Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-07-13

The moral we wish to illustrate Is
that no one man nor any one class OF
men can accomplish the desired result;
and that only by cooperation OF those
who love their country more than
they do wealth, can representative
government be continued and reyolu-
tion avoided.
Sixth. The power Of q few men to
accumulate in an exceedingly short
time, large sums Of money from all
parts of the country, that may be
used in such a manner as to AFFECT
and influence the affairs Of the gov
ernment, Keeps the public mind uneasy
and the affairs Of government in a
chaotic state, as such trusts are pub
lie in their nature.
We quote the following words Of
Mr.. Wilson, president Of the United
States, in one Of his addresses which
throws light on this question:
"One of the powers we fear Is the
control Of our life through the vast
privileges Of corporations which use
the wealth Of masses Of men to sus-
tain their enterprise. 1t is in con-
nection with this danger that it Is
necessary to do some Of our clearest
and frankest thinking. 1t is funda-
mental mistake to speak Of privileges
fell within the class Of private right
and Of private property. Those who
administer the affairs Of great joint
stock companies are really administer
ing the property Of communities, the
property Of the whole mass and mis-
cellany Of men, who have bought the
stock Or the bonds that sustain the
enterprise. The stocks and the bonds
are constantly changing hands. There
Is no fixed partnership. Moreover,
managers Of such corporations are the
trustees Of moneys, which they them
selves never accumulated, but Whlch
have been drawn together out OF pri-
vate savings here, there and every
where.
What is necessary in order to recti-
fy the whole mass Of business OF this
kind is that those who control 1t,
should entirely change their point Of
view They are trustees, not masters,
of private property, not only because
their power Is derived from a multi
tude Of men, but also because In its
investments it affects multitude OF
men. 1t determines the development
or decay Of communities. 1t is the
means Of lifting or depressing the life
Of the whole country.
They must regard themselves as
representatives Of q public mind.
There can be no reasonable jealousy
of public relation in such matters, be-
cause the opportunities Of all men are
affected. Their property Is every
where touched, their savings are
everywhere absorbed, their employ
ment Is everywhere determined by
these great agencies. What we need
therefore, is to come to common
.ol~ hrif n n n.
but accommodations. The programme
! of parties must not be programmes or
enlightenment and re-adjustment, not
revolutionary but representative. The
processes of change are largely pro-
cesses Of thought, but unhappily they
cannot be effected without becoming
| political processes also, and that Is
the deep responsibility of public men.
What we need, therefore. in our poll
| tics is an instant alignment OF all men
free and willing to think and to act
without fear upon their thought
We will state a few reasons why
the people will not get relief from
direct legislation, whether by the IN
itialive or referendum.
The trouble with unorganized action
lies in the fact that it is inevitably
spasmOdic and intermittent.
The people grow tired OF direct legls-
lation when the novelty has worn of.
The laws do not represent the whole
electorate, but that part of the voters
which impelled either by public or
private motives. takes an interest in
the affairs of state.
In one of the cantons of SwitZer-
land a serious attempt was MADE
some years ago to ameloriZe the force
of this objection to the referendum, by
| imposing Il fine upon every voter VINO
failed to appear at the polls.
The polled vote increased as n re-
suit: but the real aim Of the law was
not achieved, for many Of the voters
who came to the polls under the spur
of this compulsion rendered perfume
tory performance by dropping black
ballots into the box.
Ours is a government of laws. but
every one should keep always before
him the fact that no law is effective
unless there is the right kind Of man
behind it, In tropical America there
are MANY republics whose constitu-
tions and laws are practically identi-