Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-08-09


we consider what has taken place in
this country in the last ten years
graft, fraud. bribery and corruption Of
every sort, the forming of great COM
binattons into greater, and unparal-
leled brazenry and boldness upon the
part of the blood-suckers of our ma
tional wealth and prosperity, where
they had hitherto shown some secrecy
and temerity, when we realize the
magnitude of these things, it becomes
| important for us to inquire what has
produced these conditions and why all
this graft, corruption and favoritism,
and what is the remedy? The people
at this time have great work before
them, and one that calls for true
American patriotism as we'll as for de-
| liberation and determination to be
just Conditions that prevail in great
municipalities, state and national gov
eminent, demand drastic measures,
only limited by desire to be absolute
| ly just, and any measure to accom-
plish these ends can not be called rad
ieal until 1t has placed the reins of the
government in the hands of the people
and released them from the Influences
of corporate greed and selfish inter-
ests. The control of the affairs of
government has gotten away from the
people and 1t is necessary for them to
come forward to it's rescue. A false
theory has arisen In this country both
! dangerous and vicious to the true
American ideal, and has led us away
from the true principles of democracy.
When this government was established
it was for the purpose Of securing
freedom, independence, happiness and
comfort to the individual, principle
that contemplated the welfare of the
whole people. No idea of wealth or
power was considered only as it might
result from the industry and intelli-
gence of the people, but 1t now seems
that that time is past, and a spirit has
crept into the affairs of the nation that
has made wealth and power its guiding
| star and the interests of the indiyid.
ual but secondary. To become a
world power and count its gold has
been the idea that has possessed the
mind of those who by manipulations of
one sort or another have succeeded in
getting the ear Of the powers that
control the government. From this
position we must recede If we wish to
return to the principles of democracy
as taught by Jefferson, Jackson and
republicanism as taught by Lincoln.
/ | wish that were able upon this oc-
casion, that possessed the ability and
had the power of oratory to awaken
the people of this state to the import
ance Of action upon their part to rid
themselves of the evil of which they
complain; that might be able to pic
true to them their power in the strug-
gle that is now on for supremacy in
this country. would like to electrify
the voters of this great commonwealth
to realization of their responsibility
at this time when it has become a
question whether the people shall be
their own masters, or whether they
will tolerate power of these manipula
tors, or trusts, combinations, and cor
porate wealth.
Do not understand me that we be
Elieve in the destruction of wealth
i What we do claim ard desire is that
all individuals. whether a natural per
so nor one created by law, should
when brought before the law, stand on
equal footing, and no privileges should
be extended to one not enjoyed by the
other. The democratic party stands
for the protection of the property of
honest wealth, and always has stood
for the protection of the property
rights and individual liberties of every
citizen Of this nation, and against any
system by which the fruits of honest
endeavor shall be either directly or in
directly taken from it's producers. We
/ believe that no man has right to en-
ter upon the premises of another and
carry away his goods and wares, and
If he does we say he is a thief, and
should be punished by Imprisonment
i Democracy says that when man by
reason of any law has to directly or in
directly pay more for the necessaries
for his family, then the exigencies OF
good government economically admin.
istered demand, IL Is only another form
of robbery. We stand for the protec
ton of property in the hands that have
produced it and opposed to any system
of building up fortunes by extending
special privileges.
I Considers Corporations.
i There has been at work in this coun
try power or system which is formed
I VI lHe SltdI Col pOTdLlOHS, SlCH DIS INC
Standard OIL, railway corporations
meat packers, steel trusts and kindred
institutions. which have become as one
individual, interviewer together by
compact as well as by common inter
est, for the purpose and desire OF
which is the manipulation of the mar
kets of the commodity handled by
each in such manner as to build uI
for themselves artificial and unnatural
t fortunes, all have a common interest
and while not constituting one corpor
i alton or one combination, they have
and do work universally, consistently
t and industriously to protect each 9th
4 er. Their stocks are SO distributed
that 1t is controlled and manipulated
in the interest of the common cause
] When the railroad corporation is to be
attacked by unfrfendly legislation, the
4 tools Of the Standard Oil and of the
steel and of the packers are as indus
/ triously concerned in the protection OF
the privileges of the railroad corpora
/ ton as IL their own institution was tr