The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-12-26
SCHEMES Menace
TO THE REPUBLIC
Leader Underwood Declares
Initiative and Referen-
dunn Will Be Failures

New York. Dec. 26.-Two addresses,
one by Attorney General Wickersham.
who declared that the true natioralisrn
Is equality of opportunity to every
citizen, and the other by Representa-
tive Oscar W. Underwood, chairman
Of the ways and means committee OF
the house, on the dangers Of direct
democracy, were heard by members Of
the Catholic club and their guests at
their dinner last night. Mr.. Under
wood, In his speech, said:
"1f there are evils in our govern
inent as it exists today. 1t is not in its
organic form. It is due to the failure
Of those in Office to honestly. fairly and
Justly perform the duties imposed
upon them."~
He pointed to the failures Of direct
democracies and drew the contrast be.
tween them and the successes of q
To- the will of the majority. but check.
ed by the constitution from exercising
q brutal force which might DESTROY
the liberty and property rights of the
individual.
The proposal to abandon, in part
this scheme Of the revolutionary ia.
thers. with a tendency to place the
power of law making in the hands OF
all the people would place constitu.
tional guarantees of individual libert,
snossrvient ~. ., to the Yill Of the major
said:
"You tell me the people cannot cleo
honest and faithful servants. I tel
you that the masses Of the pennle are
far better Judges of men than the,
are Of measures, and are far more
likely to select All honest man thar
an honest measure.
When YOU say that the voter can.
not select public official Who will re.
tiect the will of the people in his of.
flee, and be faithful to the constitu.
ton Of his country. I say you ref1ec,
IN the very first principle of free gov.
ernment and mistudge the honest,
and t'c intelligence of the American
people,"
Equality Of Opportunity.
Attorney General Wickershan's sub.
tect was THE Equality of Opportun.
None"
The enforcement cf the law agains:
unlawful restraint of trade and mon
opol:es is attended with much outcry
pE those who have too long enjoyed
unfair advantages over their competi
! tors, the end Of which they now see,
declared the attorney general. "But
De not deceived by their clamor;
neither the law nor the enforcement
of the law is directed against lcgitl.
mate husfne. enterprise. hut to what
William Penn denominated the grea,
end of all government, viz, to support
power and reverence with the people
and to secure the people from the
abuse of power"
| There IS but one power under OH,
system OF government which is ade.
quate to protect the individual either
from the unfair competition of great
corporate form and authority to en-.
gage In business on huge scale THAI
is the power vested in the federal gov.
ernment by the legislation of the
United States to regulate commerce
among the states and with foreign
nations. and to secure to all citizen.
alike equality OF opportunity and free
dom from interference by individuals
or states in the conduct Of that com.
merce. which must be free in order
that 1t may be successful.
| Freedom Of trade and commerce
does not mean fl edom to destroy
competitors by unfair methods. dc
not mean for one moment to mini.
mize the tremendous advantage to the
country OF cooperative effort. whether
It be in matters Of religion. or phil
anthropy. or business, but when CO.
operative associations, in whatever
form. become so extensive and SO
powerful as to secure to their mem
bers mower which Is or may at will
be used to destroy the right Of the
individual citizen to engage in trade
and commerce on the same terms az
every other citizen. then II is the duty
of the government to lay restraining
hand upon that organization and say
thus far shalt thou 60. and no fur
ther.'"