Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-04-28


amples: The laws are to govern all
alike; the way to secure the repeal OF
a bad law is to enforce it, Let no
guilty man escape If we were CALEB
upon to pick out the most conspicuous
moral tendency which iindf expression
today in the feeling and thinking and
solemn purpose of the American peo-
pie, we would find it embodied in
motto which has already entered INTO
the every day speech of the whole
world: "A square deal for every man,
no more, no less 1t may be worth
while for us to look into that sentence.
The figure of speech is somewhat low
ly, and not altogether pious. 1t is not
quite equal in dignity to the immortal
precept of jefferson: Equal rights to
all, and special privileges to none; but
it is imelligible; nobody can misundef-
stand it: and While Mr.. Jeffersons
maxim was so constructed that his DIS
ciples have been fighting about its
meaning for a hundred years, THIS
blunt utterance picked up from the
street has already lifted public opinion
to a higher conception of it's duty ana
it's opportunity.
The Square Deal.
"What is the meaning of the square
deal of Theodore Roosevelt? In the
first place, it has about it no odor OF
radicalism. 1t is conservative in the
best sense; it recognizes that the m
situations of government and society
have been slowly and painfully devel-
oped, and that whoever suggests
schemes of reform involving the over
throw of that framework of jurispru-
dence which is a part of our inherl-
lance, must present credentials more
impressive than the applause which
sometimes greets candidates for office.
Let me illustrate what l mean we
have had a good deal of difficulty in
the United States arising out OF the
abuses of railway management. Most
of these troubles arise from the fact
that we needed the roads so badly,
and were. so anxious to have them
built that we shut our eyes and gave
the railroad builders free hand. ex-
acting only one condition from them,
and that was that the roads should be
built. We were free with our lands
and our taxes and our legislation so
great was our anxiety to get the roads
lOGdy we IldNC OH ttltpoNNiASA
ferent problem; the roads are here.
and the question is how shall they be
managed without injury and injustice
to the community. On the one side IS
boisterous group of statesmen, IN
yoking the name of Jefferson. who say
that we now hav. railroad ownership
of the government and that they want
to substitute government ownership OF
the railroads. If it be true that after
more than a century of popular gov
eminent in America, our courts are
corrupt and our congress is subject
to the wicked influence of corporation
control, it requires no very great moral
acuteness to perceive the absurdity OF
adding the ownership of railroads to
the ridiculous list Of public duties all
ready confided to the palsied hand of
feeble and decadent political system.
1t is evident that the people of the
| United States will be sooner or later
| brought face to face with the ques-
| ton of taking over to the ownership
| of the government the business OF
Transportation in all it's details. hope
that such day may not come;
| should fear for the safety of institu-
lions like ours if to the present respon-
sibilities of administration were added
the cares and anxieties incident to the
ownership of the railroad properties OF
the country. There is nothing in the
experience of other nations, and moth
| ing in the experience of our own
| country to warrant such step.
How to Meet Situation.
"But it is asked, are you going to
allow these properties to be managed
subject only to the greed and selfish
ness of those who control them, leaving
| individuals and communities and re-
gions of the country entirely at tha
mercy of a few railroad magnates
Fortunately, we are not driven to such
am alternative The doctrine of the
square deal points out better way
We will say to the railroads of thu
United States: You shall charge for
your service to the public just and
reasonable rate, and for the same serv-
| ice, the same rate to every man and
| to every corporation, great or small.
| We will go further. Whenever diff
| ference of opinion arises between this
carrier and the shipper as to what the
rate ought to be, we will not leave the
individual without an appeal from the
error or avarice of the railway. we
will provide an effective method OF
bringing that difference of opinion to q
speedy adjudication and settlement
That is the doctrine of the square
deal. applied to railroads. l think We
can get it applied without amending
the constitution; I am not even sure
that we need change our system OF
elections. The old style of politics III
Iowa has given us a government with
about as few deficiencies as can bf
expected in human affairs. 1t has CIV
en- us a line of great governors, IRON
| James w. Grimes to Albert B. Cum
| Minis: every name in the list part Of
the honor and glory of the common
wealth. 1t has given us commanding
influence in the house of representa-
tives from the days of Lacey and HUI
and Hepburn and dear old Dave Hen
derson, now sitting in the shadow, the
light of a generous life burning low
1t has given us a position OF leader
ship in the senate of the United States
| from the admission of the territory Of
Iowa, without interruption, until today
the reverence and affection which sur
rounds the name of William B. Allison
have become a benediction to tho
commonwealth. If there are better
methods of conducting our affairs, by
all means let them be freely and tent
perately discussed, but, whatever VIC
do. let us leave it to our enemies Il
frame the argument which is to DIS
parage the public life of Iowa for q
generation. Let us give ourselves =