Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-01-04

SonlpSIlIlou ana W pTOteCI INC SoiA7
sumner from avarcious extortion. We
know that in many fields of industry
home competition has been substan-
TALLY destroyed and we intended to
subject our home producers to the fear
of foreign competition If prices were
raised above fair and reasonable
profit
Leaders Disregard Party.
For years the standpatters sue
cessfully resisted the demand for
revision Of the tariff, but finally the
progressive force in the rank and file
of the party compelled the national
convention to recognize the necessity
and justice Of revision and to make
sure of an adequate change in the
duties, the party for the first time IN
its history defined with accuracy and
emphasis the doctrine Of protection. 1t
was then speedily discovered that
while the convention was progressive
the congress was standpat.
81 do not attempt to obscure or to
minimize the extent of our defeat, but
! If any one harbors the delusion that
the passage Of the recent tariff law
ended the fight for fair and reason
able protective duties, It would be
wise for him to at once reform his
conclusion.
with respect to further regulation
of Interstate commerce. the standpat-
ter occupies just the same position
that he has always occupied. From
time to time he has accepted with
sort Of sullen submission the regu-
lations which have been imposed, but
in the whole history Of the subject his
voice has never been lifted nor his in
fluence exerted in behalf of single
specific restriction upon the power of
transportation companies or the OPP
preston of consolidated industry.
Win Despite Obstruction.
ut is sufficient to say that the agt-
tation for the Strengthening Of the law
regulating common carriers became
acute about 1899. 1t finally resulted in
the amendment of 1906. 1t was long,
weary campaign. 1t was retarded and
obstructed by the most powerful
| forces now known to either the polit-
ical or the commercial life of the ma
| ton. The standpatters were either 81
| lent or in opposition.
"Joseph G.. Cannon was then, as
now. a most conspicuous member Of
the national house Of representatives.
In all those years I never heard Of a
single utterance from him that could
| by any possibility be construed into
friendliness toward the cause that
was struggling on through all those
difficulties
"Aldrich was then, as now, one of
the leaders of the senate of the Unit
ed States, and if any standpatter cam
discover a solitary expression on his
part that he helped the movement to
It's final fruition I would be glad to
have it pointed out. Hale, Payne, Dali
zell, were then. as now. prominent in
the congress of the United States:
but I challenge the memory of all
who hear me to recall one single
sympathetic word in the interests Of
the people in their struggle with the
railways.
CIV have had now nearly four
years experience with it, and it's de-
! fects are SO manifest that two years
ago the progressives entered upon q
further campaign for additional
strength to the interstate commerce
commission.
Trusts Power Uncurbed
Congress in 1890 adopted what is
known as the antitrust law. 1t has
done good work, and in the hands of
jealous man it will destroy many Of
the vicious consultations which now
exist It is clearly seen. however, that
it needs amendment. The spirit of the
statute is to preserve the force OF
competition in business.
''The United States Steel Corpora
ton has nominal competition, but ask
| any dealer in iron or steel with regard
to the real power Of this corporation.
The American Sugar Refining COM
pany has technical rivals. but ask any
wholesale grocer what this dishonest
and corrupt organization does IN
American business.
81 have referred to these things in
order to call your attention to the
fact that the standpatters are not
helping to solve the problems. They
content themselves with the constant
reiteration of the fear that if we touch
any of these things we may overturn
| the fabric OF commerce and may des-
troy the prosperity for which all low
ers of the human kind are seeking.
When it is proposed to further regu-
late railway rates they shudder lest
we may hurt the railways. The pro-
! greSS1VeS Snudder lest tney may not
be able to help those who are suffer
ing the injustice of rate systems that
are admittedly indefensible.
Should Save Resources.
"In passing must be permitted to
suggest that we ought to keep our
eyes steadily upon Roosevelt's policy
and greatest achievement, namely the
beginning of movement to conserve
our national resources. We must see
to 1t that our forests, our mines and
our waters do not pass for trifle into
the hands of men who will Immediate
ly use them to build up enormous for
| tunes.
81 cannot conclude these observa-
tons without referring to the political
situation in this state and in this dis
trict. I am not conscious of the least
| Ill feeling toward any public man in
Iowa, whether part of the national
government or Of the state govern.
ment.
"To make my application absolutely
specific, do not believe that Captain
! l. I 49,