The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-18
used to the detriment of the commun-
standpatters Are Played.


above them that revolution impends If
we strike at even the most obvious
injustice. They are taught to believe
that change means destruction. They
are wrong. The men who temperate
~ and with self-restraint but with
unflinching resolution and efficiency,
strike at injustice, right grievous
wrong, and drive entrenched privilege
from it's sanctuary, are the men who
prevent revolutions. Life means
change; where there is no change,
death comes. We who fight sanely
for the rights of the people, for in
dustrial justice and social reform. are
also fighting for material well being;
Tor Justice is the handmaiden of PROS
perity; and without justice there can
be no lasting prosperity. We pledge
ourselves not only to strive for pros
perity, but to bring it about; for it
can only come on a basis of fair
treatment for all; and on such basis
it shall come, if the people entrust
power to u.s.
was we'll aware of the intense bitter
ness which my re-entry into politics
would cause. 1 knew that the pow
ers that prey would oppose me with
tenfold the bitterness they would
show in opposing any other progress
sive candidate, simply because they
do not fear any other progressive can
didate, whereas they very greatly fear
me. 1 knew also that they would
directly or indirectly influence very
many men who pride themselves upon
belonging to and indeed typifying
what they regard as the educated and
respectable classes. But it has been
to me matter of melancholy con-
Germ to see the effect that these in
fluences have produced upon so many
men in the northeast, and in cities
like New York, Boston and Philadel-
phia, who lead lives that are on the
whole rather pleasant, rather soft,
and who are free from all possibility
of the pressure of actual want. Tt
has been a matter of concern to me
to see how bitter and irrational has
been the opposition to US among a
very large proportion of these men,
the men who are to be found in the
most noted clubs, in the centers of big
business, and in the places especially
to by those whose chief de-
sires are for ease and pleasure.
Corporation Men Wanted.
I'VE have with US a small percent
age of the heads of great corpora
tons and of great corporation law
yers, including, I believe, almost every
man of either class sufficiently high
and far sighted to see that in
the long run privilege spells destruc-
ton, not only to the class harmed by
it, but the class possessing it. We well
come the presence of these men.
Every honest man, whatever his for
tune, should be our ally. The great
majority of capitalists, however, and
of the big corporation lawyers SO in
connected with them, are
naturally hostile to US. Their hostil-
lty did not surprise me. The men
who are most benefited by privilege
unless they are exceptionally disin-
and far sighted, can not be
expected to feel friendly towards
~
ISOLATED with them are many men
whose selfish interest in privilege is
far less obvious
II genuinely regret that we have had
for whom life has been easy, who belong
to or are intimately associated with the
lelsured and moneyed classes: SO small a
proportion or the class which furnishes
the bulk of the membership in the larger
social business and professional clubs
and which supplies the majority of the
heads of our great educational institutions
and OF the men generally who take the
cad in unfolding the cause of virtue when
only the minor moralities and the ele-
ganceS of life are at issue. My concern
and regret over their action are not pri-
marily for our sakes, for the sake of the
people. My concern and regret are pri-
marily for these men themselves. They
could do us good by joining with US, for
it is earnestly to be wished that this
NOV ement for social justice shall number
among it's leaders at least a goodly pro-
portion of men whose leadership is
obviously disinterested, who will them
selves receive no material benefit from
the changes which as a matter of justice
they advocate. Yet the good to the peo-
pie would be small compared to the good
which these men would do to their own
class by casting in their lot with us as
we battle for the rights of humanity, as
we battle for social and industrial justice
as we champion the cause of those who
most need champions and for whom
champions have been too few. have been
puzzled at the attitude of the mel in
question.
Fear Guides Them.
They are often men who in the past
nave been very severe in their condem-
nation of corruption, in their condemna-
ton OF bosSiSm, and in railing at Injustice
and demanding higher ideals of public
service and private life. Yet, when the
Su :, test comes, they prove false to
an their professions of the past. They
tear the people SO intensely that they
pardon and uphold every species of poIiti-
al and business crookedness in the panic
struck hope of strengthening the boss and
special privilege and therebv raisin@ a
powerful shield to protect their own soft
personalities from the public
Ihey are foolish creatures; the people |
would never harm them; vet thew still
Tread the people. They stand with SER
Tile acquiescence behind the worst renre-
entatiVes OF crooked business and crook
d politics in the country and by speech /
n by silence they now, encoura sc or con-
lone the efforts of our. opponents to steaJ |
rom the people the victory they have |
von and to substitute boss rule for pop
liar rule. Some of these men have in ffe |
'ast assumed to be teachers of their |
elbow men in political matters. Never |
gain can they speak in favor of a high
deal of honesty and decency in political |
lie, or OF the duty to oppose political cor |
upton and business wrongdoing for to |
10 so would expose them to the derision
4 all who abhor hyprocisy and who con-
emn line words that are not translated (
nto honorable deeds.
Apparently these men are influenced
y a class consciousness which / had nor
opposed existed In any such strength !
hey live softly. Circumstances for
Thich they are not responsible have re-
1oved their lives from the fears and
nxlet1es of the ordinary men who toll.
When movement is undertaken TO make
fe little easier. little better, for TIE
L.. H. /