The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1912-02-22

ter Among the states that have er
tered this field Wisconsin has taken
leading place. Following Senator Il
Toilette, number of practical work
ers and thinkers in Wisconsin hav
turned that state into an experiment
al laboratory of wise governmental &C
ton in aid o: social and Industrial Jus
tice. They have initiated the kind o
progressive government which mean
not merely the preservation OF tru'
democracy, but the extension OF TIL
principle of true democracy into in
dustrialism as well as into politics
One prime reason why the state ha'
been SO successful in this policy lie!
in the fact that it has done justice t.
corporations precisely as it has ex
acted justice from them. NO
only as a matter of justice, but in oul
own interest, We should scrupulousl,
respect the rights of honest and de
cent business and should encourage II
where its activities make. as they
often do make, for the common good
1t is for the advantage of all OF us
when business prospers. Our demand
is that big business give the people
square deal and that the people give
a square deal 10 any man engaged In
big business who honestly endeavors
10 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 in
reference with the rights Of others
which has raised prices or limited
OUTPUT in improper fashion and been
guilty of demoralizing and corrupt
practices, should not only be broken
up, but 1t should be made the bust
ness of some competent governmental
body by constant supervision to see
that it does not come together again
save under such strict control as to
insure the community against all dan
ger Of repetition of the bad conduct
The chief trouble with big business
has arisen from the fact that bis
business has so often refused to abide
by the principle of the square deal;
the opposition which personally
have encountered from big business
has in every case arisen not because
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 proves in practice
totally to eliminate this ele-
ment of monopoly, should be carefully
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 made to de-
stroy a big corporation merely be-
cause it is big, merely because 1t has
shown Itself peculiarly efficient
business instrument. But We should
not fear, if 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. preferable) proves insuffi.
cient, we should not shrink from
bringing governmental regulation to
the point of control of monopoly prices
if it should ever become necessary TO
do so, Just as in exceptional cases
railway rates are now regulated.
We grudge no man a fortune which
represents his own power and sagacity
exercised with entire regard 10 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-
tons that fortune shall be obtained
only in honorable fashion, in such
fashion that its gaining represents
benefit 10 the community.
In a word. then, our fundamental
purpose must be to secure genuine
equality of opportunity No man
should receive dollar unless that dol.
lar has been fairly earned. Every dol,
lar 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 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 1,
that under it the people shall leave
themselves free to do whatever ia
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 of life on the farm