The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-12-08

said In my messa8es 10 Tia ennGrana.
believe that under the interstate
clause Of the censtitstton ef the Uuitse
right tn control ail agencies NJ later
state commerce, and ! believe that the
nah"nai government alone csn exerciss
tnis right with wisd0m and elective
ness so N both Ia secure Justiee fresA,
snd TO do Justice to, the great corpera-
. .nss !, which are the most important fac.
u In worse than folly 10 attempt %
prohibit all com btnations N ss done ~
s .ns sae , .nsi-trn.. law sses:ss
perfectly and 1nequally, and its en-
forcement works almost m much hard
ia.ses1 Of .. unwis ". .Soss fs 10 pr.sisss
all combinations, there shall be subati-
tuted law which shall expressly per-
terest Of the public, but shall az the
same time give TO sOnse agency Of the
nntional government full power Of com
the chief features Of this centroi should
be securing entire publicity In all mat
ters which the public has = right 90
by Judicial but by executive action, to
prevent or put q stop To every form Of
improper dRvoritism or other wr0ngdO-
ing.
Rate Law should he Summary.
The railways OF the country should
be put completely under the Interstate
commerce commission and removed
from the domain of the ANTITRUST law.
The power OF the commission should be
made thoroughgoing. so that IL could
exercise complete supervision and con-
troll ovee the issues of securities an
well as over the raising and lowering
of rates. As regards rates. at least.
this power should be summary The
power to investigate the financial oper-
atoms and accounts of the railways has
been one OF the most valuable features
| In recent Legislation. Power to make
combinations and traffic agreements
should be explicitly conferred upon the
mifsion being first gained and the COM
btfation or agreement being published
n 10 All ts details In the interest ss 2, the
lie should have complete power to see
that the railroads do their auty by the
power should also be exercised SO as to
see that no injustice Is done to the rail-
roads. The shareholders. the employees
and the shippers ali have interests that
must be guarded. ii liz to the interest
of all OF them that no swindling stock
speculation should be allowed. and that
OF securities. The guiding inteiligences
necessary for the successful building
and successful management of railroads
! should receive ample remuneration; but
no man should be allowed to make
money In connection with railroads out
OF fraudulent over-onpitalEatfon ana
kindred stock gambling performances.
there must be no defrauding OF invest
ors, oppression OF the farmers and bust
ness men who ship freight, or callous
disregard OF the rights and needs or
the employees. In addition to this the
interests OF the shareholders, of the
employees. and of tho shippers should
all be guarded as against one another.
To give any one of them undue and
improper consideration Is to do intus-
tice to the others. Rates must be made
as low as Is compatible with giving
proper returns to all the employees OF
/ the railroad, from the highest to the
lowest. and proper returns TO the share
hnl no hAt .Oe 10 In
stance. be reduced In such fashion as
to necessitate a cut In the wages of the
employees or the abolition of the proper
and legitimate pronts OF honest share
holders.
Telegraph and telephone companies
engaged In Interstate business should
be put under the jurisdiction or the In
terstate commerce commission.
: IL Is very earnestly TO be wished that
our people, through their representa-
tives, should act I'm this matter. 1t Is
hard to say whether most damage TO
the country at large would come from
entire failure on the part or the public
TO supervise and control the actions OF
the great corporations. or from the ex-
ercise OF the necessary governmental
power IN way which would do In
pustice and wrong to the corporations
Both the preachers or an unrestricted
individualism. and the preachers of an
oppression which would deny TO able
men OF business the just reward OF
their initiative and business sagacity.
are advocating policies that would be
ITauRnt with the kfuNeSt nurfn TO the
whole country. To permit every law
less capitalist. every law-defying cor
poration. to take any action. no matter
how iniquitous. In the effort TO secure
an improper profit and TO build up priv
ilegc. would be ruinous to the republic
and would mark the abandonment OF
the effOrt TO secure I'm the Industrial
world tie spirit OF democratic fair-deal-
ing on the other hand. TO attack these
wrongs IN that spirit OF demagogy
which can see wrong only when COM
mitted by the man or wealth, and IL
dumb and blind I'm the presence OF
wrong committed against men OF prop
erty or hY men OF no property. In ex-
actly as evil as corruptly to defend tho
wronEdoing Of men OF wealth The
war we wage must he waged against
misconduct, against wrongdoing wher-
eve y ts found; and we must stand
heartily for the rights OF every decent
man. whether he be a man of great
wealth or "A man who earns his livelI-
hood as "a wageworker or a tiller OF the
soil.
Denounce. Glass Haired.
In point OF danger TO the nation there
IL nothing to choose between on the
one hand the corruptionist. the bribe-
givcr. the hribe-taker, the man VINO
employs his great talent 10 swindle his
fellow citizens on a large scale. and
on the other hand, the preacher OF class
Continued on Page rwo.D