Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-10-16

the idea of the socialists and take
away all incentive for individual ef-
fort, but on the other hand we do want
wise laws that will secure as far as
possible the just distribution of our
country's wealth. For obtaining this
end the last session of congress passed
a number of laws. Prominent among
these was the railroad rate bill. And
right here want to give the devil his
due. In the past have said some I'M
kind things of the senate. / always
say unkind things of the senate when
1t does not agree with me. We live
in a time when it is customary to rail
at the senate. And yet 1t was the SEN
ate that wrote into the railroad rate
law the anti-pass provisions, and
placed the Pullman cars, the Standard
Oil pipe lines and the express compan-
les under the interstate commerce COM
mission.
What Might Have Been.
IF tho hue and cry, that went up
at that time, to pass the rate bill as
it was had stampeded the senate, the
act would not lave included any Of
these valuable provisions. 1t is wise
to recall the virtues of some public
men at times like lnese when 1t is
their vices that seem to come in for
the greatest attention.
"Other bills of similar nature which
we passed were the meat inspection
law and the pure food law. While the
latter was being considered, received
many letters and kilograms from my
constituents asking me to vote for the
pure food bill. The writer's had but
little idea how great is the amount Of
preliminary work necessary before a
bin in the proper shapes to become
a law of the land 1t is not enough
that congress be in favor of the great
principles of BILL it must work out
the mul.ituduous details involved to
make it effective legislation"
In speaking of the statehood legisla-
ton, Mr.. Smith stated that personally
he favored the measures allowing New
Mexico and Arizona to vote separately
on the proposition as to whether they
would come into the union as one
state. He stated that in Arizona the
population was chiefly Americans
while in New Mexico the majority
were of the type known as ''greasers'
or Mexicans
Doubts ACCESSIBILITY Of One State.
81 have my doubts" he continued,
"as to whether these two classes could
live peaceably together in one state.
We have not in this country a great
faculty for getting along well with
other races The treatment accorded
the Chinese in the Pacific states will
prove this. Or again. IL some black
man commits crime, we turn out and
kill that black man or some other
black man.
eve burn men at the stake. We are
the only nation, civilized or semi-civili-
zed who still cling to this barbarous
custom. And yet we are sending pro-
tests to Russia because of the persecu.
ton of the Jew. Do not misunderstood
me. No one more deeply deplores the
prosecutions heaped upon this dis
tressed race than do I. but 1t seems
rather neryy to me, for people that
burn men alive, to send out protests
to another nation regarding race dis
| orders.
For this reason I am doubtful OF
the ability of the Mexicans and Ameri
cans to get along well together in one
state and ! am glad Of the separate
voting provision. If they do not want
to come in as one state, let them wait
until each territory nas a population