The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1906-10-25
REGULATION OF CORPORATIONS
The Party of Construction, Led by
Roosevelt, Rightly Understands
the Problem.


the Problem.
In the campaign between Mr..
Hughes and Mr.. Hearst in New
York State the issue is ofNational
Importance. Not because the two
chief figures have a National repu-
tation, though they both have
the one as the keenest of inquisi-
tors into the abuses of high f.
nance, " the other as the most dar-
ing and ruthless of sensational
journalists. The issue in New
York concerns the whole Nation
because the two forces confronting
one another in that State repre-
sents the two sides which are like
ly to divide the Nation between
them in struggle over National
policies.
1t IS grave mistake to fancy
that this is merely a contest be-
tween sanity and violence, or one
between despotism and liberty.
There are not enough shiftless,
lawless, indecent people on the
one side to make the sort of party
which the Hearst forces are by
some supposed to form; there are
not enough hireling of plutocratic
| despots Oh the other side to make
the sort of party the Hughes forces
are by some supposed to be. No
one can explain the Hearst move
ment adequately by ascribing it to
irresponsible discomfort, or ex-
plain the Hughes nomination by
ascribing it to irresponsible greed.
If we were to accept the worst that
is said by each side of the other,
we should conclude that the con-
test were one between anarchists
and despots. The issue is much
more credible to the American
character.
Mr.. Hearst has the advantage
of being the aggressor. He finds
party in power, and he attacks
it. His following is composed not
by any means altogether of self
seekers. Great numbers have been
attracted to his standards by the
measures he supports. He has been
acute enough to discern the ills
from which they suffer, and for
these ills he promises specific
/ cures.
There is TO doubt that these ills
are real. The ordinary Individual
feels helpless in the presence of or
gained wealth and industry. He
receives gas bills which he feels
sure are eXhorbitant. His re-
monstrances are useless; he must
pay them or endure inadequate
light. His rent, his car fare, his
kerosene, his coal, his wages, his
insurance policy, his stock if he
owns any, his savings, are all to a
greater or less degree out side OF
his individual control, and subject
to the control Of men who are be-
You'd his reach. He would try TO
reach them through the govern
ment Of which he is a part, but
there, too, he feels helpless. Par
ty machinery has somehow fallen
into the control of these same dis
tant men. The party bosses are
the servants, not of this individual
voter or that, but Of those who can
best reward them; and those can
best reward them who have con-
troll of organized industry and
wealth. The individual who does
not happen to be among those in
control feels his helplessness, and
is ready for a leader who shows
him a way out. It is not because
men are feeling their poverty, but
because they are jealous of their
freedom that they are set upon
working some reform,
There are two policies presented
in answer 10 this demand for re-
form. One is the policy Of reform
by reaction: the other reform by
construction. The one policy is
represented in general by Mr..
Roosevelt, The party which
urges the first policy says in sub.
stance: Your ills arise from the