Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-02-23


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presented in the prosecution of sus.
pected illegal trusts as means by
which they can take their places
among those engaged in legitimate
business.
Political Prospects.
/ There are signs which many con
strue as an indication that the repub-
iican majority in the present congress
viii change to democratic majority
in the next. This is based chiefly on
republican discussions and attacks by
many newspapers having republican
tendencies upon the party and its
leaders. am glad to say that there
seems clear party majority in both
houses in favor of the passage of the
Legislation l have indicated and a re-
demption of the party pledges. Ii
would seem as if the difference over
the house rules and the personnel of
leadership might Wen be solved with.
in the party. They have been so
acute as to produce what is called an
instruction I am hopeful as we an
proach the lines of battle that a set.
tlement of these internal questions
will be effected without a breach
which will prevent the presenting of
an unbroken front to the enemy.
| General Grant said when he went
into battle he had a great deal of
fear, but overeame that feeling by re-
membering how much more afraid his
opponent was. We should not forget
the factional strife of our ancient enc
my. IL the democratic party were
solid, cohesive opposition, following
the economic views they hold, the
situation would be far more discourag-
ing. The republican party for seven.
teen years has discharged the respon-
sibilities of government with wonder
full success.
Mr.. Roosevelt aroused the country
to the danger of having all authority
controlled in corporate interest. He
aroused the people to the point of
protecting themselves and the public
interest against the aggressions of
corporate greed and left public opin-
ion in an apt condition to bring about
| the reform needed to make his poll
Icies permanent
The Aftermath.
| But as the inevitable aftermath of
such agitation we find condition OF
hysteria on the part of certain 'udi-
viduals and in others a manifestation
] of hypocrisy in blind denunciation of
lall wealth and the impeachment of
the motives of men of highest char
iacter by demagogic appeals to the
! imagination of an aroused people
/ The tendency is to resent the attach
meRt TO party and toward the asser-
ton of individual opinion al the ex.
Ipense Of party discipline.
II am far from saying that the re-
publican party is perfect But with
the various divisions Of the party sub.
jected to a cross FIRE Of its own news
papers and factions. any halt or fail
ure of those in authority to punish o..
/ condemn corrupt methods viii be
properly visited upon the party itself.
I'VE viii be called upon to respond
TO the charge in the next campaign
that the tariff raised prices. We
must not be blind to the weight of
such argument in a campaign. The
reason for the rise in the cost of the
necessities is easily traced 10 the In
crease in our measure of values, and
possibly. in some cases, to combina-
lions in restraint of trade, but the
question must be argued and met.
The administration has been at.
tackled on the ground that its policy
tends TO create panic in Wall street.
All / have to say upon that ia that
nobody responsible for a government
ike ours would destroy values and
confidence for the pleasure of doing
SO. Nobody has a motive as strong
as the administration in power to cul.
tivate aud strengthen business conf
dence and prosperity. But it does
rest with the national government TO
enforce the law If enforcement OF
the law is not consistent with the
present method of business. it does
not speak well for the present meth
DDS Of business. They must he
changed to conform to the law. The
republican party did not promise to
lauthorize monopoly nor the suppress.
sion of competition and control of
prices. Those who expected such
change cannot visit the responsibility
.of their mistake on innocent persons.
The government at Washington can
he counted on to enforce the law in
.e way Eest calculated TO prevent the
destruction OF public confidence in
business, but that it must enforce the
law goes without saying