Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-06-01
Discusses Present Problems,

ness with which they did theirs.
Discusses Present Problems.
Great social and industrial problems
confront us, and their solution de-
mands on our part unfaltering courage
and yet a wise, good-natured self-re- |
gtTaint; so that on the one hand we
shall neither be daunted by difficulties
nor fooled by those who would seek
to persuade us that the difficulties are
insuperable; while on the other hand
we are not misled into showing either
iashness or vindictiveness. Let us
try as people to show the same
qualities as we deal with the indus
trial and social problems of today that
Abraham Lincoln showed when
with indomitable resolution, but with
kindness, patience, and common
sense quite as remarkable, he faced
four weary years Of open war in
front, Of calumny, detraction and in
trigue from behind, and at the end
gave to his countrymen whom he had
served so we'll the blood-bolght gift
of a race freed and a nation forever
united. I
One great problem that we have
before us Is to preserve the rights Of
property; and these can only be pre-
served IL we remember that they are
In less jeopardy from the socialist and
the anarchist than from the predatory
man Of wealth. 1t has become evident
that to refuse to invoke the power Of
the nation to restrain the wrongs
committed by the man of great wealth
who does evil is not only to neglect the
interests of the public, but is to neg
'lect the interests OF the man OF means
who acts honorably by his fellows.
The power Of the nation must be ex-
erted to stop crimes of cunning no
less than crimes Of violence. There can
be no halt in the course we have de-
libertely elected to pursue. the policy
of asserting the right of the nation,
SO far as 1t has the power. to super
wise and contract the business use OF
wealth, especially In it's corporate
form. Today wish to say word
to you about the first and most i'm
portant feature of this task, the con-
troll OF the common carriers doing an
Interstate business; control absolute
ly vested In the nation, while in 80
| far as the common carriers also
| transport the mails it is in my opin-
ion probable that whether their bust
ness is or Is not interstate it is to the
same extent subject to federal con-
troll, under that clause OF the constt-
tuition granting to the national govern
ment power to establish post roads
and therefore by necessary implication
power to take all action necessary in
order to keep them at the highest
point of efficiency.
Uphold Federal Laws.
Every federal law dealing with cor.
porations OF with railroads that has
been put upon the statute books dur
ing The last six years has been u steE
in advance in the right direction. AL
action taken by the administratio,
under these and the preexisting law.
has been just and proper. Every sui
undertaken during that period has
been suit not merely warranted, but
required, by the facts; suit in tht
interest Of the people as whole, and
in the long run, particularly in the ill
terest of stockholders as well as II
the interest Of business men of proper
ty generally. There can be no swerv
ing from the course that has thu!
been mapped out in the Legislation
actually enacted and in the message.
In which asked for further legisle
ton. We best serve the interests O
, the honest railway men when we ar
nounce that we will follow out pre-
cisely this course. 1t is the course c
real, of ultimate conservatism. Their
will be no halt in the forward move
ment toward full development c
this policy; and those who wish us t
take step backward or to stand still
If their wishes were realized, woul
of the very radicalism they fear Their
must be progressive legislative an
administrative action for the correc
, ion Of the evils which every SINGER
man must admit to have existed
railroad management in the past.
Government Must Control Roads.
Such additional legislation as ths
for which have asked in the pas
:, and especially That for which aske
: In my message at the opening at tt
: last session of Congress. is not ner
ly in the interest of the public, b.
most emphatically in the interest
= every honest railway manager and
all investors of would-be investors
q railway securities. There must
/ vested in the Federal Government
Q full power of supervision and contr
l. over the railways doing intersta
y business; power in many respec
= analogous to and as complete as tn
j the Government exercises over tt
national incorporation (Which shou
d prefer) or in some similar fashio
g such supervision to include the fra1
r publicity Of everything which woul
r be investors and the public at lar
4 have a right to know. The FEEDER
;. Government will thus be able to pl
e vent all overcapitalization In the
r ture; to prevent any man hereaft
e from plundering others by loadil
IS railway properties with obligation
n and pocketing the money instead
e spending it in improvements and
e legitimate corporate purposes; al
/ any man acting in such feshisn shou
g be held to criminal accountable
e 1t should be declared contrary to PIT
l. lie policy hencefcrth to allow railroa