Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-10-11

state of New Jersey and call the roll
and their power was broken by the
mere exposure.
A FREE GOVERNMENT.
How are you going to get free gov
eminent? That is the point. The alb
solutely necessary first step is to dis
entangle it from the things with which
il has-been entangled. What we want
is free markets for our commodities and
free markets for our labor, and we
haven't got them. What we want Is
free enterprise for one thing; but we
haven't got it. What we want is free
competing water routes that will enable
us to handle the heayier kinds of our
goods in transportation without depend
ing too much upon the railway routes;
and we haven't got them, and can't get
the mas things stand now. What we
want is genuine conservation of our nat
ural resources and we can't get it as
things stand now.
Have you noticed that the trouble
about conservation is that the govern
ment of the United States hasn't any
policy at present? It is. simply mark
ing time, it is simply, standing STILL
Reservation is not conservation.
1--WE know perfectly well that there
can't be a workable program until there
is a free government. And what I want
to point out to you is this: The center
of all our economic difficulties is that
there is not freedom Of enterprise in the
United States.
A CRITICAL YEAR. y
"I am not interested in disturbing the
great course of business in this coun-
try, but 1 am interested in varying it.
And / know that the only way to do
it is by the method 1 have suggested
by regulated competition instead Of le-
climate monopoly. After you have made
the partnership between monopoly and
your government permanent, then 1 in
vite ali the philanthropists in the United
States to come out and sit on the stage
and go through the motions Of finding
out how they are going to get philan-
thropy out of the masters. for one
do not desire assistance from the govern
ment If it be given in condescention and
pity. I want only that consideration
which is given in justice and righteous
ness and good faith. We are not chill
dren to be taken care Of We live in a
free government and can't breathe any
thing but free air, and we want to take
care Of ourselves. This business of set
ting up individuals or parties as special
providences is one of the things that is
played out. So far as my pride is con-
cerned., I would just as leave have a
malevolent boss as a benicent boss.
don't want any boss at all.
This is a year of critical choice. After
the year 1912 it may be too late to
turn back. Don't receive yourself for
moment as to the pervasive power
Of the great interests which now domi-
nate our development. They are so great
that it is almost an open question wheth-
er the government of the United States
can dominate them or not. Go one step
further, make their oganized power per-
manent and it may be too late to turn
back" N- 44
After Norton, the governor spoke for
minutes at Smith Center and then came
on to this place. where there was
snappy little meeting.
This afternoon he speaks at Clyde and
then goes into Topeka for a big meet
ing at o'clock. Leaving Topeka at 5
o'clock Governor Wilson will go direct
to Kansas City, Mo-, where he speaks
tonight.