The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-17

take counsel with each other as fellow citi-
zens merely to ask each other what shall
we think. There Is something much more
important than that In hand, and that Is to
determine what we shall do. For this coun-
try waits upon sound action for its saliva
tion. We shall not be saved by good think
ing. but we shall be saved by honest action.
There are maladies In the body polite.
They are not incurable. If the patient should
obey the instructions Of the physician, and
we return TO Thomas jefferson tonight to
hear the instructions Of the physician. For
one thing, we shall reject. as we would reject
poison itself. the prescription Of socialism.
What are we struggling against now? The
power of corporations because we don't
believe in corporations? No, | think not.
! don't see how our modern civilization could
dispense with corporations. l don't see
anything but the utmost folly could enter
upon a course of destruction in respect TO the
present organization OF our economic life.
We are not afraid Of the corporations except
in so far as we are afraid Of the men who
constitute them, and we are afraid of the men
who constitute them because we have not
picked them out by our laws, but have sub
merged them In the corporation-they belong
TO them.
We have organized corporations in such
a way and administered law in such a way
that men hide in the corporations. They
nut ITOU1 tTelT own eyes anu are HOt llltll-
selves aware when they are dishonest. And
courts tell you that you cannot pick o ut a
Mr.. A.. the president OF the cooperation, and
Mr.. B., the secretary Of the organization
cant put him in jail. And you know you
can't put the organization into jail and you
know that fines don't rea CHI the disease.
Now. somebody has got TO go to jail. And
the only way to get anybody In TO Jail is to
act upon Jefersonian principles and in
RI ipil ,to lfua m n tnlirilt lon ptn an fhQf
they will discover that II they are directors
and don't direct they are going to be put IN a
place where they can't direct anything, not
even their own selves, where men will find
that the law don't deal with combinations
but with persons.
What Is it we have learned In recent investi-
cations? That things were corrupt? Well.
we knew that already, but that men whom we
trust and still respect we're dishonest and
didn't know 1t. And this republic will not be
recalled 10 the days of heroic achievement
until every man knows that his honor can
not be compounded.
We talk about tho contest between capital
and labor. l do not see anything essentially
evil in this contest. Every good thing Is
worked out by contest. The best service you
can render me If 1 want something from you
and you want something from me is to lay
your mind s~Quarely alongside of mine and let
each one of us determine his muscle in the
contest,
Capital will not discover it's responsibilities
II you tie It. Labor will not discover its limi-
tations and possibilities II you coddle ii; YOU
must see to 1t that your law does not take
sides. and that is the Jeffersonian principle.
Not that the law interviewed to ease the strain,
but to prevent the unmanly advanta ge. Law
is your umpire and 1t must not go into the
ring until one or the other opponent hits
below the belt. Law does not OBJ ject to
strokes, but II objects to the fraudulent and
dirty strokes.
Judson Harmon's subject was "The Es-
sentials Of Democracy This was his con-
clusion:
Judson HarmOn's Addr ess.
The swift strides OF this danger have again
exposed the pretence that a party can or will
correct its own errors or excuses. No
remedy has ever proved effective but a change
of party. The President. bold as he is and
strong Of will, cannot even bring his party
to lift the tariff taxes from the backs of the
poor FilIpinos w have taken TO raise. He
has quit trying to reduce them for the sake
OF our own people.
We have laws to prevent and punish the
depredations Of trusts and combinations and
the enjoyment of special favors. through
rebates and otherwise. from public carriers.
But these were allowed to go 60 long without
desultory attempts to enforce them that
the Government does not seem able to make
Its belated efforts highly effective. What is
to be accomplished under the proposed new
laws remains to be seen.
But what Ia 1t the President and his fol-
lowers are trying TO do? 1t is merely to
mend a state Of thing for which the Republic
can lead ers are themselves to blame. They
let the spirit of commercial greed out of the
bottle and shouted with pride as IL swelled
and grew. Now that it is as big as the sky
they wlsh to get It back. and they call on the
Democrats to help.
Democrats prefer prevention to cure.
They would not have let these wrongs go
rava glng unchecked upon the people, much
less have imposed taxes which tend to pro-
duce and encourage them. Democrats wish
every one to get and to keep and enjoy the
fair and full reward Of his efforts, whether IL
be little or much. There can be no peace be-
tween them and a party which. posing as
the sole creator and custodian OF prosperity.
multiplies multi-milliopaires and bids those
who labor to be thankful to 1t because they
get enough to eat.
Senator Gearin, the last Of the announced
speakers, talked on Jefferson and the
West