The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1905-12-07

vent the abuse of women anc chill
dren. All such legislation frees the
| corporation that wishes to co well
from being driven into dong i'll, in
order to compete with its rival, which
prefers to do ill. We desire to set
up moral standard. There can be
no delusion more fatal to the nation
than the delusion that the standard of
! profits, OF business prosperity, is suTfi-
cient in Judging my business or poll
teal questiOn-from rate legislation
to municipal government. Business
success, whether for the individual
or for the nation, is a good thing
| only SO far as it is accompan- by
and develops high standard of con-
duct-honor, integrity, civic courage.
The kind of business prosperity that
blunts the standard of honor that puts
an inordinate value on mere Wellth,
that makes a man ruthless and con-
scienceless in trade AMI wes and
coWardly in citizenship, is not good
thing at all, but very bad .ning
for the nation This government
stands for manhood first and for bust
ness only as an adjunct OF manhood
The question of transportation
lies at the root of all industrial sue
cess, and the revolution in transport
alton which has taken place during
the last half century has been the
most important factor in the growth
of the new Industrial conditions. Most
emphatically we do not wish to see
the man of great talents refused the
reward for his talents. Still less do
we wish to see him penalized, but
we desire to see the system of rail-
road transportation SO handled that
the strong man shall be given no adj
vantage over the weak man. We wish
to insure as fair treatment for the
small town as for the big city; for
the small shipper as for the big ship
per. In the old days the highway of
commerce, whether by water or by a.
road on land, was open to all it be.
longed to the public and the traffic
along 1t was free. AT present the
railway is this highway, and we must
do our best to see that it is kept open
to all on equal terms. Unlike the
old highway it is a very difficult and
complex thing to manage, and it is
far better that it should be r.anaged
by private individuals than by the
government. But it can only be so
managed on condition that justice be
done the public. 1t is because, in
my judgment, public ownership of rail
roads is highly undesirable Ind would
probably in this country entail far
| reaching disaster, that | wish TO see
them in the interest of the public as
will make it evident that there is no
need for public ownership. The oppo-
nents of government regulation dwell
upon the difficulties to be encountered
and the intricate and involved nature
| of the problem. Their con -ention is
true. 1t is complicated and delicate
problem, and all kinds of difficulties
are sure to arise in connection with
!. any plan of solution, while no plan
will bring all the benefits hoped for
by it's more optimistic adherents.
Moreover, under any healthy plan,
the benefits will develop gradually
and not rapidly. Finally, we must
clearly understand that the public
4 servants who are to do this peculiarly
] responsible and delicate work must
! themselves be of the highest type
both as regards integrity and eff
cheney. They must be well paid, for
otherwise able men can not In the
long run be secured; and they must
possess lofty probity VIII l will re.
volt as quickly at the thought of pand
ering to any gust of popular preju
dice against rich men as ut the
thought of anything even remotely re
sembling subserviency 10 rich men,
But while | fully admit the Difficult
II tics In the Way | do moi fnr mn.