Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-09-01

plOyer may please. Inc question SOME
times asked, Can / conduct my bust
ness to suit myself Is plausible one,
but when q man in conducting his
business attempts to arbitrarily fix the
conditions under which hundreds If
employers are to live and to determine
the future of thousands of human be.
ings, answer without hesitation that
he has no right to conduct his own
business in such a way as to deprive
his employees of their right to life, lib
erty and the pursuit Of happiness. To
support this position, need only refer
to the laws regulating the safety
of mines, ...e factory laws fixing the
age at which children can be employed
and the usury laws establishing the
rate of interest The effort of the en-
ployer to settle differences without ar
bitration has done much to embitter
him against those who work for him
and to estrange them from him--a con-
dition deplorable from every stand
point
But If it Is unwise to make the en-
ployer the sole custodian of the rights
and interests of the employees, it is
equally unwise to give the employees
uncontrolled authority over the rights
and interests Of the employer. The
employees are not more to be trusted
to act unselishly and disinterestedly
than the employers. In their zeal TO
secure the present advantage they
may not only do injustice but even for
felt a larger future gain. The strike,
the only weapon Of the employee at
present, is a two-edged sword and may
linjure the workman as much as ths
employer and even when wholly sue
cessful is apt to leave ranking in the
bosom of the wage Garner that should
not be there.
Democratic Policies.
4 "Thus far I have dwelt upon sub.
jects which may not be regarded as
strictly partisan, but | am sure that
YOU will pardon me If In this presence
betray my interest in those policies
for which the democratic party stands.
l have not had an opportunity to make
a democratic speech for almost year
and no one-not even political enemy
could be so cruel as to forbid me
to speak of those policies on this oc.
casion. Our opponents have derived
not only partisan pleasure, but also
partisan advantage from the division
caused in our party by the money
question. They ought not, therefore
begrudge us the satisfaction that we
I find in the fact that unexpected condi
lions have removed the cause Of our
differences and permitted us to pre-
sent united trent on present issues
: The unlocked for and unprecedented
increase in the production of gold had
!, brought victory to both the advo
Gates of gold and the advocates ri
bimetalism-the former keeping the
.. gold standard which they wanted and
the latter securing the larger volume
: of money for which they contended
We who favor bimetalism are satisfied
: with our victory If friends. of mono
metalism are satisfied with theirs. Ant
we can invite them to contest of yea
and endurance in the effort to restore
! to the people the rights which have
been gradually taken away from then
. by the trusts.
), "The investigations which have beef
> in progress during the past year have
:. disclosed the business methods o
= those who few years&ago resented
any inspection of their schemes, ant
). hid after rascality under Ligh resound
ing phrases. These investigation
;. have also disclosed the source of enor
= nous campaign funds which have beer
!, used to debaucn elections and corrup
n the ballot.
Demands Refusal Of Trust Fund.
a "The people see now what the,
h should have seen before, namely, tina
= no party can exterminate the trust
q so long as it owes it's political success
/ to campaign contributions secure
# from the trusts. The great corpora
!. lions do not contribute their money .
! any party, except for immunity e1
It pressly promised or clearly implied.
e THE President has recommends
h legislation on this subject, but so ia
r his party has failed to respond. No in
n portant advance can be made unit
7 this baneful influence is eliminated
/ and hope that the democratic part
a will not only challenge the republica
~ party to bring forward effective legi
lation on this subject, but will set a
q, example by refusing to receive can
IS paign contributions from, corporation
4 and by opening the books SO that e.
% cry contributor of any considerabl
s. sum may be kno wn to the public b.
le fore the election.
1t me great MAJORITY VI ColpOIdIlOA
N are engaged in legitimate business, an
1T have nothing to fear from hostile legi
Of lation, and the officers should not b
S. permitted to use the money of tt
~ stockholders to advance their own p
at litical opinions. Contributions shou
s. be individual, not corporate, and T
n. party can afford to receive contrib
ty tons even from individuals when tt
IS acceptance Of these contributions sc
lg reilly pledge the party to a cours
r. which 1t cannot openly avow. In 9th,
a. words, politics should be honest, and
al mistake political conditions in Amerit
IN If they do not presage improvemel
er in the conduct Of campaigns.
I'd Praises RooseveIt's Democracy.
re while men may differ as to the r.
ge alive Importance of issues, and viii
81 the next congress will largely sha
ne the lines upon which the coming pre-
al idential campaign will be fought,
be think it is safe to say that at prese
ly the paramount issue in the minds
is a large majority Of the people is t.