Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1916-05-04

that unless the Republican Party !
should keep it's pledges. the agitation |
would not cease and it would be disas-
trous to the country. Such proved to .
be the case,
There are, Of course, many probiem5 /
OF Importance to the people engaged |
n agriculture The stability. indie" |
pendence and prosperity Of the farm |
ers is OF vital Importance not only to |
them but to the dwellers in the cities
and the people as a whole. AS agrl-
culture constitutes the principal basis
OF the wealth and prosperity OF the
country, everything which 1t Is leglti-
mate for the congress or the states to
do to increase the prosperity OF the
farmer should be done. Farming Oc-
supatiOns and farm life should be made
profitable and attractive as an induce
ment to keep the young men upon The
farm. The tendency In this country
during the last fifty years has been
towards the undue increase of city
population.
The government should aid in every
way it legitimately can to increase the
productivenes8 Of the soil, improve the
system of agriculture and make farm
life attractive, for unless the farm is
both attractive and profitable 1t will
not hold the ambitious rising genera
ton.
cannot in this speech more than
very briefly state my position upon
this subleCt,~-One to which | have de-
voted a great many years OF study.
/ was counsel for the government in
the cases against the Paper Trust, the
Standard Oil Trust and the Union Pa
fic-Southern Pacific merger In the
Standard OH case the power OF the
government to regulate large industrial
corporations or combinations engaged
in Interstate commerce was definitely
established. The abuses then pr&c-
ticed, including unfair and oppressive
methods OF competition. the driving
out and crushing of competitors. and
| like abuses, were declared illegal; and
agreements fixing prices, limiting out
put and sitting competition were de-
clared unlawful and were enjOt1ed.
| Not only this. but all the defendant
| Standard Oil Companies, their officers,
agents and individual defendants
| (being the directors and principal
| stockholders were enjoined from in
future agreeing on prices OF petroleum
and it's products. from agreeing on the
| terms of purchase or sale or rates or
| transportation or the quantity TO be
sold. transported or manufactured. or
agreeing not to compete; and thew
were enjoined from entering into or
performing any like combination or
conspiracy which would be 70 restrain
commerce among states In petroleum
and it's products.
II there are any agreements today
| between the various Standard Oh Com
panies and individuals who were par
ties to that case, or any two or them.
fixing prices, limiting output or agree
| ing not to compete they are in viola
ton OF that decree and the parties can
be punished: and IL there are any such
agreements between independent con
Germs and the Standard Oil Companies
the government can prosecute the
parties.
have always vigorously advocated
that congress should provide for a
| system OF federal license to large cor
porations engaged in interstate com
merce, on condition that they obey
the law, not enter into agreements fix
ing prices, limiting output or eliminat-
ing competition. and II they violate
the terms Of their license, provide for
reyoking it, This with the reasonable
supervision OF the Trade Commission.
would, believe. not only protect cor
porations engaged In legitimate bust
ness. but constantly aid in preventing
agreements raising prices. or other
conduct injurious to the public,
| am a Republican. and believe In
the principles and policies OF that
marty. am. however, unwilling to
place the party above the country, or
party feaity above the demands oil
citizenship, The principles and poll
cies Of the Republican Party have met
the demands of the people in the hour
of national peril and in times of the
greatest prosperity and expansion
Under the guidance and control Of that
party have been instituted and carried
out the greatest constructive work
internal improvements, industrial de
velopment and reforms.
believe in the spirit and the prin
ciples of true democracy; In the full
est opportunity for the people to havt
a voice by vote in the affairs of gov
ernment. and that one Of the first dn
tics of craftsmanship Is TO jealousy
guard the principles on which consti
tutional representative democracy II
founded
, We should strive for laws In tht
interest OF social Justice. and higher
state of civilization; laws prohibiting
: child labor. which is cruel. inhUmaI
and tends to degenerate the race; law,
, to maintain the Independence. securit,
| and integrity of labor. and laws III tn,
: interest 81 the safety. health and NOR
, | Atty of .he people, for human rights
, are far greater than property rights
This country Is now facing some 0
: the gravest problems of its history -
2 problems Of preparing the country 70
! a>s~ y>s oil nd N