The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1909-01-28

atroy the resources from which our chill
dren would otherwise derive their liveli-
20 support q population, and so either
degrade the standard OF living or deprive
ne coming generations Of their right to
LIE ON this continent. II we allow
great industrial organizations TO exercise
unregulated control OF the means of pro-
ductlon and the necessaries OF life, we de-
prtve the Americans OF today and OF the
future OF Industrial liberty, a right no less
precious and vital than political freedom.
Industrial liberty was a fruit of political
liberty, and in turn has become n of
stand for political democracy so we must
stand for industrial democracy.
Real Rights.
The rights to life and liberty are funda.
mental, and like other fundamental neces-
stiles. when once acquired, they are little
dwelt upon The right to the pursuit OF
happiness Is the right whose presence or
absence Is most likely to be felt In daily
life. In whatever II has accomplished, or
faiied 20 accomplish, the administration
least seen clearly the fundamental need
OF freedom of opportunity for every citi-
zen. We have realized that the right OF
every mar to live his own life. provide
Tor his family, and endeavor, according to
his abilities. to secure for himself and for
them a fair share OF the good things of
existence, should be subject to one limita-
ton and 70 no other: The freedom OF
N.N~H $500 NoN 5AA0hi0 OG AAAAAAtGu Ohl ny
the present and future rights, interests
and needs of the other individuals who
make up the community. We should do
all In our power to develop n protect
Individual liberty, Individual initiative. but
subject always to the need of preserving
n promoting the general good. When
necessary, the private right must yield,
under due process OF law and with proper
compensation, 10 the welfare Of the com
monwealth. The man who serves the
community greatly should be greatly re-
warded by the community: as there is
be great inequality of reward; but no
man and no set of men should be allowed
to play the game OF competition with
loaded dice.
All this Is simply good common sense.
The underlying principle of conservation
has been described as the application OF
oommon sense to common problems for
the common good. IL the description Is
correct, then conservation is the great
fundamental basis for national efficiency.
In this stage OF the worlds history to be
fearless, to be just, and to be. efficient
are the three great requirements OF ma
tional life. National efficiency is the re-
suit OF natural resources well handled, OF
freedom Of opportunity for every man.
and of the inherent capacity, trained
ability, knowledge and will, collectively
and individually to use that opportunity.
Some Mistakes, Perhaps.
The administration has achieved scne
hAAA1' . AAIS phN hub hOI pCChl
able, to achieve others; IL has doubtless
made mistakes; but all II has done or at
tempted has been in the single, consistent
effort TO secure and enlarge the rights
and opportunities OF the men and women
of the United States. We are trying to
conserve what is good In our social sys-
tenn, and we are striving toward this end
when We endeayor to do away with what
Is bad. Success may be made too hard for
some lit Is made too easy for others.
The rewards of common industry and
thrift may be too small II the rewards for
other, and on the whole less valuable,
qualities, are made too large, and espe-
cially IL the rewards for qualities which
are really, from the public standpoint UNI
desirable are permitted to become too
Our aim Is so far as possible to
a quality of opportunity where there is
equality OF energy, fidelity and intelli-
gence; when there is reasonable equality
of opportunity, the distribution OF rewards
will take care OF itself.
The unchecked existence of monopoly is
Incompatible with equality of opportunity.
The reason for the exercise of govern
ment control over great m~onopolies is to
equaiize opportunity. We are lighting
against privilege.
Our public land policy has for its aim
the use Of the public land so that 1t will
promote local development by. the settle
ment of home makers: the policy we
champion is TO serve all the people legi-
tlnately and openly, instead of permitting
the lands to be converted, Ilegitimately
and under cover, to the private benefit of
q few. Our forest policy was established
that we might use the public forests
for the permanent public good, instead of
merely for temporary private gain. The
reclamation act, under which the desert
parts of the public domain are converted
to higher uses for the general benefit, was
passed so that more Americans might
have homes on the inc
These policies were enacted into law
and nave justified their enactment. Others
Ia failed. so far, to reach the point
OF action. Among such Is the attempt
to secure public control Of the open range
and thus to convert its benefit to the use
of the small man, who is the home maker,
of allowing 1t to be controlled by
a few great cattle and sheep owners,
recognition of the fact that the public
welfare outweighs the right to private
gain. and that no man may poison the
people for his private profit. The ems,
trolling fact that while the employer
has at stake no more than his
profit, the stake of the employe is a living
for himself and family.
The Canal.
We are building the Panama canal: and
giant engineering feat of all time. We
are striving to add in all ways to the hab-
and beauty of our country. We
are striving to hold in the public hands
the EeIldlIllllB supply VI ulIdppTOpTldIeu
coal, for the protection and benefit Of all
the people. We have taken the first steps |
toward the conservation OF our natural re-
sources, and the betterment of country
life, and the Improvement of our water
ways. We stand for the right Of every
child to a childhood free from grinding
toll, and to an education; for the civic re-
sponsibility and decency Of every citizen; !
for prudent foresight In public matters.
and for fair play In every relation OF our
and economic life.
The tasks this nation has to 10 are
great tasks. They can only be done at
all by our citizens acting together. and
they can be done best of all by the direct
and simple application OF homely common
sense. The application OF common sense
to common problems for the common
good, under the guidance Of the principles
upon which this republic was based. and
virtue of which II exists, spells per-
for the nation, civil and Industrial
liberty for its citizens, n freedom OF
opportunity in the pursuit of happiness
for the plain American, for whom this
nation was founded. by whom 1t was pre-
served. and through whom alone II can
perpetuated. Upon this platform
larger than party differences, higher than
class prejudice, broader than any dues-
ton of profit and loss-there is room for