Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1909-08-11


gal technicalities seldom help the
people. The people. not the law
should have the benefit of every
doubt.
Equality of opportunity, a
square deal for every man, the pro
lection OF the citizen against the
great concentration of capital. the
intelligent use OF the laws and insti-
tutions for the public good, and the
conservation of our natural resour-
ces. not for the trusts, but for the
people; these are real issues and
the real problems. Upon such things
as these the perpetuity OF this co1n-
try as a nation OF homes realty de-
pends. We are coming to SEQ that
the simple things are the things to
work for. More than that we are
coming to see that the plain Ameri-
can citizen is the man to work Tor.
The imagination is staggered by the
magnitude OF the prize for which t.
work. II we succeed, there will ex-
ist upon this continent a sane, strong
people, living through the centuries
in land subdued and controlled for
the service of the people. its right
ful masters. owned by the many and
not by the few. II we fail, the great
interests. increasing their control II
our natural resources. will thereby
control the country more and more.
and the rights OF the people will
fade into the privileges OF concen-
trated wealth.
There could be no better illustra-
tion OF the eager, rapid, unfeared alb
sorption by capital OF the rights
which belong TO all the people thon
the water power trust, not yet form
ed but in rapid process OF formation.
This statement is true but not un-
challenged We are met at every
turn by the indignant denial OF the
water power interests. They tell us
that there are no community OF in-
terest among them, and yet thoy ap-
pear year after year at these con-
crosses by their paid attorneys. ask
Ing for your influence to help them
remove the few obstacles 10 their
perpetual and complete absorption
OF the remaining water powers.
They tell us II has no significance
that the General Electric interests
are acquiring great groups OF water
powers In various parts OF tho Uni
ted States and dominating the power
market In the region OF each group.
And whoever dominates power, DOM
mates all industry Have yoa ever
seen a few drops OF oil scattered on
the water spreading until they form.
ed a continuous film, which put an
end at once 20 all agitaron
OF the surface. The timo for
us to agitate this question
Is now, before the separate
circles Of centralized control spread
into the uniform, unbroken. nation
Wide covering OF single gigantic
trust There viii be little chance for
mere agitation after that. No man at
al familiar with the situation can
doubt that the time for effective pro-
test Is very short. II We do not use
Il TO protect ourselves now, We may
be very sure that the trust will give
hereafter some consideration 10 the
welfare OF the average citizen when
In conflict with its own.
The man who really counts Is
he plain American citizen This is
the man for whom Roosevelt policies
were created, and his welfare is the
end to which the Roosevelt policies
lead. AS a nation We are fortunate
at this time in this fael above az
others, that the great man who gave
his name To these policies has found
in his successor another great presi-
dent whose administration is mos;
solemnly pledged TO the spirit of
them.
II stand for the Roosevelt policies
because they set the common good
II an OF us above the private grin
II some OF us; because they recosniz
he livelihood of the small man as
more important TO the nation thon
the profit OF the big man; because
they oppose ali useless waste at pres
a't az the cost OF robbing the future
because they demand the complete
sane and orderly development OF a.
our natural resources. not lorgettlne