The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-08-28
SATURDAY. AUGUST. 2s 1897.
A sTATEsMAN's ADDRESS.

Some two weeks back the press OF th'
country had brief notices of an address
delivered by Ex-Governor Roswell +.
Flower Of New York, to the New York
state Grange upon the industrial COM
binations of the day. The extracts from
the address that were published contain
ed 50 much good sense that we wrote to
Governor Flower for a fun copy OF 1t
which he has kindly forwarded to us.
perusal OF the entire paper adds to the
favorable impression that We had re-
celyed OF IT. 1t Is the utterance OF
statesman. perfectly familiar with the
economic laws governing the case and
with candor and courage enough to state
them to an audience that was presumably
hostile TO his views.
Governor Flower told the New York
farmers that the Industrial combinations
OF the day were the product Of our ever
developing civilization that must be al
ways inventlng new methods for new con-
dtions. lie then pointed out to them
how the operation Of these combinations
has. in all cases, been for the public good.
Among many most interesting facts
that he brought to their attention he told
them that in 1870 1t required nearly fifty
of the largest railroad systems in the coun-
try to control a majority Of the mileage
Of the country, while now, with the mile
age increased from $1,000 miles in 1870 to
10000 in 1896, majority Of the mileage
is controlled by twenty systems. in 1870
the cost Of carrying bushel Of wheat
from Chicago to New York by rail was
80 cents. In 1926. it was only II cents.
In 1870 the Western Union Telegraph
Company controlled $4,000 miles Of wire.
Now it controls $4,000 miles. The aver
age cost OF each message sent by The
Western Union In 1870 was 20 1-2 cents,
while in 1896 1t was only 500 cents. a re-
duction OF 90 per cent. lie mentioned
many other facts OF the same character
showing that wherever there has been a
consolidation Of industrial interests there
has been a chcapening of products TO the
consumer.
We quote the following Passage from
Governor Flowers address as fairly IL
Illustrative Of the perspicuous and plain
way he treated the subject:
For centuries there were few industrial
or commercial enterprises that could not
be directed and managed entirely by in
dividuals acting each for himself and
without association with others; but with
the growth OF trade and the multipli-
cation OF industries and transportation
facilities. associations OF individuals. act
ing as corporations, were necessary to
conduct large enterprises. and finally the
corporations themselves were forced by
conditions TO combine. when engaged in
the same line OF effort. in order that
greater economies, better results and
more pronts might be attained. These are
the present sO-calicd corporate mOnOpo-
lies and trusts They are to be judged
just as individuals are 10 be judged-by
their deeds. Because one combination Of
capital enjoys for time "A complete mo-
nopOly and uses its power tyranically and
uniustly. al combinations OF capital
should not be denounced. no more than
all churches should be condemned be-
cause one has been mtolerant, or all
statesmen denounced because one has
been corrupt. II sounds large TO speak Uf
the millions OF money represented by GER
tain corporate combinations. but those
millions are not in gold or in silver, but
IN factories. Ina steamships in railroads,
giving employment to Lundreds of thoUs
ands OF men. feeding thousands and thou
sands OF families. enriching the entire
land. and sometimes enriching, some
times impoverishing the shareholders and
managers OF these great interests
In closing no uttered these most timely
and patriotic words:
The public viii watch such combina-
tons critically. as 1t should. but let us
not be blind TO the signs Of the tlnles
and TO the march OF progress let us
be fair IN our criticisms willing TO az
knowledge what is good as well as 20
condemn what is evil III the logic OF
events changes conditions from what
We have been used TO- and those
changes are for the permanent good OF
the community or the country, let us
adapt ourselves and our pursuits TO the
changes. Let us not sit sit on the coat
tail OF progress and holler whoa
Let us readjust our occupations and
our habits, making sacrifices II we
must, Just a. our forefathers had TO
make sacrifices 20 Keep in line with the
march OF progress. Above all lot there
be no room IN manly American minds
for the seeds Of jeal busy and discon-
tent Fortunes stu are within the
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