Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1911-09-22
u|NDBfRGn'S ADDRESS
Gives Views to Fair Visit
ors--TaIk Well
Received

orS--Talk Well
Received
Congressman Lindberg delivered an
address on the big questions Of the
day, from the platform at Broadway
and Second street Friday afternoon to
a large crowd of fair visitors. His re.
marks were given the closest of atten-
tion and seemed to reach the popular
chord.
He said in part:
The difference in the living now
and what it was Is years ago Is very
great Many important inventions and
discoveries have been made and new
methods adopted that produce. with
tie assistance of a single operator,
from two to several hundred times in
excess over what one worker produced
q quarter century back.
Then the material natural resources
in government ownership were many
times greater than they are now. The
average ownership was then much less,
but now about 80 per cent Of all capital
Is controlled by less than 8, 900 persons
and concerns and more than 80, 900, 600
Of ,zs are from a material and indus
trial viewpoint, less independent.
The material and industrial increase
IN our national effectiveness has been
enormous, but the advantages are con.
trolled III such a way that the plain
producers and consumers are more de-
pendent.
Politically and intellectually we
should advance the same, but we have
not done so, because We have neglect.
ed our political opportunities to let the
politicians run politics without con.
sulting US except when they want our
votes. They have bartered our rights
by trading public Offices, by giving
special privileges and disposing Of the
natural resources. That is why pro-
gEessives are IN opposition to stand.
patteIs.
The progressive idea is the deter
minatiop of the people to prevent their
rights being further sacrificed and to
use all Wise means to reclaim their
lost advantages. Progressive politics
active fighting for the common
welfare by the people, in the con-
Adence cf each other.
The standppatters have had charge
Of public affairs the last Is years and
should explain why 1t is that under
their terms OF office there has been
such harmony among themselves ;
while the greater part of the nations
natural resources were turned over to
private interests they should explain
why it is that during their regime they
granted special privileges that we are
now bound to fight to relieve ourselves
OF, n with them opposing the re-
form they should explain why they
Jailed to execute the preventative pro-
visions OF the Sherman anti trust law,
thereby permitting the great trusts to
be formed, and now claiming that law
Will stop trusts. The trusts have
grown up while the standpatters had
charge of the government and since
she Sherman antitrust law was passed.
It is OF first administrative import
ance to pass laws for the initiative,
referendum and recall, for then the
people will control and they can then
provide tor the remedies. The recall
would seldom be exercised but the
power to recall is just as inherent to
the people in the administration of
governments as the right of an indi-
vidual in the control OF his personal
affairs, is to discharge a person in
his employ. who dues not perfolm the
duties of his employment.
First in economic importance is the
impending, irrepressible and on
stantly intensified conflict manifested
Between organized labor and organized
capital by frequent strikes and lock.
outs, and the ever increasing difficulty
Of securing permanent employment at
a living wage. The courts, by the re-
cent Sanborn decision and others of
like character, have given to Gen.
sralized capital a decree of privilege to
a certain profit, which, il maintained.
It a be computed to a certainty will
absorb, within a short period, the pro-
ducts OF all human energy. They have
beft to the plain citizens who have la
Dor only to give to society, merely the
hope OF law afforded by evolution, in
the severest competition, and threat.
sned by Injunction ii they organize to
enforce payment OF a wage measured
by the same law Of compensation for
sel vice as the court gives to capital.
Man n woman, endowed by the
creator with moral active being, re-
sponslble for any supporting all that is
or will be, are made servient Creatures
for exploitation by a few persons and
concerns who have so per cent Of the
capital This decree of superiority
oyer personal rights IS due to be cor.
rected by proper legislation.
Inc trusts must be met and dealt
with from constructive views. Thew
a!e with US to stay until we devise
ways and means to deal with the nro.
blems they create. The prosecution OF
the Northern Security, the Tobacco.
the Standard Oil and other trusts.
have not served any advantage in
iessening the cost of living. These
prosecutions served the trusts to great
advantage by directing the public at.
'entlon to the prosecution instead of