Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1905-12-08

root principles. in accordance with which
the problem must be solved are entirely
dealing only if we put as of paramount
Importance the principle of treating man
on his worth as man rather than with
reference to his social position his occu-
patton, or the class to which he belongs;
There are selfish and brutal men in all
ranks of life. If they are capitalists their
selfshness and brutality may take the
form of hard Indifference to suffering
greedy disregard of every moral restraint
which interferes with the accumulation OF
wealth. and cold-blooded exploitation OF
the weak; or, if they are laborers, the form
of laziness, of sullen envy of the more
fortunate, and of willingness to perform
deeds of murderous violence. Such con-
duct is just as reprehensible in one case
as in the other, and all honest and far
seeing men should join in warning against
it wherever it becomes manifest. lndlvld-
ual capitalist and individual wage worker
corporation and union, are alike entitled
alike obey the law. Moreover, in addition
to mere obedience to the law, each man.
if he be really a good citizen, must snow
broad sympathy for his neighbor and genu-
inc desire to look at any question arising
between them from the standpoint of that
neighbor no less than from his own; and
to this end it is essential that capitalist
and wage worker should consult freely one
with the other, should each strive to bring
closer the day when both shall realize that
they are properly partners and not enc
mics.
This government is not and never shall
be government by a plutocracy. This gov
eminent is not and never shall be govern
ment by a mob. 1t shall continue to be in
the future what it has been in the past, a
government based on the theory that each
man, rich or poor, is to be treated simply
and solely on his worth as a man, that all
his personal and property rights are to be
safeguarded, and that he is neither to
wrong others nor to suffer wrong from 9TH
erS.
Need of Insurance Reform.
The great insurance companies afford
striking examples of corporations whose
business has extended so far beyond the
jurisdiction of the States which created
them as to preclude strict enforcement of
supervision and regulation by the parent
States. In my last annual message / recon-
mended that the Congress carefully con-
slider whether the power of the bureau of
corporations can not constitutfonally be ex-
tended to cover interstate transactions in
insurance" Recent events have emphasized
the Importance of an early and exhaustive
consideration of this question, to see Wheth-
er it is not possible to furnish better safe
| guards than the several States have been
able to furnish against corruption of the
| fragrant kind which has been exposed 1t
has been only too clearly shown that GER
| tain of the men at the head of these large
| corporations take but small note of the
| ethical distinction between honesty and dis
| honesty; they draw the line only this side
of what may be called law honesty, the
kind of he nesty necessary in order to avoid
| falling into the clutches of the law. OF
course the only complete remedy for this
| condition must be found in an aroused pub
| lie conscience, a higher sense of ethical con-
duct in the community at large, and espe-
| cially among business men and in the great
profession of the law, and in the growth Of
a spirit which condemns all dishonesty,
whether in rich man or in poor man, Wheth-
er it takes the shape of bribery or of black
| mail. But much can be done by legislation
which is not only drastic but practical.
| There is need of a far stricter and more
uniform regulation of the vast insurance
| interests of this country. The United
| States should in this respect follow the
| policy of other nations by providing ade-
| quate national supervision of commercial
| interests which are clearly national in char
| acter.
Revenues and Expenditures.
| There is more need of stability than of
| the attempt to attain an ideal perfection in
! the methods of raising revenue; and the
| shock and strain to the business world GER
| tain to attend any serious change in these
| methods render such change inadvisable I'M
| less for grave reason. There must be
something like general agreement among
| resented in the Congress, that the change
| is needed and desired in the interest of the
! people as a whole: and there should then
| be sincere, intelligent and disinterested
effort to make it in such shape as will COM
| bine, far as possible, the maximum of
| good to the people at large with the mini
| mum Of necessary disregard for the special
| interests of localities or classes. Unless
| our expenditures can be kept within the
revenues then our revenue laws must be re-
| adjusted.
| 1t should be considered whether it is not
| desirable that the tariff laws should pro-
| vide for applying as against or in favor of
any other nation maximum and minimum
| tariff rates established by the Congress, so
| as to secure certain reciprocity of treat
ment between other nations and ourselves
Our Currency System.
Every consideration Of prudence de-
mands the addition Of the element of elias
ITCHY to our currency system. The evil
does not consist in an inadequate volume
of money, but a in the rdigity Of this vol.
to the varying needs of communities and
of seasons. Imitation must be avoided; but
some provision should be made that will
insure larger volume of money during
the fall and winter months than in the
less active seasons of the year; so that the
currency will contract against speculation,
and will expand for the needs of legiti-
mate business.
Purity of Federal Elections.
The power of the government to protect
the integrity of the elections of it's own
officials is inherent and has been recognized
and affirmed by repeated declarations of
the Supreme Court. There is no enemy Of
free government more dangerous and none
so insdious as the corruption of the elec-
law directed against bribery and corrup-
ton in federal elections Such a law
should include severe penalties against
him who gives or receives a bride intended
to influence his act or opinion elect
or; and provisions for the publication not
only of the expenditures for nominations
and elections of all candidates, but also of
all contributions received and expenditures
made by political committees.
All contributions by corporations to any
political committe or for any political pur-
pose should be forbidden by law; directors
should not be permitted to use stockhold-
ers' money for such purposes; and, more
over a prohibition of this kind would be-
as far as it went, an effective method of
stopping the evils aimed at in corrupt prac-
tees acts.
The Coming Hague Conference.
The first conference of nations held at
The Hague III 1899, being unable to dispose
of all the business before it, recommended
the consideration and settlement of a num-
Der of important questions by another con-
ference to be called subsequently and at an
early date. In October, 1904, at the in
stance of the Interpariiamentary Union,