Devils Lake inter-ocean and Devils Lake free press. (Devils Lake, Ramsey County, N.D.) 1905-1909, 1908-06-05
DECORATION DAY
CONTINUED from page one.)

NNoAlAIOeu lTOIu page One.)
his mandates into force, the other man
1pulates the agencies of industry. He
controls the money market; he con-
tracts and expands the currency as
suits his avaricious purposes; he con-
solidates the instrumentalities of COM
merce, always of course with a view
to greater profit to himself and there
lore to greater exactions upon the
people. He promises, if he is not mo-
Tested in his schemes of aggregation
If the law against combinations is not
enforced against him, to cheaper the
things which he produces, and when
he finally succeeds in establishing his
monopoly he puts up the price of his
wares and finds many other ways of
levying tribute upon the public If an
offended patron complains or is upon
the point of bringing him within the
pale of the law, he forthwith takes
hand in politics, not for the Dve of
country, but for the love of power
proceeds to direct caucuses and con-
ventions that he may make the laws
and have them interpreted as suits
the needs of his enterprise. So intent
is he upon maintaining his monopoly
that he becomes blind to the common
interest The great overpowering nee
hic 0f vii ~
creased dividends even at the expense
of the patient, plodding masses. When
he has gained political control, it mat
tors not to him at what cost, his sway
as dictator in his sphere of activity
is complete. All competition has been
s.Cangled, he controls the legislative
machinery and is practically beyond
the reach Of official authority.
This illustration is applicable in re-
-spect of every line of trade and trans
portation that can he brought under
monopolistic influence. ard when all
of these are combined so as to jointly
control the traffic of the country then
the people have ceased to govern
themselves. The power to govern has
been usurped. ShackIes have been
placed upon the liberty of speech and
action. The Individual is no longer a
free agent. Thus there is new kind
of slavery. and whoever opposes it
quarrels with his daily bread.
At the risk of being classed as an al
armist, assert that this very situa-
ton is upon us today. We give it
small heed, because the latitude of op-
portunity in the United States, land
is comparatively new, is still very
wide. The individual of this genera
ton does not feel the pressure from
the slowly closing tenacles of monopo-
3y as those who are to come after him
( will feel it, and he is therefore too
1Fone to console himself by agreeing
with the proverb that sufficient unto
efhe day is the evil thereof" -.
:. If we would the Republic from
another civil conflict the time to act
lis now. Fortunately for our country
the weapons that would be most eff.
!, fectual in such a conflict are the wea-
Dons Of peace, but these weapons are
NOT always the first to be used The
remedy lies in the proper use of the
ballot. + II we fail to apply it; if In
their headiong pursuit of money the
II people neglect their duty at the polls,
and tamely submit to the usurper and
the brutal methods .of his political
agents, they must NOT complain when
fIle naanacIes are permanently placed
5
For the tssire being We may indulge q
feeling Of security against the power
pf nrlo,sonnly the hurry Of their
~ VI seg too many men conclude
shat Il lis more con Venient TO 'sleave I1-
ascs 10 the politt ffeiana & Every sciti.