The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-02-07

We are trying to secure equality OF op-
portunity for all; and the struggle for
honesty IS The same whether it is made
In the interest of the small settlers and
landowners, and against the e1nbittered
dering flocks of sheep, or OF corporations
desiring to rob the people Of coal and
timber, we strive to put IN end to the
we do this, and protest against the action
of all men, whether in public life or in
private life, who either take part in or
refuse to try to stop such theft. W. are
really engaged In the sam policy as when
we endeaNor to put a stop to rebates or
to prevent the upgrowth of uncontrolled
monopolies. Our effort is simply. to en-
force the principles of common honesty
and common sense. 1t would indeed be
i'll for the country should there be any
halt in our work.
Must Have Justice.
The laws must In the future be admin
istered as they are now being admins
tered, SO that the department of justice
may continue to be, what it now is, in
very fact the department of justice. where
so far as our ability permits justice is
and small. rich and poor, weak and strong.
Moreover. there should be no delay in
supplement;ng the laws now on the statute
lation as outlined in the message l sent
to the ongres on its assembling. Under
the existing laws much, very much, has
OCCll StSludlly dCGOlllIllSuGo OuGiIlE me
past SIX years. and 1t has been shown by
actual experience that they can be enforced
Against the wealthiest corporation and the
manipulation of that corporation, as rigor-
ously and fearlessly as against the hum
blest offender. Above all. they nave been
agents of ~wrongdoers who have for SO
many years gone scot free and aouted the
laws with impunity. against great law
which nnfll within tho 1aGf ha1P 1Nonr
years, have treated themselves and have
expected others to treat them as being
beyond and above al possible check from
law.
1t Is especially necessary to secure to
the representatives OF the national gov
eminent full power to deal with the great
merce. and above all, with the great inter
state common carriers. Our people should
clearly recognize that while there are Diff
followed in dealing with these great cor
porations. these difficulties must be faced,
and "a one OF three courses followed.
to oversee and control their actions in
the interest of the general public and to
permit per at, q return to the utter lack Of con-
to the common law. I do not for one
moment believe that our people would
tolerate this position. The extraordinary
under and was adopted to deal with totaiIyy
different conditions. in many respects in
adequate to deal with the new conditions
These new conditions made IL necessarv
to shackle cunning as in the past we
nave shackled force. The vast Individual
and corporate fortunes, the vast combina-
tons OF capital, which have marked the
development Of our Industrial system
Great new conditions, and necess.tate a
change from the old attitude of the state
ana the nation toward the rules regulat-
ing the acquisition and untramneled bust
ness use OF property, in order both that
property may be adequately protected.
ana Inat at the same time those who
hold 1t may be prevented from wrong
The second and third courses are 10
have the regulation undertaken either nv
the nation or by the states. OF course
in any event both the national government
and the several state sovernnlcnts must
DO each Its part, and each can do a certain
amount that the other cannot do. while
the only really satisfactory results must
be obtained by the ~esentat of the
national and state governments WORKING
heartily together within their RESPECTIVE
spheres.
Blu in my Judgment th~oroughgoins
+: ana satisfactory control can In the
END only pc OBTAINED by the action
or me national government. for al
/: most all the corporations of enorm-
Gus W~eaith-that is, the corporations :
which 1T Is especially desirable to
/: commerce, and derive their power
+: and their Importance not from that
portion Of their business which is In
traState, but from the Interstate