Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-06-13
LAWYERS TO SAVE AMERICA
Attorneys to Stand Between People and
Bntrenchod Monopoly.
BRAINS TO RULE INSTEAD OF DOLLARS
John l.. webster Outlines what He
Looks Upon as the Hope Of saliva
ton from the Domination
of Pelf

VERMILION. s. D.. June 12.2(Special
Telegram John l.. Webster of Omaha de-
livercd the address to the graduates OF the
University Of South Dakota tonight speak
ing on the subject. The Lawyer; His Place
in American History" Mr.. Webster pro
tested against that danger from the ac-
cumula ton and concentration OF billions Of
capital in gigantic corporations that monop-
ollie the business in which they are en-
gagged" lie said that much depends upon
the lawyers in solving the problems con
fronting the nation. In conclusion the ora
tor saldi r. .-t
Az this time, our country IL confronted
with a danger that threatens TO disregard
the rights OF the people and is a menace to
the freedom of individual endeavor, That
danger comes from the accumulation and
concentration OF billions OF capital I'm gigan-
tic corporations that monopolize the bust
ness In which they are engaged. Their ten
denCy is to suppress competition by unjust
and unconscionable expressions and to cor
rupt the body polite by methods which
have lately wrecked the lives Of some men
and ruined the reputation OF others who
had been the idols Of the people.
Control OF the Railroads.
] Sir Walter Raleigh once said that what
ever nation controlled the seas would con
troll the foreign commerce Of the world. Il
! is equally true that whoever controls the
/ railroads OF the country can control its
commerce The twenty-five billions OF In
ternal commerce of the United States which
| represents every SPECIES OF product. OF skill
and industry Of eighty millions of people
and which Is the measure Of our nations
=. material strength and power, is dependent
upon the transportation OF the railways of
| our country Today, six men control 100
| ters in fixing rates OF transportation, by
| which they can, in a degree, Initiate or de-
press the value of the wealth OF the coup-
try. These six men in command OF
i million of employees: an army Of men
4 greater than Napoleon commanded when
1 overturning the empires Of Europe; an
ermy OF men greater than General Grant
! commanded when he received the surren-
der Of Lee at Appomstt@pS; an army OF men men
| when he fought the victorious battles With
the Russians on the plains OF Manchuria.
With this vast corporate power, the peo-
! pie OF the United Statear.have been fight
Ing a battle I'm the national congress The
great principle al stake Is whether the pro
visions which confer upon congress the
power to regulate commerce among the
| several states and to legislate for, the gem
h T ferca % yhe Tns 1d esn Mha
they say or whether the moneyed power
Of the country is greater than the consti.
tuition The great lawyers In the house OF
representatives and in the senate OF the
! United States are the only members who
have risen to the demands OF the occasion
| In that great debate and upon them must
the nation depend for the protection of
the constitutional rights OF the people.
What the Lawyers Did.
The lawyers OF our country drafted the
ueclArdlOn OF lnuepenueQce. Inc ldN1NIs
of our country framed the constitution OF
the United States. The lawyers OF our
country maintained the integrity of that
sacred instrument during the. civil war and
reconstructed into a happy union the Sc
! ceding states. The lawyers OF our coun-
try determined the constitutional right OF
the nation to acquire new territory In the
Louisiana purchase and to keep on OK
banding in area until II now lies abreast
in the seas. The lawyers of cur country
have by adaptation to conditions ana a
/ process of logical construction given "a
the words and sentences OF the constftu-
ton "a meaning broad enough In purpose
and big enough in scope and comprehen-
sion to fit the giant nation of 100000 peo-
pie The lawyers OF the country have sue
tional government and constructive states
manslhp that have confronted the Ameri'
can people I'm the course OF Its past history
! The lawyers OF the country viii solve the
( pending questions and keep the constitu
! ton supreme over the moneyed ana cor
n orate powers within American borders,
| Bolingbroke, I'm describing the profession
! most beneficial to mankind, exclaimed
I There have been lawyers that were ora
! tors, philosophers, historians; there have
= ! been Bacons and Clarendons, my lord
| there shall be none such any more, TIL u
| some better age men learn TO prefer rams
to pelf and climb TO the vantage GROUND
OF general science
l have endeaVored IN this sketch 70 snow
! that there have been lawyers IN Americs
who have lived in that better age, ans
may we Of the present day maintain ina
high standard which has given TO the pro
fession its place in the temple or tame II
! American history.