Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1905-02-02
DISTINGUISHED HONOR
TO HONORABLE MAN

among the people and the nations OF
the earth. We lead the world in ma
terial progress. American diplomacy is
triumphant. "Old Glory" is THE Gem
Of the Ocean," and is known and re-
spected wherever her folds kiss the
breezes of heaven. The United States
has demonstrated a good many things
during the short century of its exis-
tence. 1t has based strong government
on good government. 1t has given more
protection to the individual, more
peace to his mind, more hope to his
heart, than any other nation on earth.
IL has conferred a new purpose to lib
erty and extended new meaning to
hope and opportunity. 1t has proven
that justice and kindness are more po-
tent of control than tyranny and OPP
preston. 1t has shown that national
sacrifice is national glory. 1t has made
philanthropy worldwide, mercy inter-
national and humanity universal. But
over all and because of all it has dem
onstrated the more important fact that
the people can govern themselves
that popular government can exist
that the people through their own
chosen agencies can make laws and
enforce them. Encouraged by their own
successes through succeeding years the
people, chatting under restrictions, have
reached out and taken unto themselves
prerogatives that the founders Of the
republic did not believe belonged to
them. And from year to year, we find
the disposition of the people growing to
l. nj Il Nf f1,t ,n1
that pertain to their government.
NEED OF LEGISLATION.
One might suppose that day would
come when all necessary laws would
be made and that nothing would re-
main for the legislator to do. But a
moments reflection will convince us
that such time will mark the millen-
nium-when the wiles of the devil will
be curbed and the ambitions Of civili-
cation will be triumphant in a reign Of
holiness throughout the world. While
men are human, some Of them hopeful
and aspiring and others depraved and
degraded, there will be need of legisla-
ton. IL
1t is not a wholly unfamiliar express
sion that 1--WE have too many laws
now" But this is true only to the an
archist in direct opposition to all forms
Of government and to that other class
of individuals who test their wits rath-
err than piety in their "preying" for
daily subsistence.
The development Of human tastes
and ideals finds its expression in the
laws and we all hope that development
may go on. The material progress of
the country and the mental achieve
ments of the people from year to year
demands constant revision of the old
laws and the enactment of new ones.
Every line of the statute books
marks the progress of the people and
the development of the country. Speed
regulations, safety appliances, and
danger signals is legislation Of this
generation and necessitated only as
mans inventive genius makes him to
travel with the velocity of electricity
and carry with the power of steam.
Trade regulations, rate making, traffic
control, corporation surveillance in
legislation is the natural product Of
this commercial age.
Law making must keep up with the
evolution of industry and with every
possibility Of injustice. The rebate,
arbitrary and disproportionate rates
under same conditions and other forms
of determinations between individuals
and communities are injustices and
wrongs against the public and there
fore proper subjects of governmental
inquiry. The congress of the United
States, so far as its authority goes, has
recognized its duty and has not been
slow to act. Antitrust laws, the inter-
state commerce commission, the anti
rebate law, the bureau Of corporations,
appropriation of money for special
counsel, and enactments for speedy
trial, are some of the governmental
factors that congress has already en-
ployed.
FAVOR PRIVATE OWNERSHIP.
Sufficient has not yet been done.
New agencies may yet be needed,
additional powers to those already
created may be sufficient. A govern
mental agency given the authority to
| determine rates and yet without power
to enforce it's DEGREES, is not only futile
and impotent for any good, but like
the old Continental Congress that could
declare war, but not muster an army or
raise dollar, is of little consolation
at home and commands no respect
abroad. l am not in accord with the
distinguished citizen of our own state
who advocates state ownership of rail-
roads as the solution of the problem.
I do not believe it is the best way or
the most economic way. In general
terms l do not believe that the govern
ment should do anything that indi-
viduals can do. What the government
has undertaken to do in the past has
been what was too large for private en-
terprise to undertake or of not suffi-
cient remuneration TO warrant the in
vestment of private capital Public
ownership thwarts individualism, stup-
eties hope and ambition, hampers in
ventive genius and destroys opportun-
ity. Better than own the railroads is
to exercise such proper and sufficient
control as shall make them efficiency
and economically to serve the public.
With President Roosevelt's recent
message still fresh in our minds and
| with Our ron 6danpa in hiC bOnaStU and