Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-12

have grasped the fact that the special in
| terests are now in control of public al
| fairs They have decided once more te
take control Of their own business. Fol
the last ten years the determination tc
do so has been swelling like river. They
insist that the special interests shall &C
out OF politics or out of business-one OF
the other. And the choice will lie with
the interests themselves. II they resist
both the interests and the pc lie vii
suffer. II wisely they accept the inevi'
1t will do their business no manner OF
harm to make 1t conform to the genera
welfare. But one way or the other, con-
form it must
American people today is this: Shall the
nation govern itself or shall the interests
run this country? The one great political
demand. underlying all others. giving
meaning to all others. is this: The spe-
cial interests must get out Of politics
The old-style leaders, seeking to switch
public attention away from this one alb
sorbing and overwhelming issue, pitt
fully ridiculous and out of date. To try
to divert the march Of an aroused public
conscience from this righteous inevita-
BILE conflict by means Of OBSOLETE political
catchwords is like trying to dam the Mis-
sissippi with dead leaves.
ITO drive the special interests out OF
tics lies their strength. If they resist. as
doubtless they will, 1t will call for nerve.
endurance and sacrifice on the part OF
TIE people. 1t will be no child's play, for
the power Of privilege is great. But the
power of our people is greater still. and
their steadfastness is equal to the need.
Task a Tremendous One.
1.-THE task is tremendous one. both in
the demands it will make and the re-
wards 1T will bring. 1t must be under
taken soberly. carried out firmly and just
Iy. and relentlessly followed to the very
end. Two things alone can bring success.
The first IS honesty in public men, with
out which no popular government can
long succeed. The second is complete
publicity of all the affairs in which the
public has an interest, such as the busl-
ness of corporations and political ex-
penses during campaigns and between
them. To these ends any unfaithful pub
lie servants must be retired, much wise
legislation must be framed and passed,
and the struggle will be bitter and long
But it will be we'll worth all 1t will cost,
for self-government is at stake.
There can be no legislative cure-all
for great political evils, but legislation
can make easier the effective expression
and execution Of the popular will. One
step in this direction, which 1 personally
is law forbidding any senator or men,
Der of Congress or other public servant
to perform any services for any corpora
ton engaged in interstate commerce, or
to accept any valuable Consideration
directly or Indirectly, from any such cor
poration, while he is representative
of the people, and for a reasonable time
thereafter. IF such law would be good
for the nation in it's affairs a similar
law should be good for the states and
ffoir And no
reason why members and senators and
state legislators should not keep the peo-
pie informed of their pecuniary interest
in interstate or public service corpora
lions, if they have any. 1t is certain
such publicity would do the public no
harm.
Return of Old Ideals.
This nation has decided to do away
with government by money for profit and
return to the government our forefathers
died for and gave to us-government by
men for human welfare and human prog
ress.
Opposition TO progress has produced
its natural results. There is profound
and unrest and profound
cause for both. Yet the country Is
awake. For a generation at least there
has not been a situation so promising for
the ultimate public welfare as tnat OF To-
day Our people are like hive of bees,
full of agitation before taking flight to
a better place. Also they are ready to
sting Out of the whole situation shines
the confident hope of better things. II
any man is discouraged. let him consider
the rise Of cleaner standards In this
country within the last ten years.
1.-The task of translating these new
standards into action lies before us. From
sea to sea the people are taking a fresh
grip on their own affairs. The conserva-
ton Of political liberty will take its
proper place alongside the conservation
OF the means Of living, and in both We
shall look to the permanent welfare Of
the plain people as the supreme end. The
way out Hes in direct interest Of the peo-
pie in their own affairs and direct action
in the few great things that really count.
what is the conclusion of the whole
matter? The special interests must be
put out of politics. I believe the young
men will do 1t"