The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1912-02-22
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A CHARTER OF ..:.=..= -. :.
DEMOCRACY
Continued from page 2)

other words, our demand Is that big
business give the people Il square deal
and that the people give Il square deal
to any man engaged in big business
who honestly endeavors to do what is
right and proper.
On the other hand. any corporation,
big or little, which has gained its po-
sition by unfair methods and by inter
ference with the rights of others.
which has raised prices or limited out
put in Improper fashion and has been
guilty Of demoralizing and corrupt
practices. should not only be broken
up, but it should be made the business
Of some competent governmental body
by constant supervision to see that it
der such strict control as to insure the
community against all danger Of a rep
etition of the bad conduct.
Control Should 1e Administrative.
All business into which the element
Of monopoly in any way or degree en-
tiers and where it proves in practice
impossible totally to eliminate this ele-
ment Of monopoly should be carefully
supervised. regulated and controlled by
governmental authority, and such con-
troll should be exercised by. administra-
tive rather than by judicial officers.
In emphasizing the part Of the ad-
ministrative department in regulating
combinations and checking absolute
monopoly do not of course, overlook
the obvious fact that the legislature
and the Judiciary must do their part.
The legislature should make it more
clear exactly what methods are illegal,
and then the judiciary will be in
better position to punish adequately
and relentlessly those who insist on
defying the clear legislative DEGREES
L do not believe any absolute private
monopoly is justified, but if our great
combinations are properly supervised,
- that immoral practices are prevent
"A, absolute monopoly will not come
10 pass, as the laws of competition
and efficiency are against 1t.
The important thing is this-that
1nder such government recognition as
we may give to that which Is benef-
kent and wholesome in large busi-
ness organizations we shall be most
vigilant never to allow them to crys-
tallize into Il condition which shall
make private initiative difficult. 1t is
Of the utmost Importance that In the
future we shall keep the broad path Of
opportunity just as open and easy for
our children as it was for our fathers
during the period which has been the
glory Of Americas industrial history.
In a word. then, our fundamental
purpose must be to secure genuine
equality of opportunity. No man
should receive dollar unless that
dollar has been fairly earned. Every
dollar received should represent a dol
lars worth Of service rendered. No
watering of stocks should be permit
ted, and it can be prevented only by
close governmental supervision Of all
stock issues so as to prevent overcAp-
ltalizatiOn.
We stand for the rights OF property,
but we stand even more for the rights
Of man. We will protect the rights Of
the wealthy man. but We maintain
that he holds his wealth subject to the
general right Of the community to reg
ulate it's business Use as the public
welfare requires.
Welfare Of Labor.
We also maintain that the nation
and the several states have the right
to regulate the terms and conditions
Of labor. which is tho chief element
Of wealth, directly in the interest Of
the common good. 1t is our prime
duty to shape the Industrial and social
forces so that they may tell for the
material and moral upbuilding Of the
farmer and the wageworker, just as
they should do in the case of the busi-
ness man. You, trainers of this con-
stitution. he careful so to frame it that
under it The people shall leave them
selves free to do whatever is necessary
in order to help the farmers of the
state to get for themselves and their
wives and children not only the bene-
Ats Of better farming, but also those
OF better business methods and better
conditions Of life on the farm.
Moreover. shape your constitutional
action so that the people will be able
through their legislative bodies or, fail
ing that. by direct popular vote to pro-
vide workmen's compensation acts, to
regulate the hours of labor for chill
dren and for women. to provide for
their safety while at work and to pre-
vent overwork or work under unhy-
gienic or unsafe conditions. See to It
that no restrictions are placed upon
legislative powers that will prevent the
enactment Of laws under which your
people can promote the general well
fare, the common good. - ',.>'
So much for the ends of govern.
ment, and have, Of course, merely
sketched in outline what the ends
should be. Now for the machinery by
which these ends are to be achieved,
and here again remember only sketch
In outline and do not for a moment
pretend to work out in detail the meth
DDS Of achieving your purposes. Let
me at the outset urge upon you to re-