The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-08-01

Neither has the executive any
right to agree to the forming OF
trusts and combinations in violation
of law such as was done in the case
of the United States Steel corpora
ton in the buying and taking over Of
the Tennessee Iron and Coal Com
pany thereby approving and complet-
ing the operation of the combination
already organized and operated in
restraint of trade. 1t is the duty of
the executive to see that the laws are
executed but he has no power or
authority to agree with and excuse
anyone or concern in the doing of an
act that otherwise would be VIOLA
ton of the law. 1t is his duty to
execute the laws and not agree to
their violation.
The judicial department of the
government has invaded the realm
of the legislative by reading into the
antitrust law that which 1T does
not contain. For Is years the Su-
preme Court of the United States
steadily refused to interpret this law
by reading into it the words "un-
reasonable and undue on the
ground that it would be unconstitu-
tional for the reason that the court
thereby would be legislating. Final
ly the personel of the court was
changed by reorganization and I'M
der its new membership did that
which it had heretofore refused. Its
decisions in the cases of the Standard
Oil Co., and the Tobacco Trust prac-
tically nullified the Sherman anti
trust law. 1t took from it all of it's
vital elements of criminal prosecu-
ton, as it would be practically i'm
possible to secure conviction when
the government had the burden of
proving the restraint exercised and
the monopoly enjoyed were unreas-
enable and undue.
Both the executive and the judicial
departments exceeded their power
in their agreement and arrangement
with the Standard Oil Co., and the
Tobacco Trust in their re-Organiza-
ton to the effect that if they were
subdivided and conducted their
business in accordance with the a
greement made with the depart
ments, they would thereafter be pro-
tected and immune from further
prosecution.
1t is the duty of the executive de-
partment of government to enforce
the law and of courts to interpret and
punish those who violate it. Neither
one or both have right to make an
agreement or arrangement with any
person or business concern by which
they may be free and secure from
prosecution for violation of law. One
of the greatest safeguards Of the re-
public is the independent action OF
each department of government in
the discharge of it's own powers and
duties and the cooperation of all.
The State.
What of Iowa-Beautiful Land?
It includes within it's border the
greatest body of agricultural land
of like area that the sun in all his
majestic circuit looks down upon,
and is inhabited by as Intelligent,
upright, liberty-loving, patriotic
people as dwell anywhere in this or
any other land.
If national and state affairs were
so adjusted as to protect them in
their industrial, commercial, civil
and social rights there would be no
happier, better contented, more
prosperous people in the world.
They should be permitted to buy
in the same kind of market in
which they sell the product of their
toll, both free from interference by
the speculation of the Board of
Trade or control by the sheltered,
protected, criminal trusts and mono
poles.
With equal and just taxation in
State and Nation, the building and
maintaining of permanent high
ways, the reorganization of our
rural school system and the provid-
ing of satisfactory civil and social
conditions of rural life, the preva-
lent desire of the young to get away
from the farm and the present gen
GRAFTON to go elsewhere would be
eliminated and Iowa would blossom
as the rose," and be as it should
1.-THE Garden Spot of the World"
Shall the People Rule? .
We are entering upon a new era
of national life. From govern
ment of the few for the benefit of the
favored, we are returning to gov
eminent of the people by the people
for the benefit of all. This fairly
marks the difference between the
progressive and the reactionary.
1 uS IOdSI1OuuAy UCAACSCo Ill Ci4C OAo
regime-a government by the few
for the benefit of the governors. He
is living in the past. The progress
i've believes in a government of the
people for the benefit Of the govern
ed. He is living in the present with
the hope of the future large in view.
The reactionary believes in the
choice of candidates by political
bosses, while the progressive be-
lieves in their selection by the people.
The reactionary regards the public
Office as a private asset; the pro-
gressive as a public trust. The re-
dictionary looks upon the public Of
ficer as personal representative;
the. progressive as a servant of the
people. e.. .s...-. ;,.F4
, The line of difference is marked,
the cleavage is so great there can be
no compromise-one or the other
must rule. 1t is idle to undertake
to resist this change of government
for the benefit of the governors to
government for the benefit of the
governed. It is right and it should
and will be made. The people are
alive tn their interests informed as