The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1908-02-07
resentative of predatory wealth-of

resentative Of predatory wealth-of
the wealth accumulated on a giant
scale by all forms of iniQuity, ranging
from the oppression OF wageworkers
to unfair and unwholesome methods
of crushing out competition and to de-
frauding the public by stock jobbing
and the manipulation of securities.
Certain wealthy men of this stamp,
whose conduct should be abhorrent to
every man Of ordinarily decent con-
r.ielco, and who commit the hideous
wrong os teaching our young men
thai phenomenal business success
must ordinarily be based on dishon-
esty, have during the last few months
made it apparent that they have
banded together to work for re.
action. Their endeavor is to over.
throw and discredit all who honestly
administer the law, to prevent any adj
ditional legislation which would check
and restrain them and to secure, II
possible, freedom from all restraint
which will permit every INSCRIPTIONS
wrongdoer to do what he wishes I'M
checked provided he has enough
money.
Honest Wealth Respected.
Under no circumstances would we
countenance attacks upon lawabiding
property, or do aught but condemn
those who hold up rich men as being
evil men because of their riches. For
the honest man Of great wealth we
have a hearty regard, just as we have
hearty regard for the honest poll
tician and honest newspaper But
part of the movement to uphold hon
esty must be movement to frown on
dishonesty. We attack only the cor
rupt men of wealth, who find in the
purchased politician the most efficient
instrument of corruption and in the
purchased newspaper the most eff
cient defender of corruption. Our
main quarrel is not with these agents
and representatives of these interests
They derive their chief power from
the great sinister Offenders who stand
behind them. They are but puppets
who move as the strings are pulled.
1t is not the puppets, but the strong
cunning men and the mighty forces
working for evil behind and through
the puppets with whom we have to
deal.
No Respecter of Persons.
We act in no vindictive spirit, and
we are no respecters of persons. If a
labor union does wrong, we oppose ii
as firmly as we oppose corporation
which does wrong; and we stand
equally stoutly for the rights of the
man Of wealth and for the rights of
the wageworker. We seek to protect
the property Of every man who acts
honestly, CT every corporation that
represents wealth honestly accumu,
lated and honestly used. We seek to
stop wrongdoers only so far as is
necessary to achieve this end.
The amount Of money the represen'
tatives Of certain great moneyed in.
terests are willing to spend can be
gagged by their recent publication
broadcast throughout the papers OF
this country, from the Atlantic to the
Pacific, of huge advertisements at.
lacking with envenomed bitterness
the administrations policy Of warning
against successful dishonesty. From
the railroad rate law to the pure food
law, every measure for honesty in
business that has been passed during
the last six years has been opposed by
these men on its passage and in its
administration with every resource
that bitter and INSCRIPTIONS craft
could suggest and the command of al
most unlimited money secure. But
for the last year the attack has been
made with most bitterness upon the
actual administration Of the law, es
pecially through the department OF
justice, but, also, through the inter
state commerce commission and the
bureau of corporations.
Stockholders Wronged.
Much is said, in these attacks upon
the policy of the present administra
ton, about the rights Of the innocent
stockholders" That stakeholder is
not innocent who voluntarily pur
chases stock in a corporation whose
methods and management he knows
to be corrupt, and stockholders are
bound to try to secure honest man
agement. Or else are estopped from
complaining about the proceedings
the government finds necessary in
order to compel the corporation tC
obey the law. There has been in the
past grave wrongs done innocent
stockholders by over capitalization
stock watering, stock iobbing, stocl
manipulation. This we have sought
to prevent, first, by exposing the thing
done and furnishing the offender wheI
any existing law has been violated
second, by recommending the passage
of laws which would make unlawful
similar practices for the future. Those
who loudly proclaim their sympathy
for the innocent stockholders" wheI
great law defying corporation i!
punished, are the first to protest will
frantic vehemence against all effort!
by law to put a stop to the practice!
al. oI1 he nj al Hmm 4.