The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-08-31

be interested primarily in human wei
fare rather than in property, just as it
demands that the representative body
shall represent all the people, rather
than any one class or section of the
people.
believe in shaping the ends of
government to protect property as
well as human welfare. Normally, and
in the long run, the ends are the same,
but whenever the alternative must be
faced ! am for men and not for prop
erty am far from Understanding
the Importance of dividends, but |
rank dividends below human charac-
ter. know well that the reformers
must not bring upon the people eco
nomic ruin, or the reforms themselves
will go down in the ruin. But we
must be ready to face temporary dis
aster, whether or not brought on by
those who will war against us to the
knife Those who oppose all reforms
will do well to remember that ruin in
its worst form is inevitable if our
national life brings us nothing better
than swollen fortunes for the few and
the triumph in both politics and busi-
ness Of a sordid and selfish material
ism.
If our political institutions were per-
feet, they would absolutely prevent
the political domination of money in
any part Of our affairs We need to
make our political representatives
more quickly and sensitively respon-
sive TO the people whose servants
they are. More direct action by the
people in their own affairs under
proper safeguard is vitally necessary.
The direct primary is a step in this
direction If it is associated with a cor
rupt practices act effective to prevent
the advantage of the man willing
recklessly and unscrupulously to spend
money over his more honest compet-
itor. It is particularly important that
all moneys received or expended for
campaign purposes should be publicly
accounted for not only after election
but before election as well. Political
action must be made simpler. easier,
and freer from confusion for every
citizen. believe that the prompt re-
movai of unfaithfu or incompetent
public servants should be made easy
and sure in whatever way experience
shall show to be most expedient in |
any given class of cases.
One of the fundamental necessities |
in Il representative government such !
as ours is to make certain that the I!
men to whom the people delegate
their power shall serve the people by |
whom they are elected, and not the |
special interests. | believe that every !
national officer, elected or appointed, |
should be forbidden to perform any
service or receive any compensation |
directly or indirectly from interstate !
corporations: and a similar provision
could not fail to be useful within
states.
The object OF government Is the
welfare of the people. The material
progress and prosperity of nation
are desirable chiefly so far as they
lead to the moral and material welfare
of all good citizens. Just In proper
tion as the average man and woman
are honest, capable of sound judgment
and high ideals, active in public af-
fairs-but first of all sound in their
home life. and the father and mother
of healthy children-just so far and
no farther We may count our civiliza-
ton success. We must have-I be-
lieye We have already-a genuine and
permanent moral awakening without
which no wisdom OF legislation or ad-
really means anything;
and, on the other hand, we must try
to secure the social and economic leg
islation without which any improve