The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1905-12-14

one: But the underlying principles, the
root principles, in accordance with which
the problem must be solved are entirely
dealing only II Wv we sf put 'S as Of psramoSnt para nt
Importance the principle Of treating n man
on his worth as man rather than with
paCn to his social position his
There are selfish and brutal men In all
ranks Of life. If they nre capitalists their
selfshness and brutality may take the
greedy disregard Of every moral restraint
which interfercs with the accumulation Of
wealth, and c0ld-blooded exploitation of
the weak; Or Il they are aborers the form
fortunate, and OF willingness to perform
deeds of murderous violence Such con-
duet Is Just as reprchenslblc In one case
as In the other, and all honest and far
seeing men should join in warning against
1t wherever 1t becomes manifest. Individ-
ual capitalist and individual wage worker.
corporation and union, arc. alike entitled
TO the protection of the law, and must
alike obey the law. Moreover, In addition
TO mere obedience to the law, each man,
II he be really II good citizen, must show
broad sympathy for his neighbor and gonu-
Inc desire to look ut 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
ana 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
niles.
This government is not and never shall
be government by plutocracy. This gov
eminent Is not and never shall be govern
ment by mob. 1t shall continue to be In
the future what 1t has been In the past, a
government based on the theory that each
man, rich or poor, is to be treated simply
ana solely ON his worth as q man, that all
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 constitutionaly be ex-
tended to cover Interstate transactions In
Insurance" Recent events have emphasized
the Importance o. an early and exhaustive
consideration of this question, to see wheth-
er II Is not possible TO furnish better safe
guards than the several States have been
able to furnish against corruption of the
nagrant Kind which has been exposed. 1t
mas 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 nc 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
nc conscience, higher sense Of ethical con-
duct In the community at large, and espe-
cialIy among business men and in the great
profession of the law. and In the growth Of
spirit which condemns all dishonesty,
er i takes the shape Of bribery or Of black.
mail. But much can he done by legislation
which Is not only drastic but practical
Tnere n,sN,,i Is need of far stricter and more
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 inadvsabe un-
less for grave reason. There must be
something like general agreement among
the citizens Of the several States, as rep.
resented In the Congress, that the change
Is needed and desired In the interest of the
people MS whole: and there should then
be sincere. intelligent and dsinterested
effort to make 1t in such shape as will com
bine, so far rs possible, the maximum of
good to the people nt large with the mini.
mum ,ntdn or 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 II Ia not
desirable that the tariff laws should pro.
vide for applying as against or In favor of
any other nation maximum and minimum
as to secure certain reciprocity Of treat.
ment between other nations and ourselves.
Our Currency System.
Every consideration of prudence de.
mnnds the addition Of the element of elias.
ticity to our currency system. The evil
of money, but In the rldiglty Of this vol.
ume, which does not respond as It should
to the varying needs Of communities and
OF seasons. Imitation must be avoided; but
some provision should be made that will
Insure a 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,
ana VIII expand for the needs OF legitl-
mate business.
Purity of Federal Elections.
The power Of the government to protect
the integrity of the elections of It's own
officials IL 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 insidious as the corruption Of the elec-
torate. / recommend the enactment of q
law directed against bribery and corrup-
tion in federal elections. Such law
should Include severe penalties against
him who gives or receives bribe Intended
to Influence his net or opinion as an elect
or; and provisions for the publication not
only Of the expenditures for nominations
apd elections Of all candidates, but also of
al contributions received and expenditures
made by political committees.
All contributions by corporations to any
political cOmmltte or for any political pur-
pose should be forbidden by law; directors
should not be permitted to use stockhod-
ers' money for such purposes; and, more
over, prohibition Of this kind would be,
as far as 1t went, an effective method Of
stopping the evils aimed at In corrupt prac-
tices acts.
The Coming Hague Conferences.
The first conference Of nations held at
The Hague In 1900, being unable to dispose
of all the business before 1t, recommended
the consideration and settlement OF a mum.
ber Of important questions by another col-
ference to be called subsequently and at an
early date. In October, 1904, at the In
stance OF the Interparliamentary Union, /
Issued Invitations to all the powers sigma
tory to The Hague convention to send dele.
gates TO such a conference and suggested
that 1t be again held at The Hague. From
all the powers acceptance was received,
coupled In some cases with the condition
that we should walt until the end of the