has inspired the minds of the people
with confidence lit the safety of the
paths that are but dimly seen through
the mists of the days to come. In the
n oh n
radicals of the world. With this view
of the profession, the members of which
I address and to which have the honor
to belong, it is not necessary for me to
apologize for proposing n reinvestiga-
ton of some of the rights of man.
TIME TO REVISE.
ITO an extent, we are constantly re-
examining the subject, but [ invite you
to a more thorough going review of
certain phases Of society, which, in
their full maturity, are of recent de-
VelOpment. We go quietly along for
years, adding little here, taking away
a little there, straining old theories
now and then to fit new conditions,
and we do fairly we'll; but once in a
while, as the history of mankind clear
" teaches, mere precedent becomes so
obviously inadequate to deal with the
situation, that we are compelled to re-
open the whole subject and ascertain
what the rights of man are under the
new conditions which have arisen.
period of that character, and that
thoughtful and patriotic men every
where are intent upon better under
standing of what men may do and
what they may not do under free in
situations. The lawyers of the country
must bear the burden of this investi-
cation. They must in the future, as
in the past. do more than other men
can do in ascertaining the points at
which the government must touch and
restrain its subjects, and in redrawingi
SO that it may be more clearly OBJ
served, the circle of individual liberty.
when our government was organized
the OVerpOwering concern of its franz
ers was to protect the individual from
the aggression of the government it.
self. The common law prescribed with
sufficient clearness the rights of mer
as between themselves. The thought
that voluntary associations of the
members of society could seriously in
terfere with the liberty of the indiVid-
ual or the peace and good order of the
community, was not prominently pres
sent IN the minds Of the LAWYERS and
the statesmen of that time. Partner
ships, religious, benevolent and Charit-
able associations and corporations were
indeed known. but they had not riser
to that height or grown to that breadth
to bring pressure upon the very frame
work of society.
MODERN COMBINATIONS.
with this suggestion, I awaken youl
memories to the marvellous transfornla-
ton of the last century. 1t would be
as futile as it is unnecessary for me tC
attempt to describe the changes which
hundred years have witnessed
changes not only in material things
and respecting physical development
but ethical changes as well. I go di-
rectly to the point when declare thai
at the present moment business is car.
ried on. in great measure by aggrega-
tions of men. having a common object
a common interest. and controlled by
chosen representatives few in number
to the end that. insofar as practicable
the clash of honest judgment may bs
avoided. and the effect of competition
overcome. The men who work fol
wages in many of the most important
industries are banded toeather SO tha