The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-04-25
Not Captains Of Industry, but
the Masses Of the People.
DECLARES WOODROW WILSON.
Business, Politics and Wealth Of tho
Country Como Up, Not Down, lie
says-AII tho People Do Not Believe
In Democratic Government.
By WOODROW WILSON.

oy "OO0nO" "IAoON'
What fills me with confidence in the
future is that the world is not waiting
upon the stupidity Of politics. The
world has an awkward way Of taking
things into it's own hands. The life Of
the people must in the long run eX-
press itself in its politics, and it does
not now express itself in this country
in the politics we have been accustomr
ed to in the last decade.
There are two or three theories of
government in this country. Don't de-
ceive yourself by supposing all the
people believe in democratic govern
ment, because they do not. You have
only to listen to the utterances of
very distinguished Republican speak
ers to see that they do not believe and
do not pretend to believe in represent
alive government. They will tell you
they do not believe the judgment Of
the people can be trusted. And are
you going to take counsel from these
gentlemen as to the preservation Of
our representative Institutions when
they don't want them to represent the
great body Of the people?
Prefers Judgment Of Rank and File.
don't know whether l was born SO
or learned so or what happened to me-
but know this. that the deepest con-
viction l have, arising out Of observa-
ton and experience is this, that /
would rather take the judgment Of the
rank and file than the judgment Of the
men who have become absorbed and
successful leaders in great undertak-
ings.
this query: What sustains business in
the United States? What is it that
makes the United States prosperous?
Is it that we have great captains of
industry? What would they do with
out the cunning and skill, the muscle
and che indomitable aspiring hope Of
the American people? If these people
were to find hope dying out of their
hearts they would become dumb driv.
en- beasts, and your enterprises would
fail for lack of the very breath that
sustains them.
If you want to find whether ma.
ton is prosperous ask the men who
are on the make what they hope and
what they fear. Go to the country
districts and ask anxious fathers who
are looking for openings for their sons.
where they expect to get them in,
where they find doors open and where
they find doors shut Go through the
places where men are making earn.
ings and see whether they dread or
confidently look forward to the future.
and then you will find whether Ameri'
ca is waxing or waning, for If these
men are confident, full Of hope; If they
know they are going to get fair treat.
ment wherever they 60, then America
can conquer the world Of enterprise in
their hope.
But If you find what you do find
men everywhere asking themselves
whether the doors Of opportunity have
not been locked In their faces-then
you will have to take new reckoning
as to the future of America.
II only those who are chosen at the
top have the right Of way in, what
going to happen to America? Did 70
ever hear of nation that was renew
ed from the top? Did you ever hear
of a nation that was not made vfri'
that did not account for it's youth b"
renewal from the bottom? Did you
ever hear Of a tree that drew its sap
from it's flowers? Does it not draw 1t
from the dark and silent places Of the
soil2 Does not nation draw its pow
er Of renewal and enterprise and all
its future from the ranks of the great
body of unnamed menu
Friend Of American Business.
If you are going to discourage these
men. If you are going to put the chill
of fear in their hearts. then American
captains Of industry can whistle for
their future. and they will whistle in
q wilderness.
am the friend Of American bust
ness because know where its founda-
lions are laid and where they are
weak. These foundations are solid