Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-23
Free Institutions Justified.

free 1QSClLuL1OnS JuSC1neQ.
Great railway systems spend tens of
millions of dollars Strengthening unneces-
sary curves in their lines, thus shortening
distances and enlarging the roads capacity
for commerce. To the shortsighted this
means extravaganza; to the wise railroad
manager 1T is economy. And precisely
what the great railroad manager Is doing
in Strengthening out the crooked places in
his road Is what the American people, I'M
der the leadership of Theodore Roosevelt,
are doing in Strengthening out the methods
newal Of a free people means the justifica-
ton of free institutions and the immortal
ity of liberty. Only that people is DOOM
ed, only those institutions are fated, which
cannot and will not remedy the evils which
develop within them"
Senator Beveridge declared that at such
a crisis in national affairs only the right
kind of a leader was wanted. Such lead
Roosevelt. who had travelled further than
any of his predecessors in methods of re-
form and in giving vitality to the laws en-
acted by Congress.
The Antitrust Law.
1.-THE Sherman antitrust act" he said,
''has shown more vitality during the pres
idency of Theodore Roosevelt than since its
enactment And where that and other
laws fell short of remedying existing sit
uations, new laws like the anti-rebate law
have been added.
And all these laws have been enforced
against all offenders alike The nations
Justice has not considered the wealth of
influence of the lawbreaker; and just as a
poor man Is not permitted to escape upon
the plea that he did not know what the
laws were so high-placed violators of our
national statutes have not been permitted
to escape upon the plea that he had not
understood the laws. No man. no corpora
ton, combination, however vast its
wealth, however established and apparent
ly irresistible its power, that does not to-
day stand in awe of the nations laws"
Mr.. Beveridge asserted that this moral
regeneration of American business had not
injured the country's commerce at home
and abroad. had caused no panic, killed
no honest enterprise. AS proof of this it
was shown that domestic commerce has
increased 81 coo 100000 year for six years;
that the circulation of money has increased
$569, 175,S6S since Roosevelt became Presi-
dent; that the national exports are now the
greatest In our history; that the balance
of trade in favor Of America is more than
600 greater than five years ago;
that the American farmers have increased
their products more than 81 goo, 600 600 for
that there are over So COO, coo, 600 more in
vested in manufacturing industries than
when Roosevelt became President; that the
number of employees in factories has In
creased 100000 in the same period, while
wages have increased 30,1 per cent; that
business failures have been fewer year by
year; that railway foreclosures have de-
creased; that price of commodities have
increased, thus filling the producers pock-
ets that surplus savings have gone up
So 0O0, coo, 900, now reaching the enormous
aggregate of S11 $50, 100000. Continuing,
Mr.. Beveridge said:
Genuine Commercial Prosperity.
This is genuine. not spurious conserva-