The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-11-07
THE PEOPLES STRUGGLE
win They Win in the Great Con-
test.


That there is a necessity for re-
form in business and political meth
DDS throughout the United States Is
recognized and conceded. Almost II
not every large municipality, and
nearly If not every state is to a great
err or less degree affected.
The people had become tolerant of
abuses by those leading in business
and politics; they were apathetic.
They did not and do not condone
corruption and corrupt methods.
They need an awakening. 1t was
necessary that they should shake OF
their lethargy. They are stretching
themselves now. They are awaken
ing.
Unparalleled prosperity and the
unbroken dominance of one politi-
cal party afforded and were the prime
causes of abuse of opportunities out
of which has grown corruption. Sat
lsfaction with their own personal
condition so far as immediate ma
terial wants are concered, led by peo-
pie to accept quietly, II not to view
with complacency, wrongs which
their better instincts warned them
were most dangerous and pernicious.
This satisfaction with the material
prosperity so abundant and general
induced them to continue in power
the political party under whose adj
ministration 1t fiourished. The un-
equal distribution of easy money did
not disturb them much; they did not
care II some were accommodating vast
wealth so long as they were getting
enough to make them comfortable.
They knew that they were enjoying
luxuries which had been denied them
and their fathers before them, and
they had no particular disposition to
inquire how it was that few were
gathering to themselves wealth, new
er dreamed of in the worlds history.
Had the few been content with less,
and granted the many there might
have been no day of reckoning, pos
sibly none being needed. The plain
and unmistakable intent of the few
to absorb all opportunities and deal
them out to whomever they wished,
much more than their accumulation
of enormous wealth, forced the re-
volt and made possible the reforms.
The many could see nothing In the
future, IL the few were allowed TO
continue their method of absorption,
until every avenue of opportunity
was closed to them, unless and until
the gate were opened by a few, and
they were allowed to enter and re-
main only so long as 1t pleased the
few. As soon as the many really de-
termined to examine into the meth
DDS employed by the few to sieze and
hold the opportunities which belong
to the many shocking condition was
revealed. Corruption seems to have
entered the most sacred precincts.
The funds set apart for the widows
orphans and supposedly held by the
great life insurance companies as the
most sacred of all trust, were used to
enrich the custodians of the funds,
and, as II in contemplate irony, to
corrupt and debauch society. II is
unnecessary to portray the extent OF
corporate abuse In detail; it is prac-
tlcally co-extensive with the coun-
try's area. The fact that corrup-
ton and corrupt methods are so
widespread, while alarming is not
necessarily a sign Of decadence. II
does not afford just grounds for pes
simism. The fact that the people
are awakening to the true situation,
and are determined to attack cor
ruption, punish corrupt men and ell
inmate corrupt methods, is the hope
full sign. This awakening and de-
mand for reform is as widespread as
are the abuses.
l III uAI 6AC0N ANpi NM"Cob VIC h1NN
the railroads, the lumber trust, the
lead trust and the sugar trust, con-
spicuously, which are enriching
themselves beyond reason, and are
using their vast power TO deaden
the moral conscience of the people.
In several states of the Northwest
we have in addition the Mormon or
ganization, the most corrupting, de-
basing and dangerous of all the
trusts. The difficulties which sur
round US in the great conflict now
going on are as great as confront
the people Of any section. Our vast
natural wealth and paueity Of peo-
pie offered an inviting field TO or
gained wealth. and II is strongly In
trenched. Yet the methods employed
~ sary1ra this great wealth which