The Mankato free press., 1909-01-29

on the whole less valuable qualitie.
are made too large. and especially L
the rewards for qualities which ART
really, from the public standpoint, un
desirable are permitted to become too
large.
The unchecked existence of monOp
oily is incompatible with equality OF
opportunity The reason for the exer
else of government control over great
monopolies is to equalize opportunity
We are fighting against privilege. II
was made unlawful for corporations to
contribute money for election expenses
in order to abridge the power of spe-
cial privilege at the polls. Railroad
rate control is an attempt to secure an
equality Of opportunity for all men af-
fected by rail transportation. and that
means all of us. The great anthracite
coal strike was settled and the press
ing danger of coal famine averted
because we recognized that the con-
troll of public necessity involves a
duty to the people and that public
Intervention In the affairs of public
service corporation is neither to be
resented as uSurpation nor permitted
as a privilege by the corporations, but,
duty and exercised as right by the
government in the interest of all the
people. The efficiency of the army
and the navy has been increased so
that our people may follow in peace
the great work Of making this country
better place for Americans to live in.
and our navy was sent round the world
for the same ultimate purpose. All the
acts taken by the government during
the last seven years and all the poll
cies now being pursued by the govern
ment fit in as parts Of consistent
whole.
Measures For Countrys Good.
Our public land policy has for its
1t will promote local development by
the settlement of homemakerS. The pol
icy we champion Is to serve all the
people legitimately and openly, instead
of permitting the lands to be convert
ed, illegitimately and under cover, to
the private benefit of few. Our for
est policy was established so that we
might use the public forests for the
permanent public good, instead of
for temporary private gain.
ThN oio h;oh
desert parts Of the public domain are
to higher uses for the gen.
eral benefit, was passed so that more
might have homes on the
land.
These policies were enacted into law
and have justified their enactment.
others have 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
benefits to the use Of the small man,
Who is the hcmemaker. instead of al
owing it to be controlled by few
yreat cattle and sheep owners.
The enactment of pure food law
vas 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
,roft. The employers liability bill
the controlling fact that,
while the employer usually has at
take no more than his profit. the stake
# the employee is living for himself
md his family.
For the Benefit of the People.
We are building the Panama canal,
nd this means that we are engaged
II the giant engineering feat of all
ime. We are striving to add in all
Ways to the habitability and beauty of |
ur country. We are striving to hold |
'ly of unappropriated coal for the pro-
ection and benefit of all, the people. |
We have taken the first steps toward |
he conservation of our natural re- |
ources and the bettermept of country |
lfe and the improvement of our wa
erways. We stand for the right of |
very child to childhood free from
toll and to an education, for
he civic responsibility anG decency of |
very citizen, for prudent foresight in
ublic matters and for fair play in
very relation of our national and eco
omic life. In international matters
re apply system of diplomacy which
uts the obligations of international
morality on q level with those that
overn the actions of an honest gen.
eman in dealing with his fellow men.
Within our own border we stand for
ruth and honesty in public and in
rivate life and we war sternly against
of every grade
The obligations and not the rights of
ltizenship increase in proportion to
ne increase of a mans wealth or pow
r. The time is coming when a man
ill be judged not by what he has sue
eeded in getting for himself from the
ommon store, but by how we'll he has
one his dut.- cs citizen and b. what
he ordinary citizen has gained in free
ON of opportunity because of his
eryice for the common good. The
ighest value we know is that Of the
ldividual citizen. and the highest JUS
ce Is to give him fair play in the ef-
,rt to realize the best there is In him.
Common Sense Needed.
The tasks this nation has to do are
reat tasks. They can only be done at