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

throughout tTelT SOVeTllIIlcIildi CaiSCi
alternated between despotism and an
archy and have failed in striking
fashion at every point, where under
like conditions, we have succeeded.
The difference was not in the laws
or the constitutions, for they were the
same. The difference was in the men
who made up the community, in the
men who administered the laws, and
lin the men who put in power of the
administrators. 1t Is indeed, with US,
that the people shall be the masters
and one Of the vital needs Is, that
they shall show self-mastery, as we'll
as the power to master their servants
and to see that the right kind OF man
Is behind the laws.
Constitutional limitations are adopt
ed as much for the protection Of the
rights Of the minority as Of the ma
jority and likewise to protect the
people against their own action, until
they have had time TO give due de-
liberation to any suggested changes
in the organic law.
The training Of the lawer makes his
CO. operation especially valuable in ex-
planning to the people the effect Of
suggested changes, and In providing
efficient remedies for the evils that
confront US.
| Public opinion in the United States
was never better Informed, never
more intelligent, never more eager to
make itself felt in the control Of gov
ernment for the betterment Of the
nation, and yet it was never more
helpless to obtain its purposes by
ordinary methods. In order to assert
its right to representative government,
| free from the control and influence OF
| the interests, it has to resort to con-
Lot, NJ, Al,tft ox-Ny
| means to have it's way. 1t knows
| what it wants. It wants good men in
| office, sensible laws adjusted to eX-
| listing conditions, conscience in affairs,
and intelligence In their administra-
ton. But 1t Is at a loss how to get
these. 1t filings itself this way and
that, frightens this group Of politi-
clans, hopes, protests, demands, but
cannot govern.
Men sometimes talk as il 1t were
wealth OF which we were afraid, as
II 1t were jealous Of the accumula-
ZION Of great fortunes. But such Is
not the case. The people have not the
slightest jealousy Of the legitimate
accumulation OF wealth. Everybody
knows that there are many men OF
large means and large economic power
who have gained 1t not only by Iegiti-
maze methods, but in q way that de-
serves the thanks and admiration Of
the communities they have served and
developed. But everybody knows,
alsu, tnaI some Of the men who con-
lrvl the wealth and have built up the
industry Of the country seek to control
policies and also to dominate the life
uf commen men in a way in which no
man should be permitted TO dominate
al the first pace, there Is the no
tUrIouS operation OF the bipartisan
LolItIcal machine, which does not
represent party principle Of any kind,
but which Is willing to enter into any
combination, with whatever group OF
persons or Of politicians, to control
.ne OiIices OF localities and Of states
and Of nations itself, in order to main
Tain the power Of those who direct
it. This machine Is supplied with its
funds by the men who use 1t, in or
der to protect themselves against
legislation which they do not desire,
AMI in order to obtain the legislation
which is necessary for the prosecution
Of their unlawful purposes.
The methods OF our legislatures
make the operations Of such machines
easy and convenient. For very little
Of our legislation Is formed and ef-
fected by open debate upon the floor.
Almost all Of 1t Is discussed in COM
ihitcO iOOiiSJ pdooCu WilHoul uC-
bate. Bills that the machine and its
/ hackers do not desire are smothered
in committee; measures which they do
desire are brought out and hurried
| through their passage. 1t happens
again and again that great groups Of
such bills are rushed through in the
hurried hours that mark the close OF
the legislative session, when everyone
is withheld from vigilance by fatigue,
and when 1t Is possible to do secret
things.
I When we stand in the presence of
these things, and see how complete
and sinister their operation has been,
we cry QUA with. no little truth that
We no longer have representative gov
ernment.
In late years the government has
frequently been called upon to take
part in quelling strikes that are the
manifestations Of revolutionary
spirit in the Industrial field. Presi-
dent Wilson realizes that there are
three parties interested in a strike
the government, the employer and the
employee, and it appears that he in
tends that justice shall be done be-
tween the employer and the employee,
and thai the rights Of the public shall
be protected. Any other policy would,
Those who assume the control Of the
great industrial interests have a terri
BILE responsibility resting on their
shoulders.
Several years ago, there was a strike
in England. There was in conse-
quence a sympathetic strike in New
Zealand, which was distant about
1000 miles from England. After the
employees and their families were al
most reduced to state Of starvation,
and after infiicting great financial
loss to their employers, they surrender
ed. There were men on both sides in
that strike who determined, If possi-
BILE, to prevent a like recurrence Of
distress and financial loss The VIC
tors instead Of gloating over their
victory went to their employees and ex-
pressed their deep sympathy, and sug-
geSted that they agree upon a plan
that would do justice to all parties
| concerned. The employees entered
into the spirit Of the suggestion. The
parties agreed upon a man for gov
ernor, whose ability and ideas of JUS
tice to all were above reproach or sus-
picion.
The ablest men and those who were
non partisan, were elected as repre-
sentatives. They realized that in all
the employer, the employee and the
state. The employer has an interest
in the business on account Of the
profits; the employee in order that
he might make a support for him
self and his family, and the state in
order that the health, morals, educa-
tion, finances and general welfare Of
it's citizens might be protected. 1t
was made the law Of the land that the
amount Of compensation to be award
ed the employees should be determin-
ed by a committee, consisting Of an
equal number selected by the en-
ployers, the employees and the gov
ernment, and that no change should
be made in the compensation, nor
should there be a strike during the
time specified by said committee;
that after the expiration Of said time.
the employer, or employee might Pc
tition for a change in the rate Of COM
pensation, but that the work should
not stop in consequence Of said pc
tition. The employer was also re-
quired to see that the places where
the work was performed were kept in
a sanitary condition, and every safe
guard used to protect the rights Of