The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1908-11-12

done by contractors which could and
should be done by the city. Are not
our officials as able as the members of
the London county council. 1T must
be admitted that more men are en-
ployed under a partisan city govern
ment than under a reform one, but
while there is stealing. there is a great
zeal of public improvement which does
not take place where we have men who
oppose every effort to improve our
cities on the ground of economy.
We need change. We must have
men who Will bend every energy for
the welfare of our cities regardless of
: , expense. Economy can he Carried too
far. The laying eff of men who get
2.25 day in these times does not
commend itself to the voters. The av-
erage worker knows nothing Of how he
Is afflicted ty taxation; if he did graft
would cease. How many public officials
do You know who are in prison for cor
rupt practices?
In the early days of this county to
be city father was an honor to be
proud Of. Contrast that with today.
Make it an honor to hold a public Office:
select men for their honesty and ability;
do away with political pull, and get
men from all walks of life. Men are
not naturally bad; they are tempted
and fall. Good men can be found who
are anxious and willing to serve on
committees dealing with public ques.
tlons, for the people, and such men
will legislate for the people when they,
the people, want them. Create a de-
maud for them and you will get them.
Again, many of us have contracted
habit of denouncing the corporations;
but we all know perfectly well that
they are business necessities, like the
law Of contract, or sound currency,
or public peace. We have denounced
the trusts, which are corporations un-
der another form; but we have not
carefully inquired what it is in trust
that makes it good or bad. We have
decided that reDating is great evil
when practiced in behalf of Mr.. Rock
efellsr or the Santa Fe Ry., but none
OF US would refuse to buy season
ticket at reduced rates, nor Can We say
precisely what distinction we make
between the two transactions. We
hold that the loss of life OIL railroads is
the result of criminal careles -ness,
knowing Well that the public " i'll not
submit to he delays nor the worKmen
to the discip ine 10y which alone safety
Can be secured. Bribery is manifest
evil, and Yet we continue to vote for
city officials who place upon our pub
lie service corporations The alterna-
live of paying black mail or ceaslng to
exist.
Suppose party representing men,
Der ot the legislature tries tufold up a
corporation ot which you are yourself
responsible official; does your COLI
science prevent your subscription,
either i'll beualf of the corporation or
privately as large stockhoider, to the
campaign OF all honest opposition
candidate2 This is plain graft to my
Way Of thinking, yet it Is but one form
in which the problem of corporate COLI
troll Of the Legislature very often pre-
Sents itself. OF course the briDe-taker
lit caught) is punished, but the bribe-
giver, who represents the cOrpJratlon,
goes free
Why should it be nect ssaIy for a
business man or corporation to buy
privileges? We want men to legisIate:
not place franchises OH sale to the
highest bidder. The truth is we have
entered upon new region Of practical
affairs, region i'll which the object of
our moral perceptions are unfamiliar
existing rules. LII other words, our
business morality is still i'll the hand
work stage, while business conditions
have reached the age Of machinery. .
The chariatan is constantly repeating
"thou shall not steal" but as lar as
can see The difficulty is to know who is
stealing and WHEN We ale guilty our
selves.
This situation, altho strange, is
neither new nor discouraging; it is
kind that humanity has had t. deal
Continued on page foui)