The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-08-31
each state can act according to the situation
which it has to meet.
Governments Have Eight.

As TO the right of the governments federal
and state, to own and operate railroads there
cen be no doubt. II we can deepen the water
N the lakes and build connecting canals In
der to cheaper railroad transportation during
half OF the year we can bCild railroad and
cheaper rates the whole year; IL we can spend
several hundred millions the Panama canal
10 lower transcontinental rates. can build
railroad from New York to San Francisco to
lower both transcontinental and local rates The
United States m II is increasing rapidly that
we shall soon be able to pay the interest on
the cost of trunk lines ont of the money which
we now pay to railroads for carrying thru mails.
mentioning tits subject, | beg to remind YOU
that the president could not have secured tho E
passage of tie rate bill had he not appealed
to the fear OF the more radical remedy Of gOv.l
eminent ownership and nothing will SO re-
strain the railroad magnates from attempting
to capture the interstate commerce commission
as the same fear. The high handed manner in
authority. together with the corruption discov-
cred in high places. has done more to create
speeches and arguments of the opponents OF
private ownership. -
have referred to the railroad question as a
part of the trust question because they are so
interviewer that 1t is difficult to consider ona
without the other.
Just a word more in regard to the trusts.
Some defend them on the ground that they arr.
an economic development and that they cam
not be prevented without great injury to cur
industrial system. This may be answered in
al
opment rather than an economic one; and Sec
ond. the trust system cannot be permitted to
continue even tho it did result in net ec1-
non:ic gain. 1t is political because it rests.
upon the corporation and the corporation rests
upon statutory foundation.
The trust, instead of being q natural deyel-
opment, IS a. form of legalized larceny and can
exist only so long the law permits it to
exist. That there is economic advantage ia
production on a large scale may be admitted
but because million yards OF cloth can be pro-
duced in factory at lower price per
yard than one hundred thousand yards can be
produced in the factory. it does not fol;
low that cloth would be produced at a still lower
price per yard if all the cloth consumed in
the United States were produced i'll one fac
tory oc under one management.
There is point beyond which the economic
advantage of large production ceases. The mo
ment an industry approaches the position of
cheney. for monopoly discourages invention. In
a most potent factor in production viz, indi
vidual ambition.
But the political objections TO a trust over
come any economic advantage which 1t can
possibly have. No economic advantage can
justify industrial despotism Or COMPENSATE
nation for the loss of independence among its
producers. Political liberty could not long en-
dure under industrial system which per-
mitted few powerful magnates TO control the
means Of livelihood of the rest of the people,
Landlord1Sm. the curse of Europe. is an in.
nocent institution in comparison with the trust
when the trust is carried to its logical con-
clusion.
Aids Socialism,
The man WHO argues that there is an eco
nonic advantage in private monopoly is aiding
socialism. The socialist asserting the eco
nomfc superiority of the monopoly. insists that
us Dement'S shall accrue to the whole people,
and his conclusion cannot he denied if the
| superiority Of monopoly is admitted. The demo-
cratic party, if I understand its position. de-
MES the economic as well as the political adj
anfn 70 and
oppose it wherever it manifests itself. 1t
offers as all alternative competition where CONF
petition is possible and public monopoly where
| circumstances such to prevent COMPETE
| ton.
Socialism presents a consistent theory but
| a theory which, in my Judgment. Goes not
! take human nature into account. Its strength
| is in its attack upon evils. the existence of
which is confessed. Its weakness is that it
would substitute a new disease-if not worse
one-for the disease from which we suffer.
The socialist is honest in the belief that he
| has found a remedy for human ills, and he
| must1a-be answered with argument. not with
! abuse. The best way to oppose socialism is to
remedy the abuses which have grown up under
lindividualism. but which not necessary
| part of individualism and the sooner the rem
| edy is applied the better. As | was leaving
| home I set forth nly reasons for opposing the
| socialist doctrine that the government should
own and operate all the means of production
and transportation; my observations during the
past year have strengthened my convictions on
that subject.- Becntise ! am anxious to preserve
individuals, am earnest in my desire to see
the trusts eXterminated, root and branch, that
t the door Of opportunity may be open to every
American citizen.
! On another occasion I shall call attention to
| the rapidly growing expenditures of the federal
government 1t is natural that those who look
upon taxation blessing should view over
| grown appropriation with complacency yet
even the desire to find ways of spending the
revenues brought into the treasury by high
forf -hnIlX Tho -1ass
extravaganza of recent congresses.
But at this time I desire to center your
day-the trust-with the plutocratic tendencies
that result therefrom. Ii demands remedy,
and the people are prepared to administer heroic
| treatment. The democratic party offers. solu-
| ton which is both reasonable and adequate-a
/ solution in which time -honored principles are
applied to new conditions =
Not Enemy Of Property.
The democratic party is not the enemy Of
property of property rights; it is. on the
! contrary, the best defense of this, because
it defends human rights and human rights ars
the only foundation upon which property and
property rights can rest securely. The demo-
cratic party does not menace single dollar
on tb on of the fcs and
alike in tie enjoyment of that which they
have honestly earned. The democratic party
does not discourage thrift, but. on the con-
| trary, stimulates eacn lnd1VlQual 10 Inc nlgn.
est endeavor by assuring him that he Will not
| be deprived of the fruits of his toll. If we
| can but repeal the laws which enable men to
reap where they, have not sown-laws which
| enable them to garner into their overhowing
| barns the ha-veSts that belong to others
| no one will lie able to accumulate enough to
| make his fortune dangerous to the country.
| Special privilege and the use of the taxing
| power for private gain-these the twin
| pillsrs upon which plutOcracy rests. To take
| away these supports and to elevate the bene-
| fciaries of special legislation to the path OF
honest effort ought to be the purpose of oul
| party.
And who can suffer injury by just taxation
| impartial laws and the application of Jeher.
sonian doctrine of equal rights to all and
special privileges to none? Only those whose
accumulatons are stained with dishonesty and
| whose immoral methods have given them d
distorted view Of business, society and govern
ment. Accommodations by fraud means more
money than they can proftably use upon them
| selves. wisely distribute or safely leave 70
| their children: these denounce as public enemies
| all who question their methods, or throw
| light upon their crimes.
! Plutocracy is abhoTent to republic; 1t is
| more despotic than monarchy. more heartless
than aristocracy. more selfish than bureaucracy:
1t preys upon the nation i'll time of peace anu
conspires against it in the hour OF It's caiam.
| ity Constituencies, compassiOnless ana deFoio
of wisdom, 1t eneryates its votarles "hiie
| impoyerishes its victims. X Is already sapplhs
the strength of the nation vuiearizlns soG r,a
life and making a mockery OF morals. lhe
! time is ripe for its overthrow. Let us attacs
it boldly. making appeal to the a"akeneo
| conscience of the nation In the name OF the
counting room which 1t has denied IN Nv, =; the
of business honor which it has suliied, IN tne
| name of the people whom it has oppressed: II
the name Of the homes which 1t mas oespoliea,
and in the nsn,s OF re hrnocr, ap'l
And If may be permitted to suggest bat
+,a HYMN r propose a stanZa, but sngnu!