The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-07-09

not offer q single serious or Ineligible
plan for passing prosperity around,
should prosperity, In spite Of the ad-
ministration's efforts, at some future
time return to our people. This is true
both as regards the trust question
and tho tariff question. AS regards
both. the only wise course to follow
10 that set forth IN the National Pro-
gressive Platform. The nation should
deal with both by continuing execu-
tive action through administrative
commissions OF ample power. One
commission should shape our tariff poll
cies so as, with thorough knowledge
dfsintereatedly acquired, to give prop.
er encouragement to our merchants
while also giving proper protection
to our wage workers, our farmers and
our business men. The other commits
sion should exercise strict supervision
and control over big business. We
should treat it with entire justice,
drawing the line not on size, but on
misconduct We should encourage
the big business man who does well
and who regards his great abilities
as a trust to be exercised as much IN
the interest of the public as in his own
interests. But we should check and
punish him effectually and promptly
when he exercises these abilities to
the detriment either OF the smaller
business man with whom he completes,
OF the wage-workers who should share
with him the benefits Of his and their
common efforts or of the general pub
lie whom he serves.
AS regards the tariff, wish especial
" to call your attention to the prom
Uses made by President Wilson and
his supporters two years ago. They
asserted that their method OF tarlff
reduction would reduce the cost OF
living and would thus solve the trust
question because, as they said, the
trusts were the creatures of the tariff.
We then answered that their promises
were empty words, that no such re-
suits as they stated could or would
follow from the course they advocated
and that only by the method we pro-
pose could either the trust or the
tariff question be dealt with so as to
abate the existing evils and at the
same time increase the general we'll
being. Two short years have proved
us to be right. Their promises have
not been kept. Their performance has
brought distress upon the nation. The
cost of living has not been reduced.
- no
earn living has been greatly reduced.
Not the slightest progress has been
made toward solving the trust ques-
ton. But the business community
has been harassed and harried to no
purpose; and the prosperity of the
business man has been checked exact
ly as the prosperity of the farmer and
the wage worker has been checked.
AS for the farmer, the present
tariff. the administration's tariff, was
SO framed as to result in the sacri-
Ace e,of his 4 interests, HeShad no
spokesman, no friend in high quar-
tiers and his welfare was contemptu-
ously sacrificed. At every point where
his interest was concerned he was
made to suffer. AS for the wage-work-
er. the result of the tariff was that
he suffered even more than his en-
ployer.
As for the employer, sometimes he
has been able to struggle on with the
loss of profits, sometimes he has
had to close his shop. In businesses
in which any of the big trusts were
concerned, it was the small competi-
tors of the trusts who were injured
and in many cases ruined. Tarin re-
duction as put into practice by the
present administration has chiefly ben
Gifted foreign rivals and competitors.
It has done grave injury to the busi-
ness community and the farming COM
munity and has caused suffering to
the wage-workers and the whole poll
CIV of the administration has been one
to cause our people in business, our
people on the farms, our people with
dinner pals, to look toward the fu-
ture with grave concern and apprehen-
sion.
It is. Of course, essential to rebuke
those leaders who, by their action,
helped to put the present admlnistra-
ton In power, and, moreover, it Is OF
vital consequence to the future we'll
being Of our people, to drive from pub
lie life all men whose political ACTIVE
ties In state and nation alike, have
been such as those Of Senator Pen
rose. This 10 not only political but
= moral Issue. mention the name
Of Senator Penrose, merely because
he typlfies a class. am not concern
ed with him 40 an Individual; am
concerned with him AZ type. Mr..
Penrose stands in Pennsylvania 40
Mr.. Barnes stands in New York and
M. Lorimer in Illinois. When we
fIoht these men and their activities,
we are fighting the battle Of all de-
cent men and In particular, we are
fiohtina the battle Of the honest Re-
publican rank and file, whom these
men have mIsrepresented and be-
trayed.
It Is we'll to keep In mind that we
now have Mr.. Wilson's administration,
that we now suffer from wretched