The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-12-04

misled by the guilty. Yet 1t Is not pos
sible to refrain because Of such distress
from striving to put an end to the mis-
deeds that are the ultimate cause OF the
suffering. and, as means to this end,
where possible to punish those respon.
sible for them. There may be honest
differences Of opinion as to many govern
mental policies; but surely there can
be no such differences ais 10 the need of
lnnilinching perseverance in the war
against successful dishonesty.
In my Message to the Congress on
December 5. 1905. I said:
"lf the folly of man mars the general
well-being, then those who are limo cent
Of the folly win have to pay part Of
the penalty incurred by those who are
guilty Of the folly. A panic brought on
By the speculative folly Of part Of the
business community would hurt the
whole business community; but such
stoppage Of welfare. though 1t might
be severe. would not be lasting. In the
long run, the one vital factor in the per-
manent prosperity of the country is the
high individual character OF the aver
age American worker, the average
American citizen, no matter whether
his work be mental To manual, whether
he be farmer or wage-worker, business
man or professional man.
I'm our industrial and social system
the interests OF all men are so closely
intenwined that in the immense ma
jority of cases straight-deali man,
who by his efficiency. BY his ingenuity
and industry, benefits himself. must also
benefit Others. Normally, the man of
great productive capacity who becomes
rich by guiding the labor Of many other
men does so BY enabling them to pro-
dnce more than they could produce
without his guidance; and both he and
they share in the benefit, which comes
also to the public at large. The super
fetal fact that the sharing may be un-
equal must never blind us to the UNDER
lying fact that there is this sharing, and
that the benefit comes in some degree
to each man concerned. Normally, the
wageworker the man OF small means,
and the average consumer. as well as
the average producer. are all alike. help
ed by making conditions such that the
man OF exceptional business ability re-
eeives an exceptional reward for his
ability. Something can be done by leg
ishtion to help the general prosperity; !;
but no such help Of d permanently bene-
iicial character can be given to the less
able and less fortunate save as the re-
suits of d policy which shall insure to
the advantage of all Industrious and
efficient people who act decently; and
this is only another way of saying that
| any benefit which comes to the less able
and less fortunate must of necessity
come even more to the able and less
fortunate must Of necessity come even
more to the more able and more fortu-
nate. If, therefore, the less fortunate
man is moved BY envy Of his more
fortunate brother to strike at the con-
ditions under which they have both,
though unequally, prospered, the result
will assuredly be that while damage
may come to the one struck at, it will
Visit with an even heavier load the one
who strikes the blow. Taken as a whole
We must all go up or 20 down to-
gther.
| Yet, while not, merely admitting
but insisting upon this, it Is also true
tina where there Is no governmental
rest iaint or supervision some OF the ex,
cept onal men use their energies. not in
ways that are for the common good. bui
In wars which tell against this common
good. The fortunes amassed through
corporte organization are now so large
and vest such power in those that wield
them, ID 70 make it a matter Of neces,