Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-10-16

new town hall, so he gave 100000 tc
build one to replace dilapitated
structure
The above clipping may be one OF
| the many INSPIRED" articles sent out
these days for copy for the lazy edi-
tors. That's not the point. 1t is this
idea of stewardship that the American
people seriously object to. This man
| Rogers may be doing good with his
!, money. Rockefeller undoubtedly by his
Sl0O,O00,00 benefactions to college and
| church does help humanity But once
| and for all time these men and Others
| engaged in robbing the people by COM
bined extortionate prices on actual me-
| eessities, should know that they are
| not stewards of the peoples money.
They are only stewards in the same
sense that any pirate or free booter is.
And, too, they can not claim the credit
| assumed by the highwayman that robs
| the rich to give to the poor. They rob
| the poor more than the rich and it is
| an open question. whether the rich or
| the poor derive the most benefits as a
result Of their benefactions.
Public men, wise public men, will
notice that these are the days, when
men that do things are in demand
railing that virtue, the call is for men
that say things that demand action.
The wise man that keeps his mouth
smut and looks wise Is giving away to
the wise man that stands for some
thing, assumes a position, positive
one, defends it and stays with it. "Old
men for counsel and young men for
action Is just as good an old saw. as
ever, but today we ask of our old men
not only counsel but action. Another
oft-quoted phrase is that what is not
for us is against u.s." and it has an
especial meaning and strength in this
country and in this state Of Iowa, juse
now. Reforms of various kinds are pro-
posed. And put it down as fact every
pubic man that does not openly
ldVor any or all of these
important questions is either for
or against them. That seems almost
nonsensical statement, but let the
reader think over the record of some
OF our public Nen, and can he state
positively where Congressman A, SEN
ator r., or Governor c. stands. If the
reader does know or thinks he knows
where these men stand. then these men
nave said or done something to give the
reader that impression. Otherwise they
are not the men needed in public life.
It's no wonder as the years roll we
accumulate pessimism. It's not strange
that we gradually lose faith in hui
mainly. Year after year we read and
hear of the weaknesses Of our fellow
citizens, even tho we remain in ig-
norance of our own, and thus the ten
dency as we grow older is to lose many
ideals, and shatter many pet theories
concerning the good qualities of the
men and women living on this earth
during the same days we are here.
Some Of this moralizing comes from
a knowledge of the present measure
of right and wrong, honesty and dis
honesty in the business world. Some
OF it in view of the present methods in |
our courts of Justice And again in the /
professions of medicine, journalism,
even religion, we find SO many a dis
grace to the very names Of those pro-
fessions, one is inclined to condemn !
ALL rather than the Individual OF
course sensible thinkers know that the
world and the people in it are better
In many ways than any previous gen.
GRAFTON, but the one rascal, corrupt
Judge, quack, or vulgar evangelist
brings a stigma to the reputation Of
all, in the business world, court Of JUS
tice, school Of medicine, or in the
ranks of the ministry. After all there's
no better motto for any age than mil