Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1908-02-07


We are trying TO secure equality of OPP
portunity for all; and the struggle for
honesty is the same whether 1t is made
on behalf of one set of men or of another.
In the interest of the small settlers and
landowners, and against the embtttcred
opposition of wealthy owners OF huge wan
dering fiocks of sheep, or of corporations
desiring to rob the people of coal and
timber, we strive to put an end to the
theft of public land in the West When
we do this, and protest against the acton
private life, who>e either take part in or
refuse to try to stop such theft, we are
really engaged in the same policy as when
we endeavor to put a stop to rebates OF
to prevent the upgrowth OF uncontrolled
monopolies. Our effort is simply TO en-
force the principles Of common honesty
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, Ii
very fact the department of Justice, where
SO far as our ability permits justice is
meted out with, an even hand to great
and small, rich and poor, weak and strong.
Moreover, there should be nos delay IN
upplementin the laws now on the statute
books by the enactment Of further legis-
lation as outlined in the message l sent
to the congress on it's assembling. under
the existing laws much, very much, has
been actually accomplished during the
past six years, and 1t has been shown by
| actual experience that they can be enforced
against the wealthiest corporation and the
rich st and most powerful manager or
manipulation Of that corporation, as rlgor-
| ously and fearleSsly as. against the hum
blest offender. Above all, they have been
| enforced against the very wrongdoers and
agents of wrongdoers who have Tor SO
many years gone scot free and fiouted the
laws with fmpunity, against great law-
| defying corporations of immense wealth,
which, until within the last half dozen
oo - laNra frpa tod Themselves and have
! expected others to treat them as being
beyond and above all possible check from
Jaw.
! 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
followed in dealing with these great cor
porations, these difficulties must be faced
and one of three courses followed.
The first course is to abandon all efor'
to oversee and control their actions II
the interest of the general public and tt
permit a return to the utter lack of con
to the common law. 1 do not for ont
moment believe that our people woult
growth of modern industrial.sm has rem
dered the common law, which grew III
under and was adopted to deal with total.
different conditions, In many respects in
adequate to deal with the new conditions
These new conditions made it necessar.
to shackle cunning as in the past w
have shackled force. The vast individual
and corporate fortunes the vast comblna
tons of capital, which have marked tn
development Of our industrial system
Great new conditions, and necessitate
change from the old attitude of the stat
and the nation toward the rules regulat
ing the acquisition and untrammeled bust
ness use of property, in order both tina
property may be adequately protected
and that at the same time those VIII
hold 1t may be prevented from wrong
doing.
The second and third courses are t
have the regulation undertaken either b
the nation or by the states. OF cours
in any event both the national government
and the several state governments mus
do each its part, and each can do a certai
amount that the other cannot do. Will
the only really satisfactory results mus
be obtained by the representatives of tn
national and state workin
heartily together within their 'respectiv