Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-06-18

death comes. We who fight sanctity
for the rights of the people, for in
dustriaI justice and social reforms
are also fighting for material well-be-
ing; for justice is the hand-maiden OF
prosperity; and without justice there
can be no lasting prosperity. We
pledge ourselves not only TO strive
for prosperity but TO bring il about;
for it can only come on basis of fair
treatment for all; and on such a
basis it shall come, if the people en-
trust power TO US.
When l undertook this contest
was well aware OF the intense bitter
ness which my re-entry into politics
would cause. / knew that the pow
ers that prey would oppose me, with
ten-foli the bitterness they would
show in opposing any other progre $
sIve candidate, simply because they
do not fear any other progressive can
dldate, whereas they very greatly
fear me. l knew also that they would
directly or indirectly influence very
many men who pride themselves
upon belonging to and indeed typi-
I
ed and respectable classes. But it .
has been to me matter of melan-
choly concern to see the effect that I
these influences have produced upon
/ so many men in the northeast and in .
cities like New York, Boston and |
Philadelphia, who lead lives that are
( on the whole rather pleasant, rather 4
soft and who are free from all posi- |
bility of the pressure of actual want. |
T II has been a matter of concern to |
me to see how bitter and irrational
has been the opposition TO US among
a very large proportion of these men,
the men who are to be found in the
most noted clubs, in the Centers of
big business and in the places espe-
. cially resorted TO by those whose chief
desires are for ease and pleasure. We
have with us a small percentage of
the heads of great corporations and,
of great corporation lawyers. includ-
ing | believe almost every man of
either class sufficiently high minded
and far-sighted TO see that in the long
run privilege spells destruction, not
only TO the class harmed by ii but the
.
presence of these men. Every hon
est man whatever his fortune. should
be our ally. The great majority of
capitalists, however. and of the big
corporation lawyers so intimately con-
rected with them. are naturally hos
tile 70 us. Their hostility did not sur
prise me. The men who are most
benefited by privilege, unless they are
exceptionally disinterested and far
sighted cannot be expected to feel
friendly towards those who assail
privilege But associated with them
are many men whose selfish interest
in privilege is far less obvious 7
genuinely regret that we have had
with us so small a percentage of the
2 men for whom life has been easy,
2 who belong 70 or are intimately as
20 ISOLATED with the leisured and monied
[ classes: so small q proportion of the
class which furnishes the bulk Of the
! membership in the larger social bust
8 ness and profes sional clubs and which
supplies the majority OF the heads Of
q our great educational institutions end
e. Of the men generally, who take the
" 'etG IN NiNblOlIS the tdHSt bl virtue
when only the minor mOralities and
,. the eIegancies of life are at issue My
o concern and regret over their action
70 are not primarily for our sakes. for
@ the sake of the people NV concern
o and regret are primarily for these
Y men themselves They could do us
y good by joining with us, for il is ear
o nestly to be wished that this move
j ment for social justice shall number
Y among its leaders at least a goOdly
g proportion Of men whose leade-~
e is obviously disinterested who will
l. themselves receive no material bene.
q n from the changes which as a mat
Y ter Of justice they advocate. Yet the
p good 10 the people would be small
p compared 10 the good which these
y men would do to their own class by
IS casting in their lot with us as We bat
l. tie for the rights of humanity, as We
N battle for social and industrial jus
IS 'ice. as We champion the cause q
q, those who most need champions anC