The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-02-04
The Straight Edge.

The Straight Edge.
The standard acknowledged straight
edge is the only way by which the
builder determines the straightness or
crookedness Of line in his work.
President Roosevelt believes in apply
ing that standard straightedge to cor
poration actions which bear relation to
the welfare Of the people Of the United |
States.
There has been deal Of kicking !
against the application Of the straight
edge to the moral obiquity Of corpora
tions, and yet the nation, by a large
majority, stands for maintenance Of
right principles, or the straightedge, in
industrial and transportation and other
capitalistic combinations and for re-
linquishment Of the demoralizing as
sumption that might makes right. The
straightedge Is a terror to the parties
who have been cherishing the latter de-
fusion. They all said that the govern
ment talk of applying the straightedge
was bit Of vaporing for political
effect, but Theodore Roosevelt has never
been in the habit Of talking into his
hat. He has utilized the straightedge
with no little effect during during the
three years and half in which he has
exercised the duties of the presidential
office. The bureausof corporations, one
result Of his influence, ie laying the
foundations of future usefulness as a
promoter Of publicity as to the business
Of corporations. The straightedge has
been applied to the beef trust, which is
now aware that it is positively forbid
den under the federal supreme courts
decision to do any act, the purpose and
result Of which is to prevent competi-
tion and restrain trade in dressed meat,
or in live cattle. The straightedge ap-
plication dissolved the Northern Securi-
ties company, under a decision Of the
supreme court, widening the effective
power Of the federal government to cor
rect the obliquity Of interstate corpora
tions.
The presidents insistence upon the
application Of the straightedge has
brought about agreement Of the house
interstate commerce committee upon g.
railroad rate measure which more nearly
approximates the terms Of the presi-
dents Recommendations in his annual
message than any bill yet presented, and
which may be passed at this session by
the house, 'altho probably destined to
fail in the senate. The measure, how
ever, if killed by the senate, is likely
to become the basis Of legislative action,
y if the president calls an extra session OF
y the Fifty-ninth congress.
The emphatic call for the straight
= edge application by the president in his
. message touching rebates, was favored
= with the categorical Imperative
'Whether the shipper. or the railroad
q is to blame makes no difference; the
J. rebate must be stopped; the abuses OF
the private car and private termina
h track and sidetrack systems must be
!, stopped.'
j. Not only does the president insist
# upon the application Of the straight
8. edge to such matters Of business rela
is lions, but he Is thoroly justifable il
l. bringing the line and plummet to bea!
y upon the family relation and the neces
h sity of securing the best material con
It ditions for the healthful propagation o:
20 the race and maintaining the ancien
h tradition-the man with the prime dut.
70 as breadwinner; the woman, with th'
prime duty of maternity and the house
t. wife and no. national decadence. TIL
N abominable moral obliquity Of lax di
t, vorce laws in most of the states, vary
le ing in terms to frightful extent, is tn
IT theme Of the president message t
er congress on Monday, suggesting tn
ut Importance Of securing marriage and d
ae vorce statistics Of a reliable character
to In his address to the Annapolis cadets
Id this week, the future naval officers wer
IN given some effective glimpses of tn
o. straightedge, as when speaking Of tn
n duty of concentrated application t
as their preparatory studies, he declared
~ "One Of your great duties is to Sc
=. - that shots hit.
!, There are people who object to ha,
ing the straightedge, the standard G
righteous conduct, confronting thel
as thru the president g public utterance
e1 81 zlItuucuGly. IuCy tu1Ah IL pawn
II of the daily repetition to King Phil
of Macedonia by an obsequious courtie1
"Philip, thou art mortal. = But it ma
be remarked, there is no obtrusion Q
u the part of the president. The natio
on needs the holding up for inspection (
he the straightedge by its first citize:
he who can talk, to eighty millions Of pc
or pie or more, because it has reached
lst point in its career, crisis Of a NOR
20, nature, when, in peculiar sense, Il
,le battle of obligation against inclinatio
ne Of right against might, and Of CO
81 science against expediency is on, natio
ally as well as individually.
au- Cheerful gentlemen are Maxim Gorky
ole publishers at this season.
an ~ 3 3 49, s
an A Great Market.
"a The demand from Port Arthur. f
flour, provisions and stores Of all kin
- was SO great after the surrender TIL
4 = ~. IL.