The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1907-06-21

ciGc and Great Northern merger, and the
preliminary contest for the rate bill. The
passage OF the law creating the depart
ment OF commerce and labor made it
plain to the people that the government
had right to knowledge of the private
affairs OF men and the semi-private
affairs OF corporations. Two important
measures pushed through congress by
the president were the meat inspection
law and pure food law. Both of these
bills, by controlling the kind of products
put out by certain corporations, assured
to the general public honest value for
their money. Roosevelt is a firm be.
lever in "a square deal" which, trans
lated into simple language, means that
the government guarantees to every
man every dollar that he honestly
earns.
Taking advantage of the ground gain.
ed in previous contests Roosevelt is ask
ing Tor law requiring q federal license
fOr corporations, which will involve fed
eral supervision OF the affairs Of the cor
pOratlons doing an interstate business
BY this means be is seeking to give back
to the people, who were partners in the
making OF the vast fortunes of this cOun-
try, some part of the wealth which they
created. Moreover, through an income
tax he hopes to make the living owners
OF vast wealth pay to the country, which
furnished the opportunities and facilities
Tor accumulatiDg this wealth, an ade-
quate portion in the cost of maintaining
the nation.
1t Is pleasant coincidence that the
leader OF American politics, who has
preached the doctrine of equality of op-
pOrtunity, who has been the champion
of the equitable distribution OF wealth
should also be the worlds champion Of
peace.
Until there is fair division Of wealth
among men there can be no good will
between them, and until justice is estab-
lished in the dealings of nation with
nation, there can be no peace on earth
The same spirit Of fairness which
has made Theodore Roosevelt the leader
OF his own people in adjusting their
economic differences has given him con-
fidence OF the principalities and powers
And even though he would have no re
cord at home he would be renowned
as the worlds peacemaker. 1t was he
who saved The Hague tribunal from
failure it was be who brought about
the settlement of the Russo Japanese
war. The blockade of Venezuela was
raised through President Roosevelt's in
tervention and the differences settled in
The Hague court. The Alaskan bOun-
dary dispute, a contention of long stand
ing, was put to an end, and Turkey was
induced by a display Of power to keep
her promise to this country. That record
of diplomatic endeavOr Ito which many
other instances could be added). always
for the oppressed as against the strong,
was accomplished in four years. No
other ruler in the world has ever excelled
it in ten times four years.
In these few words have given you
brief sketch of RoOsevelt's policy and
record. Imperfect as it may be is not
the record q splendid one? What man
ever accomplished more IN four short
years No nObler endeavOrs more sue
cessful were ever wrought in the interest
Of peace and justice, in the interest Of the
poor and the oppressed in the interest Of
God and humanity This man is worthy
of our highest admiration and our most
enthusiastic devotion.