Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1910-09-01

Ltained, the special interests are 700 m
nuentiAl. Probably this is true Of both
the big interests and the little interests.
These methods have put q premium on
selhshness, and naturally the selfish big
interests have gotten more than the sell
IiSh small interests. The duty Of congresS
10 to provide a method by which the IN
forest Of the whole people shall be AL
that receives consideration. To this end
there must be an expert tariff commits
sion wholly removed from the possibility
OF political pressure or Of improper busi-
ness influence. Such q commission can
find out the real difference between cost
| Of production, which Is mainly the diner
ence Of labor cost here and abroad. AZ
fast as It's recommendations are made,
believe in revising one schedule at time.
A general revision Of the tariff almost In
evitably leads to log-rolling, and the sub
ordination Of the general public interest
to local and special interests.
The absence Of effective state and
especially National, restraint upon unfair
money getting has tended to create q
small class OF enormously wealthy and
economically powerful mon, whose chief
object 10 to hold and increase their power.
The prime need 10 to change tho condi-
tons which enable these men to accumu-
late power which 1t Ia not for the general
welfare that they should hold or exercise.
We grldge no man fortune which req
resents his own power and sagacity, when
exercised with entire regard 70 the wei.
fare OF his fellows. But the fortune must
be- honorably obtained and well used. It
10 not even enough that II should have
been gained without doing damage to the
community. We should permit II to be
gained only so long as he gaining rep
| resents benefit to the community. This,
| know, implies a policy Of far more
active governmental interference with 30
rial and economic conditions in this coun-
'ry than we have yet had, but think we
cave rot to fes4~'ta tactS Slat R:aht an
increase in governmental control Is now |
necessary.
Income and inheritance Taxes.
No man should receive dollar unless |
that dollar has been fairly earned. Every |
dollar received should represent a dollars |
worth Of service rendered. The really |
big fortune, the swollen fortune, by the |
mere fact Of It's size acquires qualities
which differentIate 1t In kind as well as |
In degree from what Is possessed by men |
of relatively small means. Therefore l |
believe in a graduated income tax on big |
fortunes, and in another tax which is far |
more easily collected and far more eff
fective-a graduated inheritance tax on
big fortunes, properly safeguarded
against evasion. and increasing rapidly
In amount with the size Of the estate.
The people Of the United States suffer
from periodical financial panics to de-
gree substantially unknown among the
other nations which approach US In finan-
cial strength. There 10 no reason we
should suffer what they escape. 1t Is Of
profound Importance that our financial
system should be promptly investigated,
and 30 thoroughly and effectively re-
vised as to make 1t certain that hereafter
our currency will no longer fail at criti-
cal times to meet our needs.
It is hardly necessary for me to repeat
that l believe In an efficient army and
q navy large enough to secure for US
abroad that respect which H. the surest
guarantee Of peace. Justice and fair deal
ing among nations rest on principles
Identical with those which control Justice
and fair dealing among the individuals Of
which nations are composed; with the
vital exception that each nation must do
its own partin international police work.
National friendships, like those between
men, must be founded on respect as well
as on liking, on forbearance as well as
upon trust. In all this II Is peculiarly the
duty of the United States to set good
example.
OF conservation shall speak more at
length elsewhere. Conservation means
development as much as 1t does protec-
ton. recognize the right and the duty
Of this generation to develop and use the
natural resources of our land. but do
not recognize the right to waste them, or
to rob. by wasteful use the generations
that come after us. The natural resources
hA far hA hanaAf af all |
people and not monopolzed for the bene-
1T Of the few. That is one Of the funda-
mental reasons why the special interests
must be driven out OF politics. OF all the
questions which can come before this
Nation, short Of the actual preservationsl
of its existence in a great war, there Is
none which compares In Importance with
the great central task of leaving this
land even a better land for our descen-
dants than II is for us, and training them
into q better race to inhablt the land ana
pass It on. Conservation is great moral
issue, for II involves the patriotic duty
Of insuring the safety and continuance
Of the Nation Let me add that the
health and vitality Of our people are at
least as we'll worth conserving as their
forests, waters, lands, and minerals, ard
that In this great work the National co.
ernmont must bear a most importer.
part.
have spoken elsewhere also Of the
great task which lies before the '7rrn-
ers Of the country to get for themselves
and for their wives and children not only
the benefits Of better farming, but also
those Of better business methods and
better conditions Of life on the farm. The
burden Of this great task will fall as II
should, mainly upon the great organiza-
tons Of the farmers themselves. I am
glad It will for believe they are well
able to handle IT, In particular. there
are strong reasons why the departments
Of agriculture of the various states, the
United States department Of agriculture,
and the agricultural colleges and expert
ment stations should extend their work
to cover all phases Of life on the farm.
instead Of limiting themselves, as they !
have far too often limited themselves in
the past solely to the question Of the
production Of crops.
Human Welfare Comes First.
Nothing is more true than that excess
Of every kind Is followed by reaction: q .:
fact which should be pordered by reform
er and reactionary alike. We are face to
face with new conceptions OF the rela-
lions Of property to human welfare. chief
~ because certain advocates Of the rights
Of property a. against the rights Of men !
have been pushing their claims too far.
The man who wrongly holds that every !
human right 10 secondary to his proat
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