The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1912-02-22

where its activities make, as they
often do make. for the common good.
it Is for the advantage Of all Of US
when business prospers. Our demand
Ii that big business give the people q
square deal and that the people give
a square deal to any man engaged In
big business VINO honestly endeavors
to do what Is right and proper.
On the other hand. any corporation.
big or little. which has gained It's po
sition by unfair methods and by In
reference with the rights OF others.
which has raised prices or limited
output In improper fashion and been
guilty Of demoralizing and corrupt
practices. should not only be broken
up, but Il should be made the bust
ness Of some competent governmental
sody by constant Supervision to see
that II does not como together again,
save under such strict control as to
insure the community against all dan
ger Of a repetition Of the bad conduct
The chief trouble with big business
has arisen from the fact that big
business has SO often refused to abide
by the principle OF the square deal;
tbs opposition which personally
have encountered from big business
has in every case arisen not because
] did not give a square deal but be-
cause / did.
Proper Governmental Control.
ALL business into which the element
Of monopoly in any way or degree en-
tefs, and whore 1t proves In practice
impossible totally to eliminate this ele-
ment Of monopoly, should be carefully
supervised, regulated and controlled
by governmental authority; and such
control should be EXERCISED by admin
istrattve, rather than by judicial. on
GERS. No effort should be made to de-
stroy big corporation merely be-
cause It Is big, merely because 1t has
shown itself peculiarly efficient
business instrument. But we should
not fear. il necessary, to bring the
regulation OF big corporations to the
point OF controlling conditions so that
the wageworler shall have a wage
more than sufficient to cover the bare
cost OF living, and hours OF labor not
so excessive as to wreck his strength
BY the strain Of unending toll and
leave him unflk to do his duty as q
good citizen Of tho community. Where
regulation By competition (Which Is,
OF course. prelsrable) proves insult
0iant, we should not shrink from
bringing governmental regulation to
the point Of control Of monopoly prices
Il II shouM ever beecrae necessary to
do SO. just as In exceptional cases
railway rates are now regulated.
We grldge NO man fortune which
represents his own power and sagacaty
exercised with entire regard 20 the
welfare OF his fellows. We have only
praise for the business man whose
business succass comes as an incl
dant to doing good work for his fell
lows. But we Ehculd so shape condi-
ttons that fCFtnne shell be obtained
only IA honorable fashion, in sach
fashion that It's gaining represents
benefit TO the community.
In word, then. our fundamental
purpose must be to secure genuine
equality Of opportunity. No man
should receive dollar unless that doh
lar has been fairly earned. Every dol.
lar received should represent dol
lar's worth Of service rendered. No
watering Of stocks should be permit
ted: and It can be prevented only By
close gcvernmsntai supervision OF All
stock Issues, 50 as TO prevent over
capitalization.
We stand for. the rights OF property,
bot we stand even more for the rights
OF man. We Will protect the rights OF
the wealthy man, but we maintain
that he holes his wealth subject to the
general right of the community to
requisite fts business use a. the public
welfare requires.
We also maintadn that the nation
and the several states have the right
10 regulate the terms and conditions
of labor, which is the chief element of
wealth, directly In the interest Of the
common good. You, trainers OF this
construction, be careful SO to frame II
that under 1t the people shah leave
themselves free TO do whatever is
necessary in order 10 help tho farmers
OF the state to gst for themselves and
their wives and children not only the
benefits Of better farming but Also
those Of better business methods and
better conditions OF HE on the farm.
Moreover, shape your constitutional
action SO that the people wial be able
through their legislative bodies, or,
falling that, by direct popular vote. to
provide workmen's compensation acts,
to regulate the hours Of labor for chill
dren and for women, to provide for
their safety while at york, and to pre-
vent overwork or work under hygienio
or unsafe conditions.
To Secure Best Results.
So much Tor the ends of govern.
ment; and | have, OF course. merely
sketched In outline what the ends
should be. Now for the machinery BY
which these ends are to be achieved:
and here again remember only
sketch In outline and do not for a mo-
ment pretend to work out In detail the
methods OF achieving your purposes.
Let me at the outset urge upon you to
remember that. while machinery is
1T is easy to overestimate
It's Importance; and. moreover, that
each community has the absolute right
10 determine for itself what that ma
chinery shall be. subject only TO the
law OF the nation as ex-
pressed in the Constitution OF the Uni