Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1905-02-24
GREED A FOE TO THE NATION.

n
Two governors Governor Johnson, Of Min
nesota, and Governor Cummins, OF lowa-hawe
spoken and spoken in no uncertain tone. Ihey
have sounded note of warning which should
b. needed by the people of this nation.
Governor Johnsaon spoke before meeting
OF the Merchants Club of Chicago, Saturday
night, He said, among other things:
owe are conf onted with centralized COM
mercialism more than feuda in its power. The
principles of Washington, Jefferson and Lin
coin are snpplanted by the influences OF Harri'
man, Armour and Rockefeller" +"
The Governors theme, Commercial and
Political Integrity was of scope wide enough
to allow the speaker to dwell upon many OF the
dangers which he believed are threatening the
life of the nation. Among these dangers he
suggested inflated corporations railroad rebates,
the tendency to industrial combinations, vic.
iously high taliH that protects the greatest
monopolies, and the control OF legislation by
the moneyed corporations.
Governor Cummns' subject was "Competi-
ton or Socialism-W -Wh1ch?" He declared that
watered stocks and railroad rebates were among
the chief factors in wiping out competition,
aud asserted that the result must be either fed
eral control of such industries or the enactment
of national laws preventing abuse of power.
Governor Johnson uniuerifully layed the
beef trust, the steel trust and the Standard Oh
Company. Said he, in conclusion:
'sOur republic rests on the freedom and pur-
ity of the ballot, and Montana boasts the elec-
ton OF delegate to national convection at the
cost of 500, 900. The Governor of Wisconsin
declares that corporate wealth owned his state,
and Standard Oil appears on troubled waters OF
Chicago. In the Kremlin, tear OF revolution
blanches the cheek of the Gar. In our coun-
try, there is smoke that might be famed into
fame Our duty is to prevent conhagratou by
stopping the manufacture of inhammable ma
teria The price OF good government is good
citizenship, even at the sacrifice of party afhli-
alton.
"Let us here dedicate ourselves to the repub-
lies upbuilding, to the reconstruction Of party
and uf national policy on broader and bigger
plans Let us demand leadership consecrated
to the public veal by the strong and simple
ties of common honesty, eqaality and manhood.
Let us cousecrate our efforts to uphold the
III sjesty of the law law by enforcing ifs observ
ance upon the powerful as upon the humble.
Political parties will survive, but let it be a
su. vival of the fttest. l care not for the name
of the party choose, SO long as it stands for
the rights of the people"
Governor Cummins offered three remedies
fer existing conditions:-
L. Complete revision of our corporate laws.
g. Such legislation as will cause the common
carriers OF the country to keep their lines open
to every individual and concern on the same
terms.
3. Tariff revision.
The spirit Of reform is abroad in the land.
Governors, senators, congressman, men OF high
degree and men in the lower walks of lite, ale
breathing the air of reform. Regardless of
political Affiliations, men now accepting the
doctrines of reform taught by a mere handful
of men for yeats. They ere thinking! Cou-
dilious are forcing them TO think. And when
men really THINK, they do not allow political
prt iudices to blind them.
Conditions are ripe. The people are think
ing We see the beginning of the end.