Klamath Union High School - El Rodeo Yearbook (Klamath Falls, OR)

Page 19 text:

KLAMATH COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL BOOMER. 9 The Square Deal. IBY FRANK EARL WILSON, i011 . During the present administration the thinking people of the United States have been puzzled over the conviction of numerous cases of dishonesty and graft in public offices. Whether or not this exposure of graft is a sign of degeneration of moral character is the foremost question in the minds of our people. The pessi- mist will answer in the affirmative, citing as proof that a few years ago the prosecution and conviction of a public official was almost unknown; that because there was no official dishonesty brought to light it followed that none existed. On the other hand, when the facts are known it seems obvious that the discovery of political graft is the result of the moral awakening of our people, led by our beloved president, Theodore Roosevelt. Thomas A. Edison says that nature has never failed to furnish him a neeessary substance to fill a vacant place that will make his production practical. So it is in history. . The All Knowing Ruler of the universe has never failed to 'produce the right character for the required place. Washington appeared to lead our ancestors through the darkest times to victory and independence. Lincoln appeared in his mission of preserving the U nion and now it is the mission of Roosevelt to revolutionize our standards of public morality and honesty. Where could there be found a man who is more capable of carrying to a subcessful conclusion such a mission? He came to the presidency after nearly twenty years of public life. During this time he had sought office at the hands of the people but three times and none could come up the back stairs of the White House to collect a bill for political services. Wall street was afraid of him because he had pushed a bill through the New York legislature making large corporations pay their share of taxation. He was full of enthusiasm for the right, and ambition to do the right. He had the moral courage and faith that the people would back him in his efforts against corruption. L He commenced his war on dishonesty within a month after he

Page 18 text:

8 KLAMATH COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL BOOMER. farmhouse with its broad shady porches. He sprang up the steps, his heart oierflowing with happiness, for the houSe was strong and noble, and its four corner stones were Honor, Faithfulness, Brotherhood, and Civic Righteousness, and the pillars that support- ed.the porch were Peace, Contentment, and Happiness. ' His moth- er came to the door, her beautiful hands extended, and oh, such a depth of forgiving tenderness in those eyes, those wonderful moth- He opened his arms, his heart bursting.with gladness, and-awoke! Still the terrible tumult of traffic tortured the suf- fering air; still men rushed on with the insane fury of grinding greed; and the poor man groaned 1n agony I know life' s meaning now, alas, too late, too late! er eyes. u'l , mmLL Mi 0 w u IIIIIQJUIHQHHHHTTII mum 6.3 a 7?th mm ' WI $2ng m ?inifflnhlm . uh I: run ... m e vi gmtwv' MOI 2r :3; untu- -V ' $??M W m WNW 3 arm. mu ngml If H bur! mm TWNa-m m '1'! Mi Imwm 1 rm u H o .pno 7m h- ! n u Onw-QH h'm 9.5M 1- pv-w . m ' What! mu... 0'

Page 20 text:

10 KLAMATH COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL BOOMER. had been sworn into the presidential chair. His first skirmish was With the beet sugar trust against their- plan to prevent Cuban reciprocity. His was a moral issue-a square deal-the dutv of this nation to Cuba, and McKinleyis promise to fulfill that duty. This was foremost in his mind and the people saw his point and gave him their support. This was a typical struggle. Along this same line he has been fighting dishonesty ever since. He asks more than he expects to get and gets more than his enemies ex- pect to give. , He weut into the fight with a clear moral, vision, a clean mind and a simple boyish heart. William Allen White: says uHe puts all the energy of his forceful character behind his faith in God, and his belief in'common honeSty and therefore plays no tricks, lays no ambushes, relies on 'no strategy, but seeing his duty goes to it joyously, bravely and with a wise direction and simplicityf' The passage of the law creating ,a department of Commerce and Labor reminded the people of the Governmentfs right to investi- gate private business affairs. The usquare deal stands for the fact that every man should have every dollar he really earns and he can do this only when no man is allowed to have a dollar he does not actually earn. His idea 'on the railroad rate question is a plea for simple honesty. He cannot see why the misfortunes of the shippers should be capitalized and transportation charges based on the need of service instead of being based on the actual cost of service. i ' J ust laws never interfere with those who do what is right. . It is always the dishonest class who cry about laws being unjust. The meat inspection law and the pure food laws would have caused no fuss if the manufacturers of these articles had been giving honest values. Therefore, if a man is working against a law that will promote public honesty he is either a grafter himself or is under the influence of some grafter. The cause. of dishonesty in our nation is obvious. ' During the past generationthis country has been earnestly engaged in getting rich. In the thirty years that followed 1870, thirty million people have come upon this continent and surged westward, taking with them the customs and traditions of the East and after getting Ont West have found and appropriated privileges that they were not