The Washington herald., 1907-06-21
Gov. Johnson. of Minnesota.

Gov. Johnson, of Minnesota, a Demo
cratic reformer. who has been much
| talked Of lately as Of Presidential size
and availability, was the orator Of the
day at the commencement exercises of
| the University Of Pennsylvania, the first
Western man who has addressed the stu
dents Of that seat Of learning on such
an occasion. "Tall, strong. yirile. and
youthful says a local report Of the
occasion, he appeared the personifca-
tion of the spirit Of the Northwest" and
the message he brought was listened TO
with interest and approval Naturally,
the Minnesota governor devoted much Of
his Grafton TO the political problems of
the time. His temper Is that Of the mod
crate radical. a type Of political thinker
that is very common nowadays
Among the serious evils affecting the
body polite, Gov. johnson names the
imitation of values, the creation of mo-
nopolies. the concentration Of wealth in
the hands Of a few, conferring upon them
the power 70 promote or destroy any in
dustrial, transportation, or commercial
enterprise" All these evils must be re-
moved, and by governmental action, If
necessary. What this country needs to-
day." in Gov. Johnson's opinion. "ls a
national policy free from the domination
Of class. section. and special interest-a
fundamental policy which stands for the
liberty, security, growth, and develop
ment Of the whole country by affOrding
equal opportunity to all Of It's citizens 10
share in the bounty which nature has
lavished upon America" On the question
Of property rights and corporate regula-
ton. the governor said:
The right to enjoy property is guaranteed under
the Constitution and il can be denied 70 no citizen
just how far this right goes is open 10 dispute.
Doubtless great achievements are rendered mere
easily possible by the aggregation Of the wealth Of
many into one common enterprise or corporation
but this done. the question arises. How far must
the right Of individuals be subordinate 20 the corpo-
rate power thus by law conferred!
Recent maadministration Of trust funds Of the
insured recent exposures Of almost insauely dishon-
est conduct in transportation and finance the refusal
Of corporate power 70 abide by the law Of the land
al tell us that this republic cannot safely NEGLECT
to exercise every Peaceful and constitutional preroga-
tive enjoyed by sovereign people in controlling the
corporations it has created in requiring observance
q law and public interest from the money power
which il fosters and protects and in subordnating
every special interest TO the general welfare and con-
stitutional rights Of the people and all the people"
In dealing with the complex and mani
fold problems arising out Of the growth
e,d covrertro.{o, Of u,ealYb Gov. roL~
son would seek a safe middle course.
There must be- in his view. a naturally
happy medium" fair alike to invested
capital and to the public; possessors of
great properties must be made to feel
that their legitimate acquisitions are Sc
cure. while the people must be protected
from monopolistic exactions The amass-
ing Of wealth may be of vast Industrial
service to the nation, but II becomes a
crime when wealth is obtained by sacri-
fee of personal character. by violation
Of law. and by trespass on the rights of
others.
These are the expressions Of a man
whose mode of thought and disposition
to do exact justice to all. from the
humblest citizen to the biggest corpora
ton. closely resemble the qualities of
mind which have elevated Gov. Hughes 10
a commanding place among our State
executives. Like Hughes, he is a re-
former without being a demagogue-
honest, capable. and courageous Such
executives are a credit to the nation, as