The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1920-11-02
1.-THE MENACE OF CLASS CONTROL -

- THE MENACE OF CLASS CONTROL
$ We have just passed through the greatest in
history war that has affected the entire world
and shaken civilization to its very foundation. We
struggling to weather the storms Of discomfort and
radicas that threaten the very structure which
this Government founded. This, friends is a
most critical period in the history of our Republic
The situation in this country is not without danger,
yeti am certain in America can meet the challenge
and safely weather the Storm but must not sit idly
byI have faith in the broad mind and big heart of
the average American. In his heart there is spark
OF Justice which though dined from time to time by
the Shadows of dangerous events WILL when the call
for Americanism comes, leap into flame and destroy
the nsdious forces of seshness and greed that seek
to. dominate American life.
We should be encouraged in our confidence by the
compelling facts of history. America has already to
her credit two complete victories over classes that
sought to perver the purpose Of her existence and she
also has to credit the fact that she helped to bring
about the downfall Of the powerful miltarstic
class In Germany Whose control proved to be deadly
naenace to that Empire.
In the middle of the nineteenth century America dis
posed effectively Of her first great problem Of class
conirol great and powerful class in the South, IN
the pursuit Of its selfish interest sought to control
the Government through human slavery and to fasten
the yoke of this sinister control upon the entire nation
Arneficanism was equal to- the challenge and on the
battlefield destroyed the first great menace Of class
rule -"
In the closing quarter of the last century the tide Of
American population had reached the Pacific the from
tier had disappeared and the magnificent body of free
land which invited people to the far West and at
ferded an outlet to industrial pressure and social dis
content occupied.
With the growth Of population came the national
development of extensive system of railroads. the
most efficient the world and the growth of the great
industrial corporation and trussthey had performed
q great service-without them rapid development
would have been impossible
Drunk with power, made arrogant in the success
they had achieved these forces developed disregard
Of the public welfare, sort of "Public Be-damned
Policy
It became apparent if the corporations and trusts
were to be permitted to go without restraint, they
speedily would control the whole country and dictate
tIe policies. Our Government would degenerate into
ore dominated wholly by particular class The pub
lie mind became Influenced against them. The anti
rebate law the Sherman Antitrust law, the law Great
ing the Interstate Commerce Commission, and many
other restrictive enactd to curb the ab
normal power of the corporations and make impossible
the domination of the Republic by the capitalistic
class.
That conflict is behind U.s. We engaged III
struggle just dangerous, aye to the Republic
and upon the outcome OF which depends in large
measure the future of our country.
While the present issue has been Urged on by the
world war, it appeared cloud bigger than
hand at the beginning of this century 1t seen in
the enactment ct laws made to apply to particular
class of our people. Given acts made unlawful
if done by one class and lawful if done by another
class Law thereupon, ceased to be fixed rule of
conduct prescribing what was right and prohibiting
what wrong, but the recttude or the wrong was
depend wholly upon the class or group responsible
for cloud first appeared ominous in the pas