Imperial Valley press., 1912-10-21

Frank Heney took off his coat and went to work.
And found out about some of those judges-and
I'd appointed part of them myself-found what
considerations governed their decisions"
Here Mr. Roosevelt whirled in his chair, clicked
his teeth and let into his voice that strident note
which comes when he is dead in
why he said, Il got my first taste of that
long when 1 trying regulate that
tenement house tobacco business in the legis
lature. The higher declared our bill un-
constitutional because it violated the sancity of
the home. There they were, families and
lodger living and working in dark, foot
room, and women crowded together, leaf
tobacco packed under the beds where their children
slept, sanitary arrangements, filth heaped in
the corners, disease flies and misery everywhere
but mustn't do anything to ameorate their
condition-couldnt do anything-for fear of vo-
latng the sanctity of homes like these! AS
absorbed the other articles of the Progressive
platform, took up with other fellows idea
in which, perhaps, l hadn't much at first
The initiative and referendum the popular election
of senators, and woman suffrage for example.
Understand, 1 always in favor of woman
suffrage matter of ultimate social justice,
but didn't regard it important. 1t such
women Frances Keor and Jane Adams who
showed me that working girls need it for their
protection. The review of judicial decisions came
in different When met that land situa-
ton, I said that should have some method of
crticizing our judges. Then 1 went the whole
route, and the review of judicial decisions was my
contribution to the Progressive program"
And free competition versus monopoly"
1t here that Mr.. Roosevelt abandoned the
get at the subject which he had been burning TO
| approach all the afternoon-the issues of the
paign.
"Understand" he said I'm not for monopoly
when we can help it. We intend to restore COM
petition; we intend to do away with the conditions
that make for monopoly. But there certain
monopolies which you can't prevent. 1 understand
the steel trust is not an absolute monopoly But
If it were, what would be the of splitting
the steel trust into three companies controlled
by Morgan, Carnegie and Rockefeller, say? Would
,aJior
the prices lower to the consumer, the higher
worker. Don't you suppose those
fellows would agree on prices and methods unof
fcially? Here's of examples of free
competition. l saw a while ago the plant of
competitor of the steel trust. The wages
lower than those of the trust, the hours
longer, the conditions in every way worse-it is
one of the concerns upon which the Survey came
aown the hardest. How would it help if should
restore such competition that? The Standard
Oil company has been officially broken up. The
result is higher prices for the public and just
as big dividends for the ockholders-unionism
barred--no advance for the workers.
"The truth is, in this discussion they're losing
sight of the main thing-men and women. We're
for Free competition and monOpoly-they're
all the same thing unless you improve the condition
of the workers.
my plan pretty well laid out before left
| the White House. Put them under a strong federal
commission. Make them open up their books.
Where find violations of the spirit or the
letter OF the law, apply such laws we have
and where have none, make others to meet
the conditions. In case Of persistent violations
o laws protect the workers and the consumers.
appoint "a receiver. Why not? There's nothing
revolutionary in it. The interstate commerce com
mission has almost much power, and
| exactly in the banking department. Run
| hem as we do the banks Demand the right 10
know what they're doing; if they're doing wrong,
| hit them; if they continue to do wrong, clap re-
ceiverShip them, keep il until they're
Strengthened out and restore them here Mr.
| Roosevelts voice the strident note-"re-
store them a chastened ownership-fne, growing
concerns. but going in the right direction.
"Do you know Of the impressions | got in
| those years fighting in the White House? It
was a contempt the merely rich Not
contempt for wealth, but the aims and uses of
wealth things have in worst period
The tremendous c0rrupting of wealth in our
affairs>-tha the thing which struck most
! What patriotism, what spiritual end is there IN
most merely rich men? In of do you
suppose they would send their sons? Do they feel
| any obligation except their own fortunes? If
| they do something with it, that's different. when
/ | heard of George Perkins, making millions in
Wall street, helping control the financial situation
4 he meant nothing When found he
anxious to do such work as for instance, getting
I Palisade park there for the people then
/ became interested in him.
"And that" concluded Roosevelt, his
secretary laid down before him that sheaf cf
! kilograms which pour in night and day upon
a national candidate "is what were after. Break
/ the shameful abuses of wealth. Restore his
ward to who works. Back of all this
/ talk about monopoly and competition is the ques
ton. What you going to do for the women
and men?'"