Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1912-02-24

This Is precisely the attitude we
should take toward big business 1t
is the practical application Of the prin.
ciple OF the square deal. Not only AZ
matter of justice, but In our own
Interest, we should scrupulously re-
spect the rights OF honest and decent
business and should encourage II
where its activities make, as they often
do make, for the common good In
other words, our demand is that biz
business give the people a square deal
and that the people give a square deal
TO any man engaged in big business
who honestly cndeavors to do what is
right and proper.
On the other hand. any corporation,
big or little, which has gained its pc
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 II should be made the business
Of some competent governmental body
by constant supervision to see that II
does not come together again, save un-
der such strict control as to insure the
community against all danger of rep
etition OF the bad conduct
Control Should Be 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 asministra-
tive rather than by judicial officers.
In emphasizing the part of the adj
ministrative department In regulating
combinations and checking absolute
monopoly / do not, OF course, overloo,
the obvious fact that the legislature
and the judiciary must do their part.
The legislature should make 1t more
clear exactly what methods are Illegal.
and then the judiciary will be in a
better position to punish adequately
and relentlessly those who insist on
defying the clear legislative DEGREES.
do not believe any absolute private
monopoly is justified, but II our great
combinations are properly supervised,
so that immoral practices are prevent
ed, absolute monopoly will not come
to pass, as the laws of competition
and efficiency are against It.
The important thing Is this-that
under such government recognition as
we may give to that which Is benef-
icent and wholesome In large bust
ness organizations we shall be most
vigilant never to allow them TO crys-
talIlze into 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 word, then, our fundamental
purpose must be to secure genuine
equality of opportunity. No man
should receive dollar unless that
dollar received should represent dol
lars worth of service rendered. No
watering of stocks should be permit
ted, and 1t can be prevented only by
close governmental supervision of all
stock issues so as to prevent overcap-
italizatlon.
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 tho
general right of the community to rec
ulate its 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 the 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 upbullding of the
farmer and the wageworker. just as
they should do In the case of the bust
ness man. You, trainers of this con-
stitutlon, be careful so to frame 1t that
under 1t 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-
! fits 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 viii 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 1t
that no restrictions are placed upon
legislative powers that will prevent the
i enactment OF laws under which youl'