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Things To Ponder

Things To Ponder image
Parent Issue
Day
21
Month
August
Year
1903
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Governor La Follette, of Wisconsin, is recognized as an able man and one who does his own thinking. He is too big a man to accept everything his party does as gospel. He has convictions which he is not able to put way even for the purpose of standing in with the powers which shape the party policy. He does not believe the chief end of party organizations is to keep in. And he is big enough to attract the attention of the country by his utterances.

 

Speaking recently at Chautauqua he declared there was not an important trust in the United States that does not have the assistance of the railroads in crushing its competitors. Continuing, he said:

 

"The most superficial study of the present situation in national, state and city government, demonstrates that these special interests have no idea of yielding to authority of law or of bringing their business strictly within legitimate lines. Yet these public-service corporations, these trusts and combinations of wealth and power, must be made to yield to the law, to stand on the same footing, share the same burdens in government that all citizens, all subjects of the state owe to the state; however great the difficulties, the supreme authority must be maintained. But how shall these rebellious subjects of the state be made obedient to the law? A better comprehension of the enormity and extent of corruption in nation, state and municipal legislation, and of its real peril to popular government is everywhere manifesting itself. A grim determination is here and there taking possession of some public official to do this full public duty. We have throughout the country some conspicuous examples of what may be accomplished by courageous leadership supported by the people in a determined effort to maintain good government."