Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-01-19

speech delivered here last night be-
lore the Grant Club. virtually opened
his campaign for the republican nomi-
nation for governor. In opening his
speech he emphasized the fact that the
people OF Iowa will be confronted with
great national issues, as well as state
issues. in the coming campaign. The
address. nearly in full. follows:
1t is already quite generally known
oy the people of the state that l am
a candidate for the office of governor.
The primary election is vet almost six
months away, but it is perfectly right
and proper that the republicans Of
me state. at whose hands ask the
honor OF being named as their candi-
oete, should know who the candidates
Tor nomination are to be. what their
attitude toward the public questions
IS and as to what their conception Of
public office and public duty is. After
the candidate is selected he must go
TO the people as whole in an election
involving both state and national is
sues unless. perchance the republic
cans of Iowa want to conduct their
campaign in presidential year upon
local questions only. upon which I ap-
pretended, however. no distinctive is
sue could arise before the primary and
possibly upon only one or two cues
tons after. Notwithstandins it has
been suggested in this city that the
campaign this presidential wear. so far
as state officers are concerned, should
be on purely local issues Vet / am
not OF the opinion, important and nee
essary as they are to the we'll being
Of the people of the state, that the In
telligent citizenship of Iowa. that has
done SO much in years gone by to
shape the public policy of this nation
and whose public men for many years
have brought TO Iowa great distinc-
ton. is now going TO ahdicate its proud
station among the states, even so far
as the influence of state elections is
concerned and leave to the other COM
nonwealtmS the solution of the real
economic problems that now confront
US and tina. will constantly arise as
our population increases and our civ
ilization becomes more and more COM
pick.
II was but a little while ago that
those who now insist upon the local
issue campaign were demanding a
leadership in national politics IN the
governors office IN Iowa so masterful
and dominant that it could be seen
and felt thruout the nation. Agrees
sive. forceful. fighting blood was de-
manded that would put Iowa far ir
the lead of the procession of states and
make all others glad II they could only
now and then catch glimpse of her
standard far in advance. What has
happened l shall not undertake to say
do not minimize in the least the i'm
portance of a campaign in behalf Of
any measure pro1notive of better con-
ditions in any direction in this state.
or that will improve our laws or make
more workab BILE, equitable or efficient,
present methods. On the other hand I
welcome such a campaign 1 invite it.
am eager for 1t.
Favors Top Notch Of Efficiency.
I am with every man who wants to
bring Iowa TO the topnotch of ef-
fciency in government under as wise
and just laws as civilized states have
Yet evolved. While this is true think
it is unwise and unworthy of us as a
state not 10 contribute what we can
TO sound public thought and sane ac-
ton with reference to national ques-
tions that touch us and affect our life
and business as a people.
One Problem Of American Life.
1t is true, however, that in the
whirlwind rush of the last forty years,
While electricity was reaching every
where to bring the customer to the
door of the manufacturer and the great
merchant and banker OF the cities, and
transportation was greatly increasing
the facilities for distribution and we
were engaged in appropriating our
great domain of land and scooping up
our great natural wealth of soil and
forest and mine practically without
restraint or restriction upon anybody
anywhere or under any circumstances,
train of abuses and wrongs and I'M
economic conditions and practices nat
urally and inevitably sprang up. Now
that our public domain is practically
gone, that our population is increas-
ing, probably, 100000 per year, that
consumption is about to overtake the
producer, we find ourselves entering
upon new age, if you please, and con-
fronted with the necessity of adjust
ing ourselves and business to the new
order OF things.
l do not think that combinations Of
capital are necessarily and inherently
wrong and dangerous. On the contrary
they are absolutely essential to mod
ern business life in which commerce
and industry. in any large sense, has
become corporate and no longer indf-
vfdual. They may prevent great waste.
they may cheaper production and dis
tribution and reduce prices and so long
| as they do not attempt monopoly. tc
| restrict trade, to control prices, they
! are not hurtful and to the end tina,
they do not do any of these things they
should be under the strict regulation
and control of the law.
| l am utterly opposed to business
controlling the government, eithe,
state or national, and am decidedly in
sistent that government shall contro
and regulate corporate business.
am opposed to corporate interests
writing our tariff laws because If the,
Go, until human nature is reconstruct.
ed or we become imbued with the
spirit Of altruism that does not seem tc
possess US now. they will be protected
beyond what is fair and just an6
beyond what is necessary to preserve
to the American producer the Ameri.
can market.
Square Deal vs.. the Class Spirit.
! am not unmindful of the fact that
the men engaged in these great indus