The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-09-04
AUTOCRACY.

| 1t seems that there are but few peo
pie In this country who really know
the meaning OF the word "Autocracy.' -
or what the necessary conditions are
10 create state of autocracy Webs
ter says: Autocracy is Independent
or self-deriyed power: self-created SUI
premacy; supreme, uncontrolled. un.
limited AUTHORITY" Many people seem
10 think that this definition applies
only to absolute monarchlcs" and
and some empires; and In a lesser
degree TO other empires ard Kingdoms.
and always associate this with the
countries of Europe. Asia and Africa
! Iney deplore the conditions of those
/ countries. and wonder why those pco-
/ pies can content themselves 10 be sub
Jected 10 such conditions; and be-
! cause OF those associations, they abb
solutcly lose sight Of conditions that
might exist in "socalled' free coun-
( tries such as republics.
While It Is true that the chief maGis.
trate in The republican form OF gov.
ernment does rot assume those pre-
rogratlves as q divine" right: as In
monarchies. empires and kingdoms:
but Is supposedly placed In such posi-
llons by and through the Will of the
people, yet, even in republics. there
may be conditions arise or exist, by
which the will OF the people may be
thwmted, and those chief magistrates
be placed In those positions contrary
10 the best interests of the people.
That autocratic conditions could eX.
ist in a republic. Is almost beyond
belief; but that they do exist In our
own republic is an absolute fact. not
so much with our supposed rulers.
however, as with our real rulers-the
trusts. These real rulers. of which
the steel trust stands pre-eminently
at the head. have abTogated To them
selves the prerogative of running this |
government, making or unmaklng |
presidents. senators, representatives, |
governors, and even petty officials, at |
viii; Of controlling the output and |
price of the very food that we eat. |
and the clothes that we wear. as we'll |
as all other necessities of life: and of !
debating as TO who shall work and |
VINO shall not. And how can this be.
do we hear you ask2 Did you ever hear
of divine right" Bear of the coal
trust? or of college endowment"
Jonnie. of the oil trust? and many 9th
ers too numerous to mention Did
YOU ever hear of that grand and glori-
Gus trio, Aldrich. Payne and Cannon?
AutocratS2 Yes. autocrats all; weld
ing a power second to none of the old
world autocratS, puppets of cuDidty
and greed. How proud We ought TO be
OF them. and the power behind them
How splendidly cOntented and happy
we should feel; knowing that while
we are filling their Golfers TO burst
ing, many of Our people are groveling
IN misery. poverty and wretchedness.
Autocrats? Do you know that the
business pulse of the country is
gagged by the condition of the steel
rust and its allied interests" And
1ow, the latest development of those
tendencies is the refusal
IF employment 10 the very men
American citlzens-who have made
heir power possible; and in their
stead, Austrians. Hungarians and 4
Poles are advertised for American
citizens refused employment because
hey would not stand for the rotten
conditions existing and live like ami
male, Men who refuse TO be driven
Ike dumb cattle and fed on the
husks' while the product of their :
oil furnishes castles, automobiles .
nd monkey suppers" for the idle
Nploiter: men who refuse TO see their :
hildren grow up In ignorance and /.
qualler, while the children OF the so !
allied a'pD nf giue Cf In I,vc |
ated and wear silks and broadcIoth !
i their expense; men who are deter.
lined 10 be men and to be respected t.
S men American citizens guaranteed !
ustice and equal rights under the
cnstitution, but denied all these by :.
hose absolute autocratS. who look
lpon these American working men
s chattle assets 10 their business and
1ok UUon them as inferior beings
nd denominate them the rabble;
ce hoard; the mob; socialists. anar- c
h;sts and demagogues; and prefer II
employ n class largely made ND of c
nc refuse of foreign countries: all n
ecausc they demand q more equal Il
vision of the wealth they create.
O. ye godsi When VIII the small b
usInesS man come TO realize that he n
j only n tool in the hands of those {
Notwithstanding, working. gaining '
iitLle here and there while they b
re amassinG etupendous fortunes;
olding the wealth Of the world IN
leir hands. and debating to the great
ass of the people. turning the best
eoplc on earth out TO starve. and 3
mploying those who can and viii C;
We on 4 slice of bread and a huuck q
cheese. and who wear the coarsest s.
clothing. and send what little re- b
aims out of the country; thus de- a
ivinG him of the sale of goods that it
e would have if American citizens 3
ere employed MAY God hasten the
~ when VIC all may see the conse-
Iences Of this most colossal crime z
lat is being committed against our al
tizenship by the autocrats of this W
eat and free repUblic-the United W
.ates OF America. II