Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-10-03

a good working compromise whereby
we shall secure the full benefit of ind
vidual initiative and Responsibilities.
while al the same time recognizing
that it is the function of wise GOV
eminent under modern conditions not
merely to protect life and property
but TO foster the social development uf
the people SO far as this may be done
by maintaining and promoting Justice.
honesty and equal rights. We believe
IN real, not a sham, democracy. We
believe i'll demOCray as regards polit-
lcal rights, as regards education. and,
finally, as regards industrial cond-
tons. By demOcray we understand So.
curing, as far as it is humanity posi-.
BILE to secure it, equality of oppOrtun.
tty. equality of the conditions under
which each man is to show the stuff
that is in him and to achieve the meas
ure of success to which his own force
of mind and character entitle him.
'ReligiOusly this means that each
man is to have the right. mhindered
by the state, to worship his Creator as
to others the same freedom which he
asks for himself Politically we can
be said substantially to have worked
out our democratic ideals. and the
same is true, thanks to the common
schools, in educational matters. But
in industry there has not as yet been
the governmental growth necessary in
tn
! brought about in industrial conditions
by steam and electricity. 1t is not in
accordance with our principles that lit
orally despotic power should be put in
! to the hands of a few men in the
affairs of the Industrial world. Our
effort must be for just and effective
plan of action which. while scrupu-
lousy safeguarding the rights of the
men of wealth, shall yet. so far as is
humanity possible, secure under the
law to all men equality of opportunity
to make a living.
| Should Have Ample Rewards.
| 1T is to the interest of all of us that
the man of exceptional business capac.
/ ity should be amply rewarded; and
/ there is nothing Inconsistent with this
| i'll our insistence that he shall not be
lguilty of bribery or eXtortion, and that
the rights of the wageworker and Of
the man of small means. who arc
themselves honest and hard working
shall he scrupulously safeguarded.
The instruments for the exercise OF
modern industrial power are the great
corporations which, though created by
the individual states, have grown ia,
beyond the control of those states ant
transact their business throughout
large sections of the union. These CO..
porations, like the industrial condition;
which have called them into being. die
not exist when the constitution wa!
founded; but the wise forethought O
the founders provided, under the inter
state commerce clause of the const;
tuition, for the very emergency whic!
has arisen, if only our people as
whole will realize what this emergency
is; for if the people thoroughly realiz.
it, their governmental representative
will soon realize it Also
"The national government alone ha
sufficiently extensive power and juris
dictiOn to exercise adequate contro
over the great interstate corporations
While this thorough supervision an.
control by the national government i,
desirable primarily in the interest O
the people, it will also, firmly believa
be to the benefit of those corporation