The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1907-08-29

to convict him of any one criminal act
ihere is unfortunately a certain number or
our fellow countrymen who seem to accept
the view that unless man can be proved
guilty or some particular crime he shall be
counted good citizen. no matter how in
famous the life he has led. no matter how
pernici0us his doctrines or his practices
This Is the view announced from time to
time with clamorous insistence, now by a
group OF predatory capitalists. now by q
group or sinister anarchStic leaders and
agitators. whenever a special champion of
either class. no matter how evil his general
life. Is acquitted of some one specific crime
In .Undexsrable Citizen" Class.
"Such a view is wicked. whether applied
10 capitalist or labor leader. to rich man
or poor man; and all that | have said as
10 desirable and undesirable citizens re-
mains true. But we have to take this feel
Ing into account when we are debating
whether Ii Is possible to get conviction
in criminal proceeding against some rich
trust magnate. many OF whose actions are
severely to be- condemned from the moral
and social standpoint. but one of whose
actions seems clearly to establish such
technical guilt as will insure a conviction.
As a matter of expedency. In enforcing
the law against a great corporation, we have
continually TO weigh the arguments pro and
con as to whether prosecution can success
fully be entered into, and to whether we
can be successful in a criminal action
against the chief individuals In the corpora
ton. and If not whether we at least
be successful against the corporation it
SELF Any effective action on the part
OF the government Is always objected 10, as
matter of course. by the wrongdoers by
the benehciaries of the wrongdoers. and by
their champions and often one Of the most
effective ways Of attacking the action of
the government Is by objecting to prac-
teal action upon the ground that il does not
go far enough One Of the favorte devices
OF those who are really striving TO prevent
the enforcement of these laws is to clamor
for action OF such severity that it cannot
be undertaken because IL will be certain TO
fail IL tried. An instance of this Is the
demand often made for criminal prosecutions
where such prosecutions would be certain to
fail. We have found by actual experience
that jury which will gladly punish a cor
poration by fine. for instance. will acquit
the individual members Of that corporation
II we proceed against them criminally be-
cause OF those very things which the cor
poration which\they direct and control has
done.
Cites Licorice Trust Case.
in a recent case against the licorce
trust we indicted and tried the two cor
porations and their respective presidents.
The contracts and other transactions es-
tablishing the guilt OF the corporations
wore made through. and SO far as they
were in writing were signed by, the two
presidents. Yet the jury convicted the TWO
corporations and acquitted the two rren.
Both verdicts could not possibly have zen
correct, but apparently the average jury
man wishes to see trusts broken up. and
Is quite ready 10 fine the corporation itself.
but Is very reluctant to find the facts
proven beyond a reasonable doubt when
IL comes to sending to Jail reputable mem
Der Of the business community for doing
what the business community has unhappily
grown to recognize as well-Eigh normal in
business Moreover, under the necessary
,fcaff Of fn1fn dinn
the only man who can be reached crimlnally
will be some subordinate who Is not the real
guilty party at all.
MANY men of large wealth have been
guilty Of conduct which from the moral
standpoint is criminal. and their misdeeds
are TO a peculiar degree reprehensible, be-
cause those committing them have no cx
cuse OF want, of poverty. OF weakness and
ignorance to offer as partial atonement."
Speaking of legislation favorable to the
wage-earner. the President Endorsed the law
limiting the number of hours that railway
employees should work. He also spoke favor
ably of the employers liability law, but said
ultimately a more far-feaching and thor
oughgoing law must be passed.
1T Is monstrous.". the President said
that a man or woman who is crippled In
| an industry. even result of taking
| what are the necessary risks of the occupa
| ton. should be required TO bear the whole
| burden of the loss. That burden should bs
weakest individual. the one least able &c
| carry 1t. BY making the employer Liable
the loss will ultimately be distributed
| among all the beneficiaries of the business
| The President said he favored the ma
, tional governments work In increasing tn,
peoples health. lie especially was pleased
with the war being waged against tuber
| culosis.
OF Socialism he said in part: Certain
| Soclalistic leaders propose TO redst ribui'
4
energy and industry their proper superior
| ity over folly and idleness and sullen envy
| Such legislation would. in the words of tn,
| president of Columbia University. 'wrecl
the worlds efficiency for the purpose of re
| distributing the wirld's discomfort"
| The first part of the Presidents speecl
was devoted to a remarkably eloquent eulo
gy Of the character of the Pilgrim fathers.
Men," he said, must be judged will
! reference to the age in which they dwell
| and the work they have to do. The Puri
| tan's task was 10 conquer continent no
merely to oyerrun it, but to settle it, 20 til
| IL. TO build upon it high industrial an,
| social life, and while engaged in the rougl
work of tanning the shaggy wilderness a
that very time also to lay deep the i'm
| movable foundations of our whole American
system of civil, political and religious lib
erty achieved through the orderly process O
law. This was the work allotted to him L
do this is the work he did. and only mas
ter spirit among men could have done H."
For Inheritance Tax.
The President touched here On the In
hertance tax, saying:
'Where the power of the law can be wise
ly used to prevent to minimize the az
QUESTION or business employment of sue
wealth and to make 1t pay by income or In
heritance tax fits proper share of the burde
of government I would invoke that powe
without moments hesitation"