The Mercur miner. [volume] (Mercur, Utah) 1895-1913, 1908-02-05


Big Corporations Are Hit.
BY easy stages the president drew near
TO the Standard oil trouble Of a short
time ago, and then he told Of alleged
methods OF the Rockefeller syndicate to
"overawe common carriers, crush out
every competitor and look down upon the
people with a contempt which the public
deserves as long as Il permits such men men
to act with impunity." II was at that
point and in connection with the insur-
ance and Chicago & Alton scandals that
Mr.. Roosevelt took the heaviest fall out
Of wealthy corporations which have been
held TO account by tF government. The
message continued:
the effort to secure honesty In business
and In politics Is well expressed in bra
zen protests against any effort Tor ne
on the ground that II il unnatural, un-
warranted and injurious, and that busi-
ness panic is the necessary penalty for
such effort TO secure business honesty.
The morality OF such plea Is precisely
as great as II made on behalf OF the
men caught in a gambling establishment
raided by the police. II such words mean
anything they mean that those
Sta1d against sSR'H the e roT to bring
about a moral regeneration of business
which will prevent a repetition OF the In,
surance. banking and street railroad
scandals In New York, a repetition OF
the Chicago q Alton deal; "A repetition
OF the combination between certain pro-
fesslonal politicians, certain professional
labor leaders, and certain big hnancters,
from the disgrace of which San Francis
co has Just been rescued; a repetition
! of the successful effort by the Standard
| oil people to crush out every competitor,
| TO overawe the common carriers and 70
| establish a monopoly which treats the
public with a contempt which the public
/ deserves so long as e. permits men OF
| such principles and such sentiments TO
/ avow and act on them with IMMUNITY.
! The cutlery against stopping dishonest
/ practices among wrongdocrs VINO nap
| TO the cutlery raised against every effort
! for cleanliness and dcconCy i'm city gov-
eminent. because forsooth' 1t viii 'hurt
| business. "
Tells Of crlticlsine Judges.
"Our opponents have recently been bit
terly criticlsing the two judges referred
| TO In the accompanying commuhcauohs
| santa Fe Railroad for having imposed
heavy fines on these two corporations:
| and yet these same critics OF these two
| Judges exhaust themselves In denounc-
| Ing the most respectful and cautious
discussion OF the official action of judge
which results in immunity TO wealthy
and powerful wrongdoers. Most certain
| ~ Il behooves us all to treat with the
utmost respect the high office or judge;
and our Judges. as whole. are brave
and upright men. Respect for the law
must 20 hand In hand with respect for
the judges; and. as a whole. II Is true
now as In the past that the judges stand
in character and service above all other
men among their fellow-servants OF the
public. The Judge who does his fun
duty well stands higher. and renders a
better service TO the people, than any
other public servant; he Is entitled TO
greater respect and II he is true SER
and fearless, ne will unhestaungly dis
regard even the wishes of the people
II they conflict with the eternal pr,,nn,
cples of right as against wrong. nc
must serve the people; but ne mus
serve his own conscience first. All honor
TO such judge and all honor can not
| no rendered
to his brethren who fall immeasurablS
below the high ideals for which he
stands. Untruthful criticism Is wicked a.
all times. and whoever may be the OBJ
feet; but It is a peculiarly fragrant IN
iquty when q Judge Is the object. Nc
man should lightly criticise judge; nc
man should, even in his own mind. con
denim a judge unless he Is sure OF th'
facts. II Judge is assailed for stand
for standing against mob violence; al
honorable men should rally instantly e
his support Neyertheless II ne , Giear !,
dealing with lawbreaking corporations
iawbreaking men of wealth, he must ex
ION: and this is but right. for except i
extreme cases this Is the only way y
which he can be reached az az NO ser
want OF the people has a right TO eNpec
TO be free from just and honest criticism
,, IAN Ethical Movement"
1.-THE opponents OF the measures W
champion single out now one and nov
l another measure for especial attack; an
8 | speak as II the movement I'm which W
. arc engaged was purely economic. II ha
a large economic side but II Is funda
= | mentally an ethical movement. II rs no
= a movement to be completed In one year
or two years or three years; II Is
, | movement which must be perseVered D
? until the spirit which lies behind II slnh
r deep into the heart and the conscienc
I | of the whole people. II is always I'M
| portant to choose the right means
! more important TO keep this purpos
clearly before us; and this purpose J
1 to secure national honesty In bnslnes
, | the cynical belief that dishonesty an
4 unfair dealing are essential TO cuisines
success, and are to be condoned when W
] success is moderate and applauded VINE
= | the success is great. The methods u
n which the Standard oil people ana thos
y engaged in the other combinations .
i, achieved great fortunes can only be Jus
titled by the advocacy OF system 9
, morality which would also JUSTIFY ever
a form OF criminality on. the part of
p labor union, and every form OF violence
Z corruption, and fraud, from murder
: bribery and ballot-box stulilng IN Pc, POI
OF opportunity for all, and the strugsi
for honesty Is the same whether II
made on behalf of one set OF men or {
: another In the interest OF the sma
= settlers and landowners, and against tl
embittcred opposition OF wsa shna oW or
. | corporations desiring 10 ron the peop
I Of coal and timber, we strive 20 put a
end to the theft OF public land IN IN
= west When we do this, and prote'
y against the action OF all men. wheth'
{ in public life or in private life, VII
n either take part In or refuse 10 try
: stop such theft. we are really engage
g in the same policy as when we endeaYt
l. 10 nut n stop 20 rebates or TO preyeI
n the upgrowth of uncontrolled monopohe
L our effort is simply to enforce the pril
2. ciples OF common honesty and coming
e sense II would indeed be III for u
= country should there be any halt In OF
. work" -
y state Government Must Aid.
e Eltl-. the state or national go'
y eminent must undertake the reguh
" yi1n, OF which the president spoke, an
: the executive asked the common
wealths to share the responsibility
!. curbing those corporations which az
/; accused Of eVil-doing, "Ot course
% any event both the national ana sta
l. governments must each do rs part
v said President Roosovelts messag
II and each can do certain amour
that the other cannot do, while q
n only really satisfactory results mu
- be obtained by the representatives
- the national and state government
= working heartily together within the
"a respective spheres. But in my lud'
" ment thorough going and satisfaction
%. control can IN the end only be obtain'