Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1912-02-22


what governmental action they deem
just and proper. Constitu'
tion-makers should make II clear be-
yond shadow Of doubt that the people
in their legislative capacity have the
power to enact into law any measure
they deem necessary. for the. better
ment Of social and industrial condi-
tions. The wisdom of framing any
particular law OF this kind is a proper
subject OF debate; but the power OF
the people to enact the law should not
be subject TO debate. To hold the
contrary view is to be false to the
cause OF the people. to the cause OF
American democracy.
Aim Of Good Government.
The ends of good govern
ment in our democracy are to secure
by genuine popular rule a high aver
age OF moral and material well-being
among our citizens. II has been well
said that In the past we have PAD
attention only to the accumulation OF
prosperity. and that from henceiortn
we must pay equal attention 70 the
proper distribution OF prosperity. THIS
Is true. The only prosperity worth
having Is that which Affects the mass
Of the people. hold It to be our
duty to see that the wage-worker' tne
small producer, the ordinary consum-
er, shall get their fair share OF the
benefit of business prosperity. But II
either Is or ought to be evident 10
every one that business has to pros
per before anybody can get any Dene-
At from 1t. Therefore hold that ne
Is the real progressive, that he 10 the
genuine champion Of the people, VINO
endeavors to shape the policy alike VI
the nation and of the several STATES
80 as 10 encourage legitimate ano
honest business at the same time tnat
he wars against all crookedneas anu
Injustice and unfairness and tyranny
in the business world flor OF course
we can only get business put on
basis OF permanent prosperity wnen
the element of injustice Ii taken out
Of IT, This is the reason why nave
for 80 many years insisted, as REGARDS
our national government, that 1t Is
both futile and mischievous to en-
deavor to correct the evils Of big bus
mess by an attempt to restore Dusi-
ness conditions as they were In the
middle Of the last century, before rail-
ways and telegraphs had rendered
larger business organizations both In
evitable and desirable.
What is needed is, first, the recog-
milton that modern business conditions
have come to stay, in SO far at least
as these conditions mean that business
must be done in larger units, and then
the cool-headed and resolute deter
mination to introduce an effective
method Of regulating big corporations
80 as to help legitimate business az an
incident to thoroughly and completely
safeguarding the interests Of the peo-
pie as a whole. We are a business
people. The tillers of the soil, the
wage workers, the business men
these are the three big and vitality i'm
portant divisions Of our population
The welfare of each division Is vitality
necessary to the welfare Of the people
as a whole. The great mass Of busi-
ness is either small or Of moderate
size. The middle-sized business men
form an element Of strength which is
Of literally incalculable value to the
nation. Taken as class, they are
among our best citizens. They have
not been seekers after enormous for
tunes; they have been moderately and
Justly prosperous, by reason OF dealing
fairly with their customers. competi-
tors, and employees The average bus
mess man OF this type Is. as rule, q
leading citizen of his community, fore
most In everything that tells for Its
betterment, man whom his neighbors
look up to and respect: he Is in no
sense dangerous to his community.
iuat because he Is an integral part OF
hIa community, bone of It's bone and
flesh of its flesh. His life fibers are
intertwined with the life flbers Of his
fellow citizens. Yet nowadays many
men of this kind. when they come to
make necessary trade agreements
with one another. find themselves In
danger Of becoming unwilling trans
Rressors of the law, and are at loss
10 know what the law forbids and
what It permits. This is all wrong
There should be fixed governmental
policy. a policy which shall clearly de-
fine and punish wrong-doing, and shall
give in advance full information to any
man as to Just what he can and Just
what be cannot legally and properly
do.
Control Of "slg Buslness."
So much for the small business man
and the middle-sized business man
Now for big business. 1t is impera
| tive 10 exercise sover big business a
control and supervision which is un'
necessary as regards small business
All business must be conducted under
the law, and all business men, big OF
little, must act justly. But a wicked
Il -.