The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-03-10
TAFT OPENS WESTERN CAMPAIGN
WITH A BUSY DAY N CHICAGO

courts in the construction of the stat
utes We're full of difficulty and doubt,
and needed time and the presentation
Of a number of cases and their con-
sideration before clarity could be af-
firmed in the construction of the
statute. The first step, and the most
Of the people to the nature offs the
crisis that they had to meet and the
obstacles that they had to overcome.
The term progressive therefore in
cludes all of those who have been
moved to efforts to reform by the
necessity for legislative and govern
mental action to deprive corporate
capital and undue vested privilege of
Its political power, and to bring about
proper popular and governmental con-
troll and regulation Of the use of
capital in legitimate avenues and for
legitimate purposes.
A Wide Field.
In addition to this there is another
wide field for progressive action that
have done much to encourage and de-
yelop. The government is framed for
the greatest good for the greatest
number and also for the greatest good
of the individual, and the problem pre-
sented is the balancing of these two
~, ,,n1, y,ot l.n4H
proceed. side by side. The futility OF
every socialistic scheme which de-
stroys the right of property for the up
lift of humanity is that it is impos-
sible to find sufficiently strong mo-
tive for labor or for saving. But
while we would not part with the right
of property and while possibly in GER
tain directions we might be willing to
modify the character of it's use where
il has turned out to be an abuse, as in
the case of the antitrust law, what
we are struggling for, what we all
recognize as the highest ideal in So
ciety, is equality of opportunity for
every man born into it. Again legis-
lation ought to be directed to remov-
| ing all the artificial restraints that
prevent this equality of opportunity.
Under present conditions OF popula-
ton and civilization there are many
functions that the government can
more effectually and more economical
/ " perform than private enterprise,
and in this way the individual among
the people may derive greater benefit.
| The statutory provision for the legis-
lative discharge of these functions by
the government is progressive.
stThe progressive movement has as.
sumed the character OF crusade and
many radical remedies were suggest
ed, the carrying out Of which would
only be less destructive than the
threatened fatal course of the disease.
| There were many who had long at.
tackled our institutions as the basis
of all injustice and inequality and
! their voice became louder and more
| distinct and was listened to with
greater favor than ever before in the
history of the country The growth OF
socialism in this country is note
worthy incident in showing the ex,
treme to which many would go in the
solution OF the problem which am
4 discussing.
! swsr~
Great Popularity.
"There We're MANY who were not
socialists but who saw in the present
structure of our government, and es
4 pecially in the checks and balances
intended by the trainers of our con
stitution to secure deliberation and
calm action on the part of the people
4 q real obstruction to the reforms thai
were deemed necessary in order tc
maintain the proper control of capita
and privilege by popular will and t
secure equality of opportunity. Pro
gressives of this stripe attained {
great popular support and were able
for time at least, to give the in,
preston that others who were equal
ly imbued with the necessity for re
form by legislative act and govern
mental action, but who thought
might come without destroying TIL
present structure OF our government
and without effecting the guarantee
of life, liberty and prosperity, wer
reactionary and unsympathetic wit
the cause of the people. The bitter
ness of the attacks which they mad
en- men in responsible positions. tn
lack of restraint that they manifest
ed in impeaching the motives of mer
u as high minded and as honest as an
Of them, we're only symptoms of
physical situation that must pass III
der the calming lapse OF time as tn
. public came to view the situatio
with a knowledge OF the facts an
with that common sense and spirit {
= fairness that ultimately always pr,
!, vailed among the American people.
1--WE all believe in popular govern
: rnent. The history of this country Ill
Ger the constitution under which W
have fought three foreign wars an
withstood the shock of the creates
civil war in history and have still r.