The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-01-10

the people down to the government, not from the government up to the people.
 He should be taught that his ballot is
 his crown, and to sell if is treason to
 himself and his fellow-men. He should
 know that the man who neglects to
 take an intelligent interest in the poit- ical we'll being of his native town, city,
 state and nation, neglects his first duty
 as q citizen. I emphasize the word ''in- telligent,' for otherwise his activity
 would be a positive force for evil. He should learn 10 try, at least, to distln- 1 guish between reforms and reformers. They may be coincident. but not neces-
 sarily. The political crimes of history
 have been committed in the name of re- | form. He should learn that q lie can I be printed, and that printing it in red
 ink does not make it the truth.
 In other words, when a boy is learn 1 ing to read and cipher. would 1t not be possible to teach him little something of what he is learning to read and cl pher for?
 This subject is one of great interest to those in charge Of our high schools, and it may be possible to extend this interest to the common or district schools. The Constitutions of the state
 of Connecticut and the United States, with such simple expana tions as might be added with the full approval of all intelligent and patriotic man, would be all the textbook needed, and if the ex- pertinent did not make statesmen Of all the rising generatio it would be worth the cost if 1t started any considerable number of our boys oil the road to in- telligent honest citizenship, who other wise might join the ever-increasing army of doubtfuls.
 CORPORATIONS.
 The corporations doing business in Connecticut are under your supervision. Some of them enjoy franchises of great value. They are proper subjects for taxation and should pay their full share of the expenses of the government which protects them in the enjoyment of their privileges. But in your treat ment of them it is well to remember that they are great economic armies, the direct product of industrial neces- sity, I might almost say that nature developed them for her own subjuga- tion The corporations in the United States are the trained regulars that must fight the industrial battles of America against the world. If any of them in Connecticut seem to oppress instead of benefit the people it will sel- dom, if ever, be the fault of the fran chise or combina tion of capital i'll it. self It will be the fault of the men who manage or control that franchise. Examine then, and regulate, and de- mand honest and economic service, but never cripple or destroy an American enterprise whose purpose it is to cheap en the cost of production or transporta tion. The American people will not and need not endure monopolies If it ever becomes possible for monopolies to be created by contract, such combina- tions must either be a positive benefit to the people of their own volition or suffer such governmental visitation as they will deserve.
 GENERAL LEGISLATION.
 Divorces and releases from state pris- on as well as many other matters re- quiring judicial consideration have been wisely committed by your prede l cessors to appropriate tribunals. The l creation and organization of corpora tions should as far as possible be left to , the direction of safe general legislation. |
 The necessity of adopting uniform legislation in the states of the Union is 8 matter of growing importance Eve ry possible encouragement should be given to the interstate boards in their 1 efforts to secure uniform laws Tegula- ting marriage, divorce, descent, wills, insolvency commercial paper, notarial 1 certificates, acknowledgements of deeds | and the standards of weights and The president of the state board of commissioners for promoting of legislation in the United States is a learned and conscientious member of the Connecticut bar, and his upon this subject deserve most careful consideration.
 The labors devolvine upon the clerk lf bills are constantly increasing. It is to him that your committees look for of error of every name and nature, and 1t is to him that the people must look in a great measure for the ounce Of prevention to save the pound | of cure. Such capable assistance as may be required by this officer to insure