Semi-weekly herald., 1915-02-15

ministration of the casualty company
and the dividends of its stockholders
must be reckoned with.
Finally the taxpayer, though an in
nocent bystander, becomes involved to
substantial degree. The whole bur-
den of expense incident to maintain
ing the machinery of the courts is
his share, or rather his contribution
to this economic waste. The extent
of this needless expenditure is diff
cult of computation, but it is wen
known that in many districts of the
state litigation of this character con-
stiutes large proportion of the busi-
ness of the courts In those cases
where he injured workman is unsuc-
cessful in his attempt to recover dam-
ages he frequently becomes public
charge. Indeed, in many cases where
an incapacitated workman secures a
substantial recovery which is paid to
| him in a lump sum, inexperience or
! improvidence soon leaves him desti-
tute and without the means of sup
port, engenders crime, and the tax
payer must recognize that his burden
is heavily increased by his contribu-
ton towards the support, not only of
the courts, but Of aims houses, jails
and peniteutiaries, as the direct re-
suit Of our present unscientific, un-
economic, wasteful and thoughtful
method of dealing with the problem
of industrial personal injuries. =
| Conclusion.
The ability of the people to rule in
our state is question of intelligent
public opinion. This is the real gov
ernment 1t determines largely our
morals--it controls our daily lives; it
makes for individual success and fail
ure; it is the law of business, public
and private; it repeals constitution,
annuls statutes, and reverses decis-
ions of courts without going through
legal forms and conventions; it de
cides what the government shall be
and undertake; it elects our officers;
approves and disapproves of their
acts. In democratic form of gov
ernment, the kind we are having, pub
lie opinion wields the sceptre. Wheth-
er it shall be used to cruelty truth
and sanctify falsehood, or for ends
/ of social justice, whether our officers
and agents shall be successful in the
administration of our gerat public
trusts, whether funds and properties
shall be faithfully and effectively en-
ployed for the welfare of all the peo-
pie, must depend on the intelligence
of this opinion.
The inner soul of our new govern
ment is not the unalienable rights,
negatively and individualistically in
terpreted, but those same rights, "life,
liberty and the pursuit of happiness ~
extended and given social interpreta-
tion.
1t is this social Interpretation of
rights which characterizes the new
era which is coming into being.
What relations do such communi-
ties as you represent, with the con-
ditions and environment which sur
! round you, bear to these changing
conditions, when the growing social
pressure from the massing of men and
women huriies us into untired seas :?
Two pictures present themselves to
my mind to bid my approximations be
at rest. l see the suns of early sum-
mer warming your uplands and draw
ing off the cover which has buried
the grasses on which your flocks fat
ten. / see on thousand lofty pas
lures your herdsmen leading back
the cattle and herds; see them
standing at evening, the sun dropping
his great disc at the edge of far
flung horizons-tall men, sun crown
ed men, men apart form and above
the fog and moil of petty things, in
dependent, self-reliant men, balanced
with sound nerves and sound bodies,
and by life amid such scenes as con-
front them, equipped for public duty
and fearless citizenship.
l turn to the lowlands at the edge
of wild valleys, l see the rocks smit-
ten by man, and in the gashes, see
drawn from the hitherto undisturbed
springs lying in the shadows of the
cottonwoods and the spruces, the gen.
tie army of water flowing on its er-
rand of subiugation to the ragged and
unkempt lands below.
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