The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1907-03-20

OF partnerships or corporations have
become necessary. Corporations are
as essential to the proper develop
mont OF the resources OF the state as
are individuals: but while essential
10 the growth of the commonwealth,
we should not lose sight of the fact
that they need to be controlled and
made to respect the law just as indi.
viduals are. They should be preclud.
ed by law from taking a part in po.
litical campaigns. The individual
stockholder has a legitimate interest
In all political contests, and he
should bear his part well, but the
corporation must be denied the priv
ilege of using its money or influence
to accomplish the elevation of any
man or party to power.
Rigid laws should be passed and
enforced, which will prevent agree
ments and combinations of individ.
uals or corporations. having for their
aim the suppression OF legitimate
competition. Nothing more dangerous
or threatening to the perpetuity OF
our republic has happened than the
recent trend toward the OBJ
liberation OF the individual in bust.
ness affairs. In the mad rush tow.
ards the accumulation OF immense
sums OF gold, the small business man
Is crushed with a heartless reckless.
ness that is appalling. This should
not be permitted. To me the man. be
he ever so humble and obscure. is
infinitely more important than all
the wealth Of a Rockefeller Sane
and reasonable laws suppressing lille
gitimate combinations in restraint OF
individual enterprise should be en-.
acted. At the same time laws that
are fair to capital legitimately en-
ployed should be passed. Capital
should be encouraged to come into
the state and not be driven from It.
We should invite into our midst hon.
orable, law-abiding citizens while the
criminal is made to understand that
he has no welcome here. Just so we
should encourage honest corporations
and legitimate capital to enter the
state while we cause criminal capital
to know that 1t is not needed here.
Railroads.
Possibly no other form OF corpora.
tion has dealt so mercilessly in the
past with the people of this state as
have the railroads. Having no way
to regulate them the people have
been powerless to protect themselves
against them. Unjust determinations
against our people have been so long
practiced that they have almost des
paired of ever receiving relief. In
dealing with these corporations, we
should act in split of absolute fair
ness and not in a spirit OF resentful
ness. Give their management to un
derstand that II they obey the law
they will receive its protection. but
the moment they defy II, they will
be sent to the pelltentiary.
/ A Commission should be created
with powers adequate to correct
these abuses of corporate power tC
the end that the people of this fail
state shall receive that fair and JUS
treatment at the hands OF the Rail
way Companies to which they are en-
titled.
A Separate Coach" law should b,
enacted thus providing separate
compartments for the use of negroes
Free Transportation.
The laws of the state should max,
It a criminal offense to be punished
by confinement In the penitsntiary
for any public official to accept o
use free transportation for himself
his family or his property. from an.
corporation doing business In tn,
state. The same penalty should b.
NlSiltu upOu " oc ndNiHb tOnlIol "
management ii such offending corpc
ration and are directly responsible
for its conduct.
Pipe Lines.
Pipe lines for the transportation O
gas, oil or other commodities opera
ting within the state should be dc
clared to be common carriers. an
made subject to all laws enacted 70
the control of other common Gag
rlers.
" Taxes.
The question Of taxes is to all pee
pie at all times a live and interest
ing question. II Is manifestly impos
sible for us to have a state govern
, ment without taxation. In ne'
. commonwealth Ike this where ther
, are practically no public improve
ments 1t will require large sums c
money 10 nrOnpriV Install Onr stat