The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-08-08

taking or necessary and wholesome ar.
rangement.
Let me say again, that what we are
seeking is nofs destruction OF any kind,
nor the disruruQp of any sound or honest
thing, but merely the rule ofsright and
of the common advantage. | am happy
TO say that new spirit has begun TO
show itself In the last year ar TWO among
influential nien of business. and. what is
perhaps even more significant among the
lawyers VINO ale their expert advisers;
and that this spirit has displayed itself
very notably II the last few months In
an effort to return, In some legree at any
rate. to the practices of genuine compe-
tion Only a very little While ago our
f1en of busn ess were united in resisting
every proposal of change and reform as
an attack on business, IN embnrrass-
inent to all large enterprise, a intima-
ton that settled ideas of property were
to be set aside and a new and strange
order of things created out of hand. While
they bought i. that way progress seemed
impossible without hot contest and bit
ter clash between interests, almost
war OF classes Common counsel seemed
oil but hopeless, because some of the
chief partlee I'm interest would not take
part-seerned even TO resent discussion as
manifestation of hosti.ty towards
themselves They talked constantly about
AeSttu interests ana We're VERY not.
1T is a hapssv omen that their attitude
has changed The see that what is right
can hurt no man. that new adjustment
Of interests Il; inevitable ard desirable.
Is in the interest of everybody,
that their own honor their own in
teligence, their own practical mpJehen-
sion of affairs Is involved Tney are be-
ginning to adjust their business 10 the
new standards their hand is no longer
| A.
their interests are bound 10 With its in
terests THIS is not true CT AL of them,
but it is true of enough of them to show
what the new age is TO be- and how the
apxietes of statesmen are to be eased, If
the light that is dawning broadcns into
day.
The Labor Question
IF ] am right about this, it is going to
be easier to act in accordance with the
r.ile of right and justice in dealing with
the labor question. The sp-called labor
question is a question only uecause We
have not yet found the rule of right in
adjusting the interests OF labor ard cap
ital. The welfare, the happiness, the en-
efgy and spirit Of the men and women
who do the daily work in or mines and
factories. on our railroads, in our offices
and marts OF trade on our farms and on
the sea- is Of the essence OF our national
life. There can be nothing wholesome I'M
less their lie is wlolesome there can be
no eontentBlent unles they are contented.
Their physical welfare affects the sound
ness of the whole nation We shall never
get very far in the settlement of these
vital matters 50 long as we regard every
thing done for the working man, by law
or by private agreement, as a concession
Yielded to keep him from ag.ta lion and a
disturbance of our peace. 1lere. again.
the sense Of universal partnership must
come into play if we are to act IKE states
men. as those who serve, not class, but
| a nation.
1.-THE working people of AncIca-if they
must be distinguished from the minority
that constitutes the rest Of it-are of
course, the backbone of the nation. No
Jaw that safeguards their life that i'm
prove the physical and moral conditions
under which they live, that makes their
hours of labor rational and tolerable, that
gives them freedom to act IN their own
| interest, and that protects them where
they cannot protect themselves. can prop
| erly he regarded as class legislation or as
anything but as a measure taken in the
! interest Of the whole people. whose part
| nership in right action we are trying to
establish and make real ana practical.
Tt is this spirit that we shall act If we
are genuine Spokesman of the whole coun-
try.
Banking and Currency Laws
! AS our Programme is disclosed-for no
man can forecast II ready made and before
counsel is taken OF every one concerned
| This must be its measure and standard,
| the interes. Of all concerned For ex-
ample. in dealing with the complicated
and difficult question of TIC reform o.
our banking and currency laws, it is plain
| that we ought to consult very many per-
sons besides the bankers. net because we
| distrust the bankers, but because they do
not necessarily comprehend tine business
| CT the country, Notwithstanding they are
INDISPENSABLE servants of il and may do
vast deal TO make It hard or easy. No
mere bankers plan will meet the re-
quirements. 10 matter how honestly con
| ceved. 1t should be a merchants and
| farmers plan as well, elastic in the
hands of those who use it as al indispens-
able part OF their daily business. dc
not know enough to be sure what the
I artnershps in it should he and that
the control exercised over any system we
ray set up should be, so fae rs possible
| control emanating. not from single
special class hut from the general body
and authority of the nation itself
The Philippines
| I'm dealing with the Philippines. we
should not allow ourselves TO stand upon
any mere Joint of pride. as If, in order
| TO keep our countenance II, the families
Of nations, 1t were necessary for us to
make the same blunders OF selfshness
tnat other nations have made. We are
not the owners of the Philippine islands
We hold them In trust for tho people w>io
| live In them. They are theirs, for the uses
| Of their life. We are not even their part
ners. It is our duty. as trustees, to make
whatever arrangement of government will
be me st sersjeeable to Their freedom and
development. Here. again. we are to set
UP the rule of justice and of right.
Direct Primaries
THE ruls of the people is no idle
| phrase, those who believe III t, as who
does not that has caught the real spirit
| Of America? believe that there can be no
rule of right without 1t; rnat right in
| politics is made up of the interests of
everybody. and everybody should take
| part in the action that is to determine 1t.
| We have been keen for presidential pri-
maries and the direct election of United
States senators, because we wanted the
action Of the government to be deter
mined by persons whom the people had
| actually designated as men whom they
were ready to trust and follow. We have
| been anxious that all campaign con-
| tIibutions and expenditures should be dis
closed to the public in fullest detail.
| because we regarded the influences which
| govern campaigns to be as much part
of the people s business as anything else
connected with their government. We are
working towards a very definite object,
the universal partnership in public af-
| fairs upon which the purity Ok Iolitics and
! its aim and spirit depend.
|