The Mena weekly star., 1907-08-22


 Contest Was on 10 Determine Who
 Shall Rule, the People or a Few
 Wealthy Men.
 Provincetown, Mass, Aug. 21.--The laying of the cornerstone of the Cape Cod Pilgrim Memorial monument in the presence of President Roosevelt, Gov. Guild and distinguished guests. completed Tuesday the foundation of one of the most imposing structures along the Atlantic coast commemo- rating the first landing within few feet of its base of the Pilgrim Fathers. President Roosevelt, who came from his summer home at Oys- ter Bay for the purpose, made the principal address of the day.
 After paying tribute to the Puri- tans who settled in Massachusetts, and the English who settled in vir- ginia, and declaring they had done the most in shaping the lines of our national development, the President said among other things:
 In the last six years we have shown that there is no individual and no corporation so powerful that he or 1t stands above the possibility of pun ishment under the law.
 During the present trouble with the stock market l have, of course. received countless requests and sug- gestions. public and private, that should say or do something to ease the situation. There is world wide financial disturbance. It Is felt in the Bourses of Paris and Berlin and Brit ish consols are lower, while prices of railway securities have also depre- ciated. On the New York stock ex- change the disturbance has been par ticularly severe, most of 1t, believe to be due to matters not particularly confined to the United States and to matters wholly unconnected with any governmental action, but it may well be that the determination of the gov ernment, in which gentlemen 1t will not waver, to punish certain malefac- tors of great wealth has been respon- sible for something of the troubles at least to the extent of having caused these men to combine to bring about as much financial stress as they possibly can in order to discred- 1t the policy of the government and thereby secure reversal of that pol icy so that they may enjoy the fruits of their own evil doings. That they nave misled many good people into believing that there should be such reversal of policy is possible. If so. 1 am sorry, but it will not alter my attitude. Once for all, let me say that as far as am concerned, and for the eighteen months of my ad ministration that remain there will be no change in the policy we have steadily pursued. nor let up in the effort to secure the honest observ- ance of the law. for regard this con test as one to determine who shall rule this government-the people through their governmental agents or few ruthless and determined men whose wealth makes them particular ly formidable-bccause they are pe- hind the breastworks of corporate or. ganization.
 "I wish there to be no mistake on this point. It is idle to ask me not to prosecute criminals, rich or poor. But I desire no less emphatically to have 1t understood that we have un- dertaken and will undertake no ac- ton of a vindictive type and above all as no action which shall infiict great or unmerited suffering upon the innocent stockholders and upon the public as a whole. Our purpose is to act with the minimum of harsh ness compatible with obtaining our ends. In the man of great wealth who has earned his wealth honestly and used it wisely we recognize a good citizen worthy of all praise and respect. Business can only be done under modern conditions through corporations and our purpose is to heartily favor the corporations that do we'll The administration appre- ciates that liberal but honest profit for legitimate promoters and gener- ous dividends for capital employed either in founding or continuing an honest business venture. are the fac tors necessary for successful corpor- ate activity, and therefore for gen orally prosperous business conditions.
 All these are compatible with fair dealing as between man and man. and rigid obedience to the law Our aim is to help every honest man, every honest corporation, and policy means in it's ultimate analysis healthy and prosperous expansion of business ac tivities. of honest business men and honest corporations"
 Minister Drops Dead.
 Lyons. Kan. Aug. 21.--Rev. B. D.