Evening journal., 1912-02-21

point Is. II Is often said that ours is
a government OF checks and balances.
But this should only mean that these
checks and balances obtain as among
the several different kinds OF repre-
sentatives Of the peoDle-judicial, ex-
ecutive and leglslative--to whom the
people have delegated certain portions
OF their power. 1t does not mean that
the people have parted with their pow
er or cannot resume IT, The division
of powers Is merely the division
among the representatives OF the pow
ers delegated to them. The term
must not be held to mean that the
people have divided their power with
their delegates. The power Is the peo-
pies and only the peoples
Make Popular Rule Effective.
hold It to be the duty OF every
public servant and OF every man who
in public or m private life holds posi-
tion Of leadership in thought or action
10 endeavor honestly and fearlessly 60
guide his fellow countrymen 10 right
decisions, but ] emphatically dissent
from the view that It is either wise or
necessary TO try to devise methods
which under the constitution will auto
matically prevent the people from de-
Gliding for themselves what govern
mental action they deem just and prop
er. II IS impossible to invent constitu-
tional devices which will prevent the
popular will from being effective for
wrong without also preventing II from
being effective for right The only safe
course to follow In this great American
democracy is TO provide for making the
popular Judgment really effective
Lincoln. with his clear vision. his in
grained sense of justice and his spirit
Of kindly friendliness to all, forecast
our present struggle and saw the way
out. what he said should be pondered
by capitalist and worlkingman alike.
He spoke as follows Il condense):
hold that while man exists II is his
duty TO improve not only his condition,
but 10 assist in ameliorating mankind.
Labor is prior to and independent OF cap
itai. Labor Is tho superior OF capital and
deserves much the higher consideration.
Capital has It's rights. which arc ns worthy
OF protection as nny other rights. Nor
should this lead TO a war upon property.
Property is the fruit OF labor. Property
is desirable, is a positive good in the
world Let not him who Is houseless pull
down tho house OF another. but let hiQ
work diligently and build one for himself
thus by example assuring that HIS own
shall be safe from violence when built
This last sentence characteristically
shows Lincoln's homely, kindly com
mon sense. His is the attitude that We
ought to take. He showed the proper
sense Of proportion in his relative esti
mates OF capital and IeSor, OF human
rights and the rights OF wealth.
Prosperity Must Be Distributed.
The ends OF good government in on
democracy are TO secure by genuin
popular rule high average Of mora
and material well being among on
citizens. II has been well said that 4
the past we have paid attention onl
to the accumulation Of prosperity, an
that from henceforth we must pa
equal attention to the proper distribu
ton of prosperity. This is true. I'll
only prosperity worth having Is ths
which affects the mass OF the peop
We are bound to strive for the fair dis
tribution OF prosperity. But 1t b.
hooves us to remember that there is Ii
use IN devising methods for the prope
distribution OF prosperity unless th
prosperity is there 10 distribute. no,
It to be our duty to see that the wagl
worker, the small producer, the ord
nary consumer, shall get their H.
share OF the benefit OF business pro
perity. But It either is or ought to /
evident TO every one that business b,
to prosper before anybody can get az
, benefit from It. Therefore hold th,
he is the real progressive, that he
, the genuine champion OF the peopl
who endeavors 20 shape the policy ALI
OF the nation and OF the several stat
so as to encourage legitimate hone
business at the same time that he We
against all crookedness and injust
and unfairness and tyranny in the bu0
ness world, for of course we can on
get business put on basis OF perm
J nent prosperity when the element Of
a Justice is taken out OF 1t. This is q
!. reason why have for so many yes
insisted as regards our national 50
+, ernment that It is both futile and IN
/, chievous TO endeavor to correct {
evils OF big business by an attempt
]. restore business conditions as th
!. were In the middle of the last centul
:. before railways and telegraph had r'
Il dered larger business organizations be
Y inevitable and desirable.
n The effort to restore such conditio
and 10 trust for justice solely TO su
4 proposed restoration is as foolish as
h we should attempt TO arm our troo
a with the fintlocks OF Washington
= Continentals instead of with mode
! weapons Of precision. Flintlock leg
J. lation Of the kind that seeks to pI
g hibit all combinations. good or bad,
bound to fail. and the effort. in so T
as It accomplishes anything at a
merely means that some Of the wor
combinations are not checked and th
honest business is checked. What
needed is. first, the recognition th
modern business conditions have con
to stay, in so far at least as these co
ditions mean that business must
: done in larger units, and then the co
headed and resolute determination
= introduce an effective method OF re
ulating big corporations so as to he
/, legitimate business as an incident
+ thoroughly and completely safeguar
y ing the interest Of the people as
It whole. We are business people. tt
e tirers of the soil the wa qevVorlrer