The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1908-02-07
which. II left uncontrolled, it is certain
in the end to arouse"
Bu Corporations Are Hit,

every competitor ana look down upon tne
people with a contempt which the public
deserves as long as it permits such men
to act' with impunity." 1t was at that
point and in connection with the insur-
Mr. Roosevelt took the heaviest fall out
of wealthy corporations which have been
held to account by the government. The
message continued
1.-THE keynote of all these attacks upon
the effort to secure honesty in business
and in politics is well expressed in bra
moral regeneration of the business world,
on the ground that it is unnatural, un-
warranted and injurious, and that bust
ness panic is the necessary penalty for
such effort to secure business honesty.
The morality of such plea is precisely
as great as If made on behalf Of the
men caught in a gambling establishment
when that gambling. establishment is
raided by the police. If such words mean
anything they mean that those
whose sentiments they represent
stand against the effort to bring
about moral regeneration of business
which will prevent a repetition of the in
surancc, banking and street railroad
scandals in New York: a repetition OF
the Chicago &; Alton deal; a repetition
of the combination between certain pro,
fessional politicians certain professional
labor leaders, and certain big hnanciers,
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 oVcraWe the common carriers, ana 10
establish a monopoly which treats the
public with n contempt which the pubnc
deserves so long as it permits men OF
such principles and such sentiments 10
aVow and act on them with impunity.
The cutlery against stopping dishonest
practices among wrongdoers who hap
pen to be wealthy is precisely similar
to the cutlery raised against every effort
for tiednliness and docency in city gov
eminent, because, forsooth it will hurt
business
Tells of Criticsing Judges.
"Our opponents have recently been bit
terly criticisng the two judges referred
to in the accompanying communications
from the Standard Oil Company and the
Santa l'e Railroad for having imposed
heavy fines on these two corporations;
judges exhaust themselves in denounc-
ing the most respectful and cautious
discussion of the official action of a judge
which results in immunity to wealthy
and powerful wrongdoers, Most certain
ly it behooves us all to treat with the
utmost respect the high office of Judge;
and our judges, as whole; are brave ave,
must 20 hand in hand with respect Tor
the judges; and as whole, 1t 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 full
duty well stands higher, and renders a
o of5tgr p SGbHce servants be is entitled to
greater respect; and if he is true ser
want of the people, II he is upright, wise WIS.,
and fearless, he will unhesita IN oo ais.
If they conflict with the eternal prln-
cples of right as against wrong. lie
must serve the people; but ne must
to such a judge; and all honor can not
be rendered him If it is rendered equally
to his brethren who fall immeasuraply
below the high ideals. for which ne
stands Untruthful criticism Is wicked at
all times, and whoever may be the OBJ
ject but it is n peculiarly fragrant IN
man should lightly criticise a Judge; no
man should. even in his own mind, con
denim a judge unless he Is sure OF the
facts. II judge is aSsalled lot stan nj
for standing against mob violence, all
honorable men should rally instantly to-
his support. Neyertheless II he h clearly
dealing with lawbreaking corporations,
men of wealth. he must eX-
pect to feel the weight of public opin-
extreme cases this is the only way in
which he can be reached at al. NO ser
want Of the people has a. right to expect
to be free from lust and honest crltlclsm'
"An EirsiaI Movement"
champion single out now one ana now
speak as If the movement in WHICH we
are engaged was purely economic. 1t has
n large economic side, but 1t is tunda-
a movement to be completed in one year,
or two years or three years; 1t is a
which must be. persevered IN
until the spirit which lies penind iscsl,1ne
of the whole people, 1t Is always I'M.
portant to choose the right. means to
our Pc keep g1t this purpose
clearly before US; and this purpose is
to secure national honesty In business
and in politics. We do not subscribe 70
the cynical belief that dishonesty ana
unfair dealing are essential to business
success, and are to be condoned when the
success is moderate and applauded ,when
t Witch thee STANDARD az Oil people and those
engaged in the other combinations of
which I have spoken above have
achieved great fortunes can only pe JUS of
morality which would also JUSTIFY every
form of criminality on the part OF a
labor union, and every form OF violence,
bribery and ballot-box stuffing In poll
tics. We are trying to secure edualLy
of opportunity for all; and the sIruiEBie
for honesty is the same whether IL Is
made on behalf of one set of men or OF
nnother. In the interest OF the small
settlers and landowners. and against tne
emblttered opposition OF w W sbesen or of
desiring to, rob the people
of coal and timber, we strive to put al, an
IA 10 the theft of public land In the
vest When we do this, and protest
n ga:nst The action of all men, whetIer
in hubble life or in private Ire, WHO
either take part in or refuse TO try 70
stop such theft. we are really engageu
in The same policy as when we endeavot
70 mt a stop to rebates or to preyent
the ungrowth of uncontrolled monopones'
oIr effort is simply to enforce the prln
ciples of common honesty ana coming. ,1a
sense It would indeed be III LOT tiis
country should there be any matt IN our
State Government Must Aid.
Eitl =. the state or national gov
ernmeni must undertake the regula
ton OF which the president spoke, anu
The executive asked the common
Uealths to share the responsiplhty OF
curbing those corporations, when are
accused of vil-doing. or course IN
any event both the national ana statSs
o,nyernments must each do its part,
soid President Roosevelts message.
and each can do a certain amount
that the other cannot do. while the
only really satisfactory results must
he obtained by the representatives OF
The national and state governments
worling heartily together within their
respective spheres. But in my ludg-
rnent thorough going and SATISFACTORY
control can in the end only be obtained
nv the action of the national govern
nnent for almost all the corporations OF
enormous wealth-that is. the corpo-
ratIons which IL is especially deslrabie
TO control-are engaged in interstate
a