Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-10-14
4z:Y&!SS|gzzE's
SENATOR LA FOLLETTE'S VIEWS

SENATOR LA FOLLETTE'S VIEWS
Senator aFollette of Wisconsin is
an entertaining talker, and by tell
ing us a good many things that we
know ourselves but perhaps do not
dwell upon so strongly as he does,
he gets us to thinking and think
ing is good for everyone, II 1t is
along right lines. Taking 4 middle
ground perhaps between the sena-
tors tendency to extremism and the
too great conservatism If some of
our other political leaders and we
have a middle ground that is broad
and safe to stand upon. What the
senator sees as the unnatural and
dangerous combination of capital and
industry is seen by others less in
clined to extremism as the natural
evolution of the business of great
country, in which evils grow up ma
turally, as weeds do in a field. Gull
tivation and care will kill the weeds
and just so the evils arising from
too rapid growth and too great
wealth will be checked and held in
control. At the same time, it is al
ways well that people shall consider
public questions with deliberation
and interest, and take an intelligent
part in the affairs of government.
The government, of course, belongs
to the people, and they have the pow
er to enact their will into legislation,
any time they Or majority Of them
act in concert. The fear of the SEN
ator that the people will come to be
divided into two classes, the very
rich and the very poor, with the elm
ination of the middle class is, we
think. unfounded. There never was
a time when natural genius and abil-
ity commanded a wider field or quick
er recognition than now. Business
customs and conditions may change,
but there will never be a time when
ability will not command its own
place. And at no time in the history
of the country, we think, has ability
and genius commanded greater re-
ward either in money or honor than
now.
As to the character of men in the
public service, it Is generally good
and while our system of government
has its weak points it has also it's
elements of strength, in that the peo-
plexion of their law making body.
With respect to the tariff bill, recent
ly enacted, which the senator terms
ubiquitous good number of the
people will take issue with the sena-
tor. In the minds of some people, all
tariffs and taxes are Ubiquitous. It
is nowhere argued that the tariff has
some Of our free trade or low tariff
advocates. 1t probably will not be
until the republican party changes its
ground, as party of protection. 1t
is also true that the tariff on some
articles could be materially reduced
without harming the Industrial sys-
tenn of the country. But an ideal bill
cannot be passed in a single session
of congress, until we change human
nature materially, and that is a slow
task. Men are apt to vote for the
special interests of their sections, and
If they do not, they would proba bly,
be retired from public life by the
people themselves. Average human
nature has not reached the stage
where it will make heavy sacrifices
for the benefits of others. And in
government we are dealing with av.
erage human nature. ,@ssz. ........ r..
As to danger from control of the
4 finances OF the country by leaders
1 that is remote. The men who have
\ large interests will not hazard them
through injustices or the infection Of
hardships. Bankers in local COM
nunitfes largely control the credits
and moneys of the communities. Bnl
they are themselves interested mater
Tally in the welfare OF the people
whose money they IN q measure con
troll They prosper with the com
munities and the people, Bankers