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

that unless the Republican Party
should keep its pledges. the agitation
would not cease and 1t would be disa8-
be the case.
There are, OF course, many problems
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 whole AS agrl'
culture constitutes the principal basis
of the wealth and prosperity Of the
country, everything which it is legiti-
mate for the congress or the states to
do to increase the prosperity OF the
farmer should be done. Farming OC-
equations 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 1t legitimately can to increase the
productiveness of the soil, improve the
system of agriculture and make farm
life attractive, for unless the farm Is
both attractive and profitable II will
not hold the ambitious rising genera
ton.
cannot in this speech more than
very briefly state my position upon
tab I Il
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
citic Southern Pacific merger. In the
Standard Oil case the power Of the
government to regulate large industrial
corporations or combinations engaged
in interstate commerce was definitely
established. The abuses then prac-
tced. 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 enjOiIed.
Not only this, but all the defendant
Standard Oil Companies. their officers,
agents and individual defendants
(being the directors and principal
stockhoIdersl were enjoned from In
future agreeing on prices Of petroleum
and its products, from agreeing on the
terms of purchase or sale or rates OF
transportation or the quantity to be
sold, transported or manufactured. or
agreeing not to compete; and they
were eniOinod from entering into or
performing any like combination or
conspiracy which would be to restrain
commerce among states In petroleum
and it's products.
II there are any agreements today
between the various Standard Oil Com
panies and individuals who were par
ties to that case. or any two OF 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 If 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 If 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
p0rations engaged in legitimate bust
ness but constantly aid in preventing
agreements raising prices, or other
| conduct injurious to the public.
am Republican, and believe In
the principles and policies OF that
marty. l am, however. unwilling to
place the party above the country, or
party tealty above the demands OF
| 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 have
voice by vote in the affairs Of gov
| eminent. and that one of the first du
tics of craftsmanship Is TO jealousy
guard the principles on which cousti
tutional representative democracy IL
| founded,
We should strive for laws in the
interest OF social Justice, and higher
state OF civilization; laws prohibiting
child labor. which is cruel, inhUmar
and tends TO degenerate the race: laws
to maintain the independence, security
and integrity of labor. and laws III tbs
interest of the safety. health and NOR
arity of the people for human rights
are far greater than property rights
This country is now facing some Of
the gravest problems of its history -
problems Of preparing the country fol-
| defense, of maintaining the 0atipua