The Van Buren press., 1912-08-17

men knew what they wanted and knew
how TO get IL by the favor OF the gov
eminent. IL is another chapter in th'
natural history OF power and Of govern
ing classes"
The next chapter will set US free
again. There will be no flavor Of trag
edy in it. 1t will be a chapter of re
adjustment not OF pain and rough dis
turbance, 1t will witness a turning
back from what is abnormal to what is
normal 1t VIII see restoration OF th'
laws OF trade. which are the laws OF
competition and OF unhampered oppor
tunity, under which men Of every sori
are set free and encouraged to enricf
the nation
Power in the hands Of great business
men does not make me apprehensive
unless II springs out Of advantages
which they have not created for them
selves. Big business is not dangerous
because unwholesOme Initiation created
by privileges and exemptions which il
ought not to enjoy While competition
can not be created by statutory enact
ment II can in large measure be reviy'
ed by changing the laws and fOrhidding
the practices that killed IT, and BY en-,
forcing laws that will give 1t heart and
occasion again. We can arrest and pre-
vent monopoly. II has assumed new
shapes and adopted new processes In
our time, but these are now being dis
closed and can be dealt with.
In speaking Of big business Mr.. VIII
son said he was glad TO see that many
prominent business men were making
efforts to return TO the basis Of honest
competition.
He said. Only a very little while ago
our men OF business were united in re-
sisting every proposal Of change and re-
form as an attack on business an en-
barrassment to all large enterprise, an
intlmatlOn that settled ideas of property
We're to be set aside and a new and
81 O. VI stf tod nlf
hand. While they thought in that way
progress seemed impossible without hot
contest and % bitter clash between in
terosts, almost war of classes Com
mon counsel seemed all but hopeless,
because sOr1e Of the chief parties in
interest would not take part-seemed
even to resent discussiin as manifesto
ton OF hostility toward themselves.
They talked constantly about vested in
terests and We're very hot.
II is happy omen that their attitude
has changed They see that what Is
right can hurt no man; that a new adj
justment Of interests is inevitable and
desirable, is I'm the interest Of every
body; that their own honor their own
intelligence, their own practical com
preheusiOn Of affairs is involved
The Labor Question.
IT | am right about this II is going to
be easy to act In accordance with the
rule Of right and justice in dealing with
question is a question only because we
have not yet found the rule of right i'm
adjusting the interests Of labor and capt.
tai The warfare, the happiness, the
energy and spirit of men and women
who DO the work daily in our mines
and factories, on our railroads, I'm 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 un-
less their life Is wholesome; there can
be no cOntentment unless they are con
tented Their physical welfare affects
the sOundness Of the whole nation. We
shall never get very far in the settle
ment of the vital matters so long as
we regard everything done by the work
ing man by law or by private aEree-
mcut as a concession yielded 10 keep
him from agitation and a disturbance of
our peace. Here, again. the sense of uni
Nersll partnership must come into play
If we are 10 act like statesmen, as those
who serve not a class, but a nation
working People Are the Backbone.
The working people Of America-if
they must be distinguished from the
minority that constitutes the rest Of IL
are, Of course, the backbone Of the
nation. No law that safeguards their
life that improves the physical and
moral conditions under which they live.
that makes their hours Of labor rational
and tolerahle, that gives them freedom
TO act IN their own interest and that
protects them whore they cannot pro-
tect themselves. can properly be re-
garded as class legislation or as any
thing but as a measure taken I'm the
interest Of the whole people. whose part
nership In right action we are trying to
establish and make real and practical
II IS in this spirit that we shall act n
we are genuine spokesmen Of the whole
country,
The Philippine Problem.
IN dealing with the Philippines. we
should not allow ourselves to stand upon
any mere point OF pride, as IT, IN order
TO keep our Couutcnance In the families
Of nations, 1t were necessary for us to
make the same hluudcrS OF seifiShuess
that other nations have made We are
not even their partners, II is our duty.
as trustees. TO make whatever arrange
ment Of government will be most sery-
icoable 70 their freedom and develop
mont Here, again, we are 10 set up
the rule OF Justice and OF right
| do not know any greater question
than that OF conservation. We have been
spcndthrift nation and must now hus-
band what we have left We must do
more than that We must develop as
well MS preserve our water powers and
must add great waterways 10 the trans
portatIon facilities Of the nation, 10 sup
plemcut the railways within our borders
as well as upon the isthmus We must
revive our merchant marine too, and I'm
the seas again with our own fleets We
must add 10 our present postOfficc scry.
lee parcels post as complete az that OF
any other nation. We must look 10 the
as well ms hearton them with Justice
and opportunity. This liz the Coustruc.
tive work OF government This Is tho
policy that has q vision and hope and
that looks 10 serve mankind
The Mississippi River,
WITH regard to tho Op\tlOUmNUt OF
greater and more numerous waterways
and tho building mp OF a merchant ma.
rlnc we must follow the great construc
tive limos and not fan back upon the
cheap device OF bountlcs and subsidies
I'm the case Of tho Mississippi river, that
great central artery Of our trade II is
plain that tho federal gO} Hrnmont must
build and maintain the lcvees and keer
the great waters IN harness for the gen
crul use, II II plain, too, mat vast sums
Of money must be spent 70 develop new
waterways where trade viii be mos
served and transportation most readily
cheapcned by them. such cXpendlturei
are no largcss on the, part OF the gov
eminent they are national Investments
The question OF merchant marin,
turns back TO tho tariff again, 10 whici
an roads seem TO lead, and 20 our regis
try law which, N coupled with the tar
&C. might almost be supposed 20 hay,
intended to take the American flag OF
the f,aa nountlcs arc not necessary /
YOU viii but undo some Of tho thing
that have been dono. without n grea
merchant marine We cannot tako on
rightful place in the commerce Of th
world
Merchants who must depend upon IN
carriers OF rival mercantile nations I,
carry their goods 10 market are ht
disadvantage IN international trade to
manifest to need 20 he pointed out, nm,
our merchants win not long suffer them
HrlNNU pNWlt not 10 suffDp tOCmuulVn
to be- placed at such a disadvantage
our industries have expanded 20 such
point that they viii burst their Jackets
lr they can mot find q free outlet 10 IN
markets OF tho world; and they canno
find such an outlot unless they be give
ships OF their own 10 carry their good
s-ssszszss szssz9s.zazsz5zas9zazs@