The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-10-04

realize that Il would be better TO have
no legislation at all than legislation
couched either In a vindictive spirit
else drawn with the recklessness OF
impracticable Missionaries.
But, on the other hand, IL shall ana
must ultimately be understood that the
United states government, on behald
or the people of the United States, has
and is 10 exercise the power OF super
vision and control over the business
over all the work Of the common car
riers OF the nation, and in the next
place over the work OF all the great
ly do any Interstate business what
ever-and this includes almost all OF
the great corporations.
During the last few years the ma
tlonal government has taken very long
strides In the direction OF exercising
an dsecuring this adequate control
under the leadership OF one OF the most
honored public men in our country,
one Of Pennsylvania's most eminent
sons--the present senator, and then
Attorney General, Knox-that the new
departure was begun.
Events have moved fast during the
last nve years, and IL is curious 10
look back at the extreme bitterness
which not merely the spokesmen and
representatives OF organized wealth.
but many most excellent conservative
people then felt as 10 the action OF
Mr.. Knox and the administration.
Many OF the greatest fnanciers OF
Knox's Northern Securities suit. If
won, would plunge us into the worst
panic we had ever seen. They de-
nounced as incitement 10 anarchy, as
an apology for socialism, the advocacy
OF policies that either have now become
law or are In n fair way OF becoming
from representing either anarchy or
socialism, were in reality the antidotes
TO anarchy, the antidotes 10 socialism.
To exercise a constantly increasing and
and contral over the great common
carriers OF the country prevents all
necessity for seriously considering such
a project as the government owner
ship OF railroads. policy which would
be evil in its results from every stand
point
PROPER MANAGEMENT
A similar extension Of the national power
to oversee and secure correct behavior In
the management OF all great corporations
engaged In interstate business will in sim
ilar fashion render far more stable the
present system by doing away with those
grave abuses which are not only evil I'm
themselves. but are also evil because they
furnish an excuse for agitators TO In
flame well-meaning people against all
forms OF property and TO commit the
country 10 schemes Of wild. would-be
remedy which would work infinitely more
harm than the disease itself. The gov
efnment ought not 10 conduct the puSl-
ness OF the country; but II ought 70 reg
ulate IL so that IL shall be conducted in
the interest OF the public.
Perhaps the best justification OF the
course which In the national government
we have been pursuing I'm the past few
years, and which we intend steadily and
progressively 10 pursue In the future, is
that 1t is condemned with almost equal
rancor alike by the reactionaries-the
Bourbons-on one side, and by the wild
apostles OF unrest on the other. The re-
dictionary is bitterly angry because we
have deprived him OF that portion Of
his power which he misuses to the pub
lie hurt; the agttator is angered for va
rious reasons, including among others the
fact that by, remedying the abuses we
have deprived him OF the fulcrum of real
grievance. which alone renders the lever
OF irrational agitation formidable:
We have actually accomplished much.
anything like IT. that we feel must be
accomplished We shall not halt: we
shall steadily follow the path we have
marked out, executing the laws we have
succeeded in putting upon the statute
books with absolute impartiality as be-
tween man and man, and unresung In
our endeavor to strengthen and supple
ment these by further laws which shall
enable us In more efficient and more
summary fashion TO achieve the ends we
have i'm view.
During the last few years congress has
had TO deal with such vitality Important
questions as providing for the building of
the Panama canal, inaugurating the vast
system OF national irrigation In the
states OF the great plains and the Rocky
mountains. providing for Pacific cable,
and so forth. Yet in addition TO these
tasks. some OF which are of stupendous
importance. congress has taken giant
strides along the path of government reg
ulation and control of corporations; the
interstate commerce law has been made
effective i'm radical and far-reaching fash
ioh. rebates have been stopt, pure-food
ls..., ct
the meat-packing business provided, and
the bureau of corporations established-a
bureau which has already done great
good, and which can and should be given
a constantly increasing functional power.
The work of legislation has been no
more important than the work done by
the department OF justice I'm executing
the laws. not only against corporations
and individuals who have broken the anti
trust or interstate-commerce law, but
against those who have been engaged in
land frauds.
OFFENDERS PUNISHED.
Scores of suits, civil and criminal. have
been successfully undertaken against Of
tenders OF all kinds-many of them
against the most formidable and
wealthy combinations in the land; In
some the combinations have been dis
solved. in some heavy fines have been
imposed, In several cases the chief Of
tenders have been imprisoned.
IL behooves tbs Americans TO look ahead
and plan out the right kind OF civilization,
as that which we intend to develop from
these wonderful new conditions of vast
industrial growth. IL must not be, II
shall not be, the civilization OF mere
plutocracy. n banking house, Wall-street-
syndicate C utilization nor yet can there
be submission 10 class hatred, to rancoT.
brutality, and mob violence. for that
would mean the end OF all civilization. In
creased powers are susceptible OF abuse
as we'll as use: never before have the
opportunities for sehshness been so
great, nor the results of selishness so
appalling; for in communities where
everything is organized on a merely sell
fish commercial basis. such selflshness, II
unchecked. may transform the great
forces OF the new epoch into powers of de-
struction hitherto unequaled.
We need TO check the forces of greed.
20 insure just treatment alike OF capital
n nd Of nj nd Of ba n,thliN