The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-03-06
Secretary Cortelyou's Speech
He Outlines the Work and Policy OF
His Department.

His Department.
The speech Of Secretary Cortelyou
at the banquet of the New England
Manufacturers. jewelers., and Silver
smiths Association in Providence,
will undoubtedly increase the conf
dence with which he has thus far IN
spired the public il his character and
ability. There Is, perhaps, no public
man who Is more thoroughly liked
than Mr.. Cortelyou, who has in COM
paratively short time won his way TO 4
place in the Cabinet, simply by doing
whatever he had to do In exactly the
right way. He has never yet failed
to be equal to the occasion, and GER
iainly the work of laying the founda-
tons of a new department, which
shall deal with some Of the most DIFF
fcult problems that beset our people.
is one which demands a resourceful
and sagacious man. One sentence in
Mr.. Cortelyou's speech goes far to
show his ability to meet this demand.
lie says:
Il would rather a thousand times
have 1t said Of this new department
that IN It's early stages. with the great
interests committed TO It's care. It
moved too slowly rather than too
fast"
Again, he says:
"There Is no question that comes
before the new department that !
shall dodge or upon which / shall
equivocate. The best friend of the
business man today, as he is also the
best friend of the laboring man. is he
who speaks plainly Of shortcomings
and of inherent weaknesses, but who
*, at the same time.-a conservative
force, ever attempting to appeal for
broad view Of the great questions
involved and ever determined to keep
himself aIoof from the narrow preju-
dice Of the hour
This conservatism, this determine
ton to build for the future instead of
the mere present, for the whole and
not for part of the business interests
of the country, must characterize
these who shape the policy of the new
department, if 1t Is to be of any use
to the people. That is one point
which the Secretary makes, which the
country viii do well to bear in mind.
The other strong point which he
makes is this:
q believe in organized capital, as /
believe in organized labor, but. what
ever may be their organization, thev
must be organized under the law and
for obedience to the law"
In this age Of indifference to law
breaking, so it is successful. II is re-
freshing to hear words like these. and
70 be convinced that they are backed
by the influence Of a public man un-
dertaking a mighty work. The sorest
grievance which the average work
ingman has against capital today lies
IN his belief that the rich can twist
and turn law in any way to serve
their turn. that the law Is. in reality.
merely an instrument in the hands o.
the powerful. Unfortunately. this
too often proves true. In like man
ner, the strongest argument against
the labor union IN the public mind Is
the disregard Of law which has some
times been shown by its members. In
short, the weak point Of both organ;-
cations lies III the extent 10 which law
Is broken. twisted or disregarded bv
either. If the Department Of Com
mercc and Labor can make this truth
SO clear that neither capital nor labor
can dodge it, it will do a great work.