The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-01

monopolizing trusts and combinations,
The misfortunes of ordinary business,
men at their death, the chances of
speculation which undue good for
tune seems often to stimulate, operat-
ing as causes through a generation.
will do much to divide up such large
! fortunes. 1t is far better to wait the
causes than to attempt what would
soon take on the aspect of confisca-
ton or to abolish the principle and
institution of private property and to
change to socialism. Socialism in
wolves the taking away of the motive
for acquisition, saving. energy, and en-
terpr1Se, and a futile attempt by COM
mittees to apportion the rewards due
for productive labor. 1t means stag
nation and retrogression. 1t DESTROYS
the handspring of human action that
has carried the world on and upward
for 1000 years.
I do not say that the two gentlemen
who now lead, one the Democratic
publ1cans who have left their party
IN their attacks upon existing condi-
tons, and in their attempt to satisfy
the popular unrest by promises of
remedies, are consciously embracing
socialism. The truth is that they do
not offer any definite legislation Or
policy by which the happy conditions
they promise are to be brought about
put If their promises mean anything,
they lead directly toward the appro-
priation of what belongs to one man,
To another. The truth is, my friends,
both those who have left the Repub-
llcan party under the inspiration of
their present leader, and our old OPP
ponents, the Democrats, under their
candidate, are going in a direction
they do not definitely know, toward
an end they can not definitely de-
scribe, with but one chief and clear
for their party by popular support
through the promise of a change for
the better. What they clamor for IS
a change. They ask for a change IN
government so that the government
may be restored to the people, as if
ment since the beginning of the con-
sutution. I have the fullest sympathy
with every reform in governmental
and election machinery which shall
1ac1Iltate the expression of the pop
ular will as the short ballot and
the reduction in elective offices to
make it possible. But these gentle
men propose to reform the govern
ment. whose present defects, If any.
are due to the failure Of the people
tC devote as much time as is necessary
to their political duties by requiring a |
political activity by the people three !
times that which thus far the people |
have been willing to assume; and thus |
OF exciting the people to further in |
terest and activity in the government, |
will tire them into such an indiffer- |
ence as still further to remand con-
troll of public affairs to a minority.
But after we have changed all the |
governmental machinery so as to per- |
NIT instantaneous expression of the |
people in constitutional amendments |
IN statutes. and in recall of public !
agents, what them Votes are not /
bread, constitutional amendments are /
not work. referendums do not pay
rent or furnish houses, recalls do not |
furnish clothing. initiatives do not |
supply employment or relieve ineuuaI-
ties of condition or of opportunity. |
We still ought to have set before us |
he definite plans to bring on complete
equality of opportunity and to abolish
hardship and evil for humanity, We
listen for them in vain.
Attack on the Courts. .
Instead of giving us the benefit of
my specific remedies for the hard
'hlpS and evils of society thew noin+
'ut, they follow their urgent appea3s
or closer association of the people in
GslSiatIon by an attempt to cultivate
ne hostll1ty of the people to the
'oufts and to represent that thew are
some form UNFOLDING injustice and
re oostructing the popular will. At
enpts are made to take away all
nose safeguards for maintaining the
re SO carefully framed in our CON
Tuition. IheSe attempts find express
ION IN the policy, on the one hand, of
ne [ecaH of judges, a system under
ase may temporarily dispIease the
lectorate is to be deprived at once
ms offlce by popular vote, a per-
Iclous system embodied in the Arizo- :
constitution and which the Demo- !
rats OF the house and senate refused |
, condemn as the initial policy of a {
eW Stale. Ihe same spirit manifested =
ser IN the vote by Democratic sena- =
RS on the proposition, first, to aboI- :
III Inc commerce court, and, second. :
aoohsh judges by mere act of re- !
cal, although under the constit1tiop <
Ielr terms are for life, on no ground :
kept that they did not like some of :
ne courts recent decisions. Another q
I'm I'm. OF hostlI1ty to the judiciary is 5
loWn IN the grotesque proposition by :
lie leader of former Republicans who :
ave left their party for a recall Of :
eclslons, so that a decision on a point
! CONSTITUTIONAL law, having been rem
cred by the highest court eaDahla of
it, shall then be sl1bnnittad q
popular vote to determine whether !
ought to be sustained. Again the y
enocratlc party in congress and CON y
7nt1on shows its desire to weaken the
ourts by forbidding the use of the a
rlt of injunction to protect a lawful I
lslheSS against the destructive eff :
'cl OF secondary boycott and by in =
rposlng a jury in contempt proceed !,
lgs brought to enforce it's order and Il
ecrees. These provisions are really =
ass legislation designed to secure y
immunity for lawlessness in labor dis =
1tes on the part of the laborers. but
perat1ng much more widely to paraI-
!e the arm of the court in cases =
Mich do not involve labor disputes =
all. The hostility to the judiciary
I'D the measures to take away its l,
over and its independence constitute q
lie chief definite policy that can be =
1rly attributed to that class of >
atesmen and reformers whose alb
'rptlon and control the Republican =
arty escaped at Chicago and the L
emocratic party yielded to at BaIti- y