The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-04-14

representatives of work and thrift. IN
so far as there is, under the operation
OF our laws, unfairness and inequality.
ana IN 50 far as abuses have grown up,
thelr existence shows that favoritism
mas become seated and h remedy
should pc at once applied. But we must
repair all leaks in the roof without en-
dangerlng b structure of our society
While We must now, as Away Wei
come every Measure or tendency really
progressive, We can not gain power, we
can not command support, unless we
continue to stand for the completesI
liberty OF the individual consistent with
his obligations to society. This means,
primarily and always, liberty to work,
liberty to earn, liberty SO to employ his
savings q he may rise in the world.
Corporations and Trusts.
My own recent experience in oil
ties does not incline me to over
much the management of some great
corporations. But no student or OBJ
server OF economic conditions can
question either the logical develop
ment or the necessity of corporations
n more than he can ignore their eX-
silence. The are not the result OF
some blind chance cropping about in
q industry; they are
features in the growth of that real CO
operation which has done SO much to
change conditions. Like all things
human they have their evils, indeed,
they have their perils.
But, as we cannot be rid Of them If
we would, and would not If we could,
1t must be our part properly to en-
force h laws against them and their
representatives as we have done and
must continue to do against the in
dlVldual Who Oes wrong We have
only to look about US, in our separate
communities, to see that the great ma
jority of corporations are managed
with as much honesty as we are &C
customed to see in mundane affairs
and the punishment for Offenses
against law and mOrals-the punish
ment inseparable from failure and loss
goes on IN these bodies as 1t does
among the individuals who constitute
them or the others who compete with
them.
The plain truth is that there has
been no time during the past eight
years, since the abuses alleged became
fragrant, when they could not have
been eliminated. Nothing has been so
much needed as a rigid, honest, n
yielding enforcement of the law, both
civil and criminal. But instead of go
ing on with the enforcement of the
law against rebates by putting the
railroad officials responsible for them
behind prison bars, precisely as we do
other m~alefactors, their misconduct
made an excuss for further concentra-
ton Of power in the federal govern
ment.
A second effective way of dealing
with the trust proper is to take away
all tariff duties on articles made by
any great combination SO long as it
violates the law or while it discrimi-
mates in price against the American
customer IN vor of the foreigner
The tariff is the fertile INC nursing
mother of all the abuses to be found
in these trusts, and yet, the very mo-
ment the sacred subject is mentioned.
the president of the United States
draws a red herring across the trail,
all others in Republican authority
raise their hands in holy horror, the
order to stand pat is passed along the
whole line Of -benefciaries and the
time honored process Of throwing dust
in the eyes of the people is revived.