The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1912-04-04

tAAoSiJ IL SjltllSICu gull
MAY We profit by the experience
of our brother republicans across the
water, and go forward steadily, avoid
ing all lid extremes; and may our
ultraconservatives remember that
the rule Of the Bourbon brought
on the revolutions; and may our
would-be revoluttonaires remember
that no Bourbon was ever such a
dangerous enemy of the people and
of freedom as the %professed friend
of both, Robespierre.
There is no danger of a revolu-
ton in this country; but there is
grave discomfort and unrest, and in
order to remove them there is need
of all the wisdom and probity and
deep-seated faith in and purpose to
uplift humanity, we have at our
command"
None can dispute the accuracy of
this criticism of the French people.
or curse the French have had pee
uliar difficulties to meet, because
the volatile nature of that people
easily throws them from extreme to
extreme. On the other hand, the
American people have been compar-
aratively slow to act. Really they are
the most conservative people to be
found in any republic. But that fact
does not remoye the dangers to be
found in IN attitude of impassivity
toward really seriou s situations.
Lawlessness and greed cannot be al
lowed to unite without injustice to
body public. If great wealth is per-
mitted extra-legal power, there SOON
err or later be, a reckoning. even
with the most patient of people,
Therefore he is most conservative
who will say with Roosevelt that we
should avoid any unreasonable ex-
tremes.
However many people will agree
that this Is the end that should be
achieved and yet be unable to agree
upon the best leans of reaching it.
1t is gratifying, however, to find that
many OF US are actuated by the same
purpose, even If We are proceeding
by different routes.
@SIse<M
THE CASE AGAINST THE PACK
ERS.
Probably the most generous view
that will be taken by the public Of
the acquittal of the beef packers at
Chicago Is that the case was mot
proved" Many will hold to the view
that the case was decided the mo-
ment the jury was selected.
1t Is not an easy matter to prove
collisions between such powerful or
g%anizations as those of the packers.
They have the means and facilities
with which to act with great Sc
crecy. The jury's virtual declaration
that they have not %conspired to-
gether to fix prices, will not be gen
orally accepted by either the buying
or the selling public. Stock-growers
have failed to find retail COMPETE
ton in the buying of their herds
ana the consumer has not witnessed
the spectacle of one great packer
trying to take business away from
another. Furthermore, any attempt
to make the public believe that the
packers have not made big profits,
presumes a lack of intelligence on
the part of the public. Not only have
they succeeded in dominating the
meat business, but they have spread
out until now they constitute the
most powerful factor in the butter
and produce market. They would
hardly have expanded as they have
If they had been making nominal or
even smaller profits. They cannot
expect the public to take serious,
their Juggling Of their accounts.
But, waving the question of the
guilt of the packers in this case.
their organization and their wealth
a real menace to the con-
Stunning public. AS they have been