The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-06-13
where DANCER IS
Not in Country, but in Cities,
Says Bird s. COler.

Champaign. Ill, June 13.-Comptroller
Bird S. Coler, of New York, delivered
the principal address at the commence
ment of the state university today.
and some of his statements created a
sensation. He said in part:
THE great civic and political prob
lens of this country today We're born
of the social conditions that exist in
the cities, and there the fight for more
intelligence and a higher standard of
public honesty must be fought and
won. No serious danger to American
institutions turks anywhere on the
broad and fertile prairies of Illinois or
the west. where patriotism is universal
and honesty the inherent birthright of
every citizen.
But in the great cities of the east
and west, with their teeming, StT'ug-
Cling, restless thousands, who tasting
liberty for the first time are prone to
mistake it for the intoxicating license
of unreasoning freedom, there are
problems that require for their just
settlement the wisdom and patience of
the best citizenship.
Corruption in state and municipal
government has too long been ac-
cepted in this country as a matter of
course; there has been a growing ten
dcncy upon the part of men who were
otherwise good citizens to shirk public
duties. They wanted to keep out of
politics and public lifS, Dut in keeping
out they made room in both places for
men who ought to be in jail.
THE spirit of corrupt commercialisln
has invaded politics and public life in
this country and in some of the larger
cities the invasion has for a time over
run the government. By the spirit of
commercialism in this correction I
mean that public feeling, far too prev
alent in this country, that politics is a
business and those engaged in it are
entitled to make money out of it.
The old system of stealing from the
public treasury has passed away, and
the safer and more profitable plans of
| bartering political influence for stock
in corporations has succeeded.
Bad government may be tolerated
| for time, but corrupt politics and cor
| pOrate greed in combination call for
prompt measures for the protection OF
| the rights of the people.
THE rapid development of the vast
resources of this country has been in
a large measure due to legitimate COM
| hination of capital and the man of in
! f1uence who opposes corporations with
/ out reason becomes a mere stumbling
| block in the path of progress.
| THE time is coming, however, when
! the grant by a state government of q
| charter conveying to a corporation spe-
/ cial powers and privileges will carry
| with it the right TO inspect and regu-
| late the business created or carried or
| under that grant This cannot be &
it is no more than a proper extension
| Of the power and duty of the govern
| ment. tst Hls
But in legislating to correct abuses
and to better protect the rights of the
people as a whole, the greatest wisdom
must be exercised to prevent over leg
| islation. We are now the most ovel
| governed people on earth, and I feal
that much of the excess is due to tn,
efforts of educated men who mean wei
| but are not practical.
What we want is less government
less politics-more honesty and NOR
intelligence"