The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1908-02-06


We are trying to secure equality of op-
portunity for all; and the struggle for
honesty Is the same whether It Ii made
on behalf OF one set of men or OF another.
In the interest Of the small settlers and
landowners, and against the embittered
opposition OF wealthy owners Of huge wan
dering fiocks Of sheep, or of corporations
to rob the people OF coal and
theft Of public land in the West. When
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
really engaged in the same policy as when
we endeavor TO put a stop to rebates or
to. prevent the upgrowth of uncontrolled
force the principles of common honesty
and common sense. 1t would indeed be
i'll for the country should there be any
halt In u work.
Must Have Justice.
The laws must In the future be admin
istered as they are now being admins
continue to be, what 1t now Is, I'm
very fact the department of justice, where
far as u ability permits Justice Is
melted out with an even land to great
and small, rich and poor, weak and strong.
Moreover, there should be no delay in
the laws now on the statute
ook by the enactment of further legiS-
lation as outlined in the message I sent
~ INV % NA 49, SSN~@
the existing laws much, very much, has
been actually accomplished during the
SIX years, and 1t has been shown by
experience that they can be enforced
against the wealthiest corporation and the
richest and most powerful ana or
manipulation of that corporation, as rigor-
ously and fearlessly as against the hum
blest offender. Above all, they have been
enforced against the very w~rongdoers and
of wrongdoers who ave for so
many years gone scot free. and f1outed the
laws with lmpunlty' against great law
defying corporations of immense wealth,
which, until within the last half dozen
years, have treated themselves and have
expected others to treat them as being
and above all 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
corporations engaged in interstate COM
merce, and above all, with the great inter-
state common carriers. Our people should
clearly recognize that while there are diff
ficulties in any course Of conduct to be
p~orations, these difficulties must be faced,
and one of three courses followed.
The first course Is to abandon all EFFORT
to oversee and control their actions in
the interest of the general public and to
permit a return to the utter lack Of con-
troll which would obtain II they were left
to the common law. I do not for one
tolerate this position. The extraordinary
growth of modern industrialism has re-.
dered the common law, which grew Up
under and was adopted to deal with totally
conditions, In nan respects In
adequate to deal with the new conditions.
These new conditions made II necessary
to shackle cunning as in the past we
shackled force. The vast individual
and corporate fortunes, the vast combina-
lions of capital, which have marked the
development OF our Industrial system,
Great new conditions, and necessitata a
from the old attitude of the state
and the nation toward the rules ~regulat-
ing the acquisition and untrammeled bust
ness use OF property, in order both that
property may be adequately protected.
hold 1t may be prevented from wrong
doing.
The second ard third courses are to
have TIE regulation undertaken either by
the nation or by the states. OF course
In u event both the national government
and the several state governments must
do each Its part, and each can do a certain
Inc only really satisfactory results must
be obtained by the representatives of the
and state governments working
heartily together within their respective
spheres.
: But In my judgment thoroughgoing :
and satisfactory control can in the :
/: end only be obtained by the action :
Of tho national government, for al
most all the corporations of enorm- :
/: Gus WealIh-that Is, the corporations J.:
which II Is especially desirable to
CUntrol--are engaged in Interstate :
{: commerce. and derive their power :
!: porlion of their business which Is in d:
{: trastate, but from the interstate :