The weekly Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1911-1922, 1912-02-29


by the principle of the square deal;
the opposition which l personally
have encountered from big business
has in every case arisen not because
I did not give a square deal but be-
cause did.
Proper Governmental Control.
All business into which the element
Of monopoly in any way or degree en-
tiers. and where it proyes In practice
impossible totally to eliminate this ele-
ment of monopoly, should be carefully
supervised, regulated and controlled
by governmental authority; and such
control should be exercised by admin
istrative. rather than by judicial, off,
GERS. No effort should be rlade to de-
stroy a big corporation merely be-
cause 1t Is big, merely because 1t has
shown itself peculiarly efficient
business instrument. But we should
not fear, IL necessary, to bring the
regulation of big corporations to the
point Of controlling conditions so that
the wage-worker shall have a wage
more than sufficient to cover the bare
cost of living, and hours of labor not
so excessive as to wreck his strength
by the strain of unending toll and
leave him unfit to do his duty as a
good citizen of the community Where
regulation by competition (which is,
of course, preferably proves INSULT
cient, we should not shrink from
bringing governmental regulation to
the point Of control Of mOlopOl7 prices
if it should ever become necessary to
do so, just as in exec nal cases
railway rates are now 20 llated
We grudge no man tune which
represents his own power and sagacity
exercised with entire regard to the
welfare of his fellows. We have only
praise for the business man whose
business success comes as an Incl
dent to doing good work for his fell
lows. But We should so shape condi-
lions that fortune shall be obtained
only in honorable fashion, in such
fashion that it's gaining represents
benefit to the community.
In a word, then, our fundamental
purpose must be to secure genuine
equality of opportunity. No man
should receive a dollar unless that dol
lar has been fairly earned. Every dol
lar received should represent 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 over
capitalization.
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
regulate its business use as the public
welfare requires.
We also maintain that the nation
and the several states have the right
to regulate the terms and conditions
of labor, which is the chief element OF
wealth, directly In the interest of the
common good You. trainers of this
constitution, be careful so to frame IL
that under it the people shall leave
themselves free to do whatever il
necessary in order to help the farmers
of the state to get for themselves and
their wives and children not only the
benefits of better farming but also
those OF better business methods and
better conditions os life on the farm.
Moreover. shape your constitutional
action so that the people will be able
through their legislative bodies, or,
failing that. by direct popular vote. to
provide 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 hygienic
or unsafe conditions.