The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-09-23
The Main Issue


contained much material for fruitful
thought, was the following sentence,
which compressed whole columns:
"The dominant issue today is
whether our government shall devel-
op under liberal and humane leader
ship or whether it shall be controlled
by greed and selflshness.'
We believe this states the case as
we'll as II has ever been stated. The
chief issue OF the present Is not the
tariff, nor the currency, nor the con
troll of trusts-these and all others
are merely local out-croppings of the
ono great issue, Shall the govern
ment legislate for the BENEFIT of the in
terests and let the interests take care
OF the people. or shall it leglslate pri-
marily for the people and let the in
terests take care OF themselves?
Both parties and all parties believe
that they are advocating principles
whose adoption will lead to the best
welfare of the country. But all par
ties contain men who are seeking gel
FISH advantage ahead of uniform bet
terment. or ouch improvement as
comes. they hope to be first in line
and to acquire tho lions share. 1t
may not be their admitted creed but
1t is their constant practice to pro
mote through government such meas
nres as will specially benefit them
and the things with which they arc
connected. while overlooking or dis
regarding the effect that may follow
upon others. II II is a matter of tar
in revision, the selfish interest de
mands preferential treatment beyond
that which it may fairly claim. II IL
is the currency or corporation regnla.
!, ton or anything else 1t is always and
everywhere the same Mr.. Special
interest never tires in solicitation.
He has no modesty in demanding
what he wants. And often times he
has no scruples in how he gets II.
Now government first OF all should
aim 10 secure the national welfare.
Its acts and its administration should
prepare the way for large colume
| OF prosperity. But 1t should not stop
| there. leaving the shrewd and oaIcu.
lating ones To absorb unto them.
| selves the major share Of the bene.
nts, either through the operation oil
laws that bring II to them directly or
| through tina lack OF laws that safe
guard the people. Having insured ma
tional prosperity, the next step, and
| just as necessary TO the fulfillment OF
the ideal, is TO put all men at cqualt
4 ty among themselves in the chance
to secure an equal share OF It.
Not that the rewards OF industry
that how unde. a benefcient govern
mont should be tolled on equally In
dollars and cents among the worth,
and the unworthy, the smart and The
dull, but that SO far as government
can II should ftart them for II from
the same straight max II shoult
show no favor TO one above another
and II II 10 necessary ii oIGer to ov
ercome natural drawbacks for which
a man is In no wise to blanc. h.
should have the benefit OF handicap
as runners do. in order to make tn,
race even. Al any rate. the handlcaI
should 20 to the GLOW rather than th,
swift runner. II there is to be any
Discrimination.
| The chief endeavor in this country
thus ia has been to crente national
prosperity. In Il wonderful success,
crowns the effort. Americas great
natural resources havo been given
fun play favorable laws and grek,
wealth has flowed. But up to the
p esent time little care has been talk
EN- that its flow pursues right courses
SO that the people have an equal,
fair opportunity to enjoy L: Indeed
such things as government has done
tend largely to turn II into the Golfers
OF the shrewd and Inscriptions who
have entrenched themselves in posi-
lions OF vantage.
What we need. az NJ. Prouty says
| 10 hth WIZ Niit blft dtlthtlbu W ib
| eral and humane measure for equaliz
ing opportunity and not the represen
tatives OF greed and selfishness. We
need men who are not so timorous Of
the clamor of the big interests or sc
fearful OF standing in their path thai
they will not manfully champion tho
rights OF the masses when the two
conflict as they often do While We
need men who will not recklessiy and
wantonly pull down the national edl
fee OF prosperity. we need those whS
viii not lag in striving 20 see thal
the common citizen has his full share
This. as Ar. Prouty we'll and truly
says. is the leading Issue OF the hour
There never was a time when part,
counter for SO little and men for &C
nuch.-Randoiph Herald and News.
The railroads are entitled to ,
Square deal" no more and no less
But they ought to have that. Thei
must have il. II the government and
the country generally are not to a.
in the face OF Providence and invite
disaster instead of encouraging a re
turn to Syracuse Jour
nal.