The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1918-06-19

consider how we
have met great problems-such as
slavery, by a great war; tariff. by
fourteen bills and q like number of
panics; conservation, currency, bank.
Ing. antitrust and railroad questions,
by making the same matters of poll
tics-it may be doubted whether we
are quite as great al we. think we are.
In considering how we exercise u
Judgment, we should remember the
extent to which we have devoted our.
and the large sums we have spent at
all times for public schools and for
colleges. When We look back and see
the mistakes we have made, It would
almost appear as II we had failed to
apply much that had been taught us In
school and college, or that perhars the
school and college lad not taught us
how to solve great political measures.
Then, again. the thought comes to us
Of whether or not we have not had
false leaders. and have not chung TO
false gods.
Corporation Wrongs.
We all remember the cutlery against
vested Interests of the capitalists.
There have beer great wrongs lone
by many corporations-some of their
franchises have been obtained by cor
ruption and theft and great injuries
have often been done to the rights of
the people: and so. when we found
times hard and things going wrong,
we have vented our anger upon cor
porations and upon the capitalists who
controlled them. Tn many cases we
allowed ourselves TO become angry
with q class or with certain individ-
uals and expended our strength on
our temper. rather than upon a study
of the cure Of the conditions about
which we complained; and In mans
instances we punished corporations
for the wrongs OF their predecessors
In ownership. much as sins of parents
are visited upon their children.
Demagogues, knowing the public
mood, appealed to prejudice and ig-
npfance In discussing public matters
and made issues like currency, anti
trust laws and the railroads political
footballs. Just as II the question Of
whether money could be saved by
joining together companies and pro-
viding for economy in purchases and
sales was political. OF curse II was
matter OF economics (which Is the
science Of ~commerce). Such matters
cali for 4 conference between repre-
~sentatives Of farmers. laborers, SCI
enti6c students OF world conditions,
ana manufacturers and purchasers OF
goods, to consider and determine how
goods can be produced with a fair
wage to the employee. a fair profit to
the employer and the maximum bene.
at to the public.
Future Problems.
In Europe they have taken these
questions up In this careful way and
the result has been Of great benefit.
Now, and In the future, America will
have to deal with countries that are
short OF y through the exhaus.
ton Of war and have, of necessity, to
get down to rock-bottom. The thrifty,
Intelligent, Industrious European Ia
apt to be . good merchant. and we are
going to have a hard time competing
with him for and for world
position, 20 we must consider all OF
Our problems more carefully than eveI
before and cast aside those men whe
attempt to lead Us away from a
thoughtful. dispassionate view of great
questions.
Graft and neglect IN local communi-
Ties OF political duties by the average
citizen are responsible for the misgov.
eminent that breeds disrespect, where
~ Should. have pride because of ths
emcioucy Of our people. The first con
eorn o. the citizen In every community
must ~ to see that It il governed II
way that will ssure the approva
q CLAN thinking men and women
The mechanics governing a city re
Quiro the same kind Of clear though
ana careful work as that given Il
ahop work or farm planning. and ever,
rood. American must feel that at thi
41me there II nothing more WORT
while.
r. wekdo these things well, we will
not have to worry about the foreign
born loving America. because Twin
conditions here will be so excellen
that they simply annot help It, esps
daily when they are given not alon
good government and healthy condI
tiono surrounding home and wor
shop but also education. opportunit
and axcharter Of liberties which wi
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