The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-11-12
That There Is None for Grave
Industrial Problems.
OLD TIME VIRTUES.
Avoidance of Undesirable Traits
in Human Character.
These, He Says, Are the Basis
of Better Conditions.


of the guests of the occasion. The /
guests of honor were President Roose-
welt, Prince Hans Heinrich Won Pless
the representative of the German en- /
pire; Sir Michael Henry Herbert, the |
British ambassador; Jules Cambon, the |
French ambassador; Secretary of War |
Root; Secretary OF the Treasury Shaw, |
General Macarthur, Governor Odell, /
Mayor Low and Rear Admiral Barber. |
A telegram of regret was received I
from Count Cassini, the Russian am
bassador.
After congratuIatory cablegrams had |
been read by Morris K. Jessup, presi- |
dent of the chamber, President Roose- |
welt delivered the principal address of
the evening.
Il do not wish to speak to you in the /
language of idle compliment and yet il /
is but a bare statement of fact to say
that nowhere in cur country could there /
be gathered an audience which would
stand as more typically characteristic 1
than this of all those qualities and at
tributes which have given us of the
United. States our commanding position
in the Industrial world There is no
need of my preaching to this gathering
the need of combining efficiency with
upright dealing, for, as an American.
and as a citizen of New York, am
proud to feel that the name of your or
ganization carries with it a guaranty
of both and your practice counts for
more than any preaching could possibly
count.
portance. because its position toward
the nation is unique and the chamber
of commerce of New York must OF ne
cessity be an element of weight in the
commercial and industrial welfare of
| the entire people New York is the
great port of entry for our country
/ the port in which centers the bulk of
! foreign commerce of the country-and
I her welfare is therefore no matter of
mere local municipal. but of national
concern. The conduct of the govern
ment in dealing with matters affecting
the financial and commercial relations
of New York must continually take
! into account this fact; and ii must be
taken into account in approaching the
choice of the part played by the New
! York chamber of commerce. This body
stands for the triumphs of peace both
abroad and at home.
| We nave passed that stage of ma
! tional development when depreciation OF
other peoples is felt as a tribute to our
own. We watch the growth and pros
perity of other nations, not with hatred
and iealous:'. but with sincere and
! friendly good will. I think-I can safely
say that we have shown by our attitude
toward Cuba, by our attitude toward
/ China. that as regards weaker powers
our desire is that they may be able to
stand alone ard -hat if those will only
show themselves willing to deal honest
ly and fairly with the rest of mankind,
we our side viii do all we can to
/ help. not to hinder them With the
great powers of the world we desire no
rivalry t.eat is not honorable to both
parties We wish them well.
! I'VE believe that the trend of the mod
ern spirit is ever stronger toward peace,
not war; toward friendship, not hostility
as the normal international attitude. We
| are glad indeed that we are on good
4 terms with all the other peoples of man
kind and no effort on our part shall be
| spared to secure a continuance of these
relations. And remember. gentlemen.
4 that we shall be potent factor for
Ilr~crn in
in which we make it evident that oul
attitude is due not to weakness. not to
inability to defend our United States,
but to a genuine reDugnance to wrong
doing a genuine desire for self respect
I ing friendship with our neighbOrs- The
voice of the weaklinc or the craven
counts for nothing when he clamors for
peace. but the voice of the just man
armed is potent. We need to keep in
condition of preparedness and especially
as regards our navy. not because We
want war. but because we desire to
stand with those whose plea for peace
is listened to with respectful attention
Important though it is that we should
be at peace abroad, it is even more inn
portant we should have peace at home.
You, men Ct the chamber OF commerce.
to whose efforts we owe so much of our
industrial well being, can. and believe
surely will be influential in helping
! toward that industrial peace which can
obtain in society only when in their va
, rious rela tons employer and employed
alike show not merely insistence each
upon his own rights but also regard for
the rights of others and full acknowl-
edgment of the interests of the third
party-the public. 1t is not success. 1t
is no easy matter to work out a system
or rule of conduct, whether with or
without the help of the lawgiver, which
shall minimize that Earring and clashing
of interests in the industrial world,
which causes so much individual irrita-
ton and suffering at the present day,
and which at times threatens baleful
consequences to large portions of the
body polite. But the Importance of the
problem can not be everest mated. and
it deserves to receive the careful thought
of all men, such as those whom I am
addressing tonight There should be no
Welding no wrong but there should
most certainly be not only a desire to
do right, but a Willingness. each to try to
understand the viewpoint of his fellow.
with whom, for veal or for woe. his own
fortunes are indissolubly bound
mo patent remedy can be devised for
the solution of these grave problems in
the industrial world but we may rest
assured that they can be solved if at
all only if we bring to the solution GER
tain old time virtues and if we strive to
keep out of the solution some of the
most familiar and undesirable traits to
which mankind has owed untold degra-
dalton and suffering throughout the
ages Arrogance, suspicion. brutal envy
of the well to do, brutal Indifference
toward those who are not we'll to do. the
refusal to consider the rights of others.
the foolish refusal to consider the limits
of benef1cent action, the base appeal To
the spirit of selfish creed, whether il
takes the form of plumber of the fortu-
nate or of oppression of the unfortu-
nate-from these and from all kindred
vices the nation must be kent free il
it is to remain in its present position
in the forefront of the peoples of man.
kind.
'.On the other hand. good viii come
even out of the present evils. if we face
them armed with the old homel-7 vir-
! tues # we show thai we are fearless
of soul, cool of head and kindly OF
heart: if. without betraying the weak