The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-09

OOAnA New MEMBER OF L1O
Railroad Board.
pate in any unlawful combination in
restraint or trade, would summarily
end the efforts Of Wall street to sub
stitute what, in effect, means a COM
mercial despotism for free opportunity
and natural competition in the COM
merce Of the nation
There is now in progress a general
movement OF the masses of the people
throughout the civilized world, de-
manding the enactment of laws that
Will protect the rights of those who
by their labor produce wealth and
property, and enable them to share
equftably in the profits resulting from
such labor. In our own republic,
founded on the principles of equal op
portunity, liberty and justice, des-
perate battle between organized wealth
and unorganized citizens is being
fought to a finish. which in the cen
turtles that are to. come will finally
and definitely determine whether the
policies of our national government
and the destinies of this republic shall
be shaped and controlled in the in
terest and for the benefit of property
or of men.
Dangers of Concentrated Wealth.
The best Judgment of the ablest men
throughout the country Is that a con-
tinuation of the movement to con-
centrate In the hands of a compare
lively small number of men the power.
to control the financial, Industrial and
commercial interests of this republic,
Will eventually make the destiny and
future of the nation dependent upon
the avarice and greed of trusts mo-
nopolieS and combinations.
If trusts and private monopolies
nnally secure permanent foothOld in
our land, not only will they have power
TO levy tribute, limited only by their
selnshness and greed, upon the earn
lngs OF the people, but the sources of
all opportunities for young men to en-
gage independently in business for
themselves will be more and more
restricted IS time passes until we shall
eventually become a nation of en-
pfoyees with limited chances for the
natural development and usefulness of
persons of extraordinary industry and
talent
A member of the firm of J. P. Nor
gan Co. recently retired from that firm
Tor the purpose of securing more gem
erous and humane treatment for the
army of employees and persons depend
emit upon great industrial corporations
Tor support. Other great industrial cap
talns have stated to me their growing
sense of personal responsibility for the
Improvement social and financial, of
the vast numbers of employees depend
ent upon them.
Taking the most generous view of
this movement toward private rmonopo-
lies, OF the broadcast minds in it, it is a
benevolent feudalism, rather than a
nation of self-reliant free men, guar
anteed by their government equal OBJ
portunity in life.
What man of normal mind and heart
cares to See the gateway of equal op-
portunlty for his sons and daughters to
participate in the free commerce and
industry of the nation closed by these
commercial giants?
Early History of State.
The early history, sacred memories
ana traditions of Kansas all conspire
10 place US in the front rank of the
pattle Tor preferential rights of men as
tSalIlsl the rights of property to dom
mate and control the politics and no1i
c1es OF the nation. We have a right to
take a pardonable pride in the fact that
the commonwealth of Kansas stands at
the mead of the column in the advance
guard OF one of the greatest political
rights of the average man to a fair
snare OF the rewards of his own labor
ana equal opportunities with every 9TH
er man, in so far as the law and the
government are concerned.
Earnest, patriotic men. regardless of
party affiliations, who are Struggling
70 re-establsh government by, of and
Tor the people in their respective states
north and south. east and west, have
assured me recently that they have re-
and hope from the progressive move
ment In Kansas. New York, Massa-
chusetts' Ohio, and more than score
OF oloer states, are now making des-
perate effortS to do what Kansas has
already done, and we have only started
the real work of establishing an eff
Client state government that will bring
penefcial, tangible results in large earn
ing power OF men and property and a
more equitable distribution among all
the people Of those earnings
The Test of State Government.
The sole test of state government is
not what 1t costs, but whether every
dollar expended has been honestly and
lntelligentlyNu used for public benefit. The
ablest hnanciers borrow large sums of
money to invest in business that will
yield large returns on the investment.
An investment by the state of perhaps
$4,000 In hog cholera serum plant
viii save the state perhaps a million
dollars year in loss of hogs. The in
vestment of small sum of money in
the department of economies of the
state university and the State Agricul- |
tural college, to be used in scientific |
and commercial problems, especially
the question of transportation of farm |
products to market and the transporta-
ton back from the point where they are
produced of products that we consume |
in Kansas, would be worth many times
over the cost to the state of such SER |
vice.
We must not stop with the progress |
that has been made; we must continue
the, good work we have begun; we can
not safely take a backward step. The
foundations we have laid in these prai- |
ries for government based upon in
telligent Popular rule must be safe /
guarded with eternal and unceasing |
vigilance. People may talk as they
please about vested rights and inter |
eStS.. but the fact remains that the neo-
pie OF the state-the men and womenl
who give freely of their industry, mon |
ey and intelligence to make it great
must forever remain the sole and DOM |
inant power. if sound material prosper |
ity, is to continue and genuine liberty |
is to endure within our borders
Although as a state We have half a |
century of r,oIiticaJ existence behind rs