The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-05-11

or "A given party on questions OF public
policy not only can be. but almost always
should he, combined with the frankest
recognition OF the infinitely greater num-
Der or points OF agreement than OF the
points OF difference.
And ! have accepted your kind and
generous invitation to come before you
this evening because the longer / am in
political life the more firmly | am con-
vinced that the great bulk OF the ques-
tions OF most importance before US as
people are questions which we can de-
eide not from the standpoint OF Repub-
licanism or Democracy but from the
standpoint OF the interests OF the average
American citizen, whether Republican or
Democrat
"One OF the works Uncle Sam has on
hand just at the present is digging tho
Panama canal. and II is going to be dug
1t is going TO be dug honestly and as
cheaply as IL compatible with efficiency,
but with efficiency first ! wanted con-
gress 10 give me power to remodel the
commission. 1t didn't do IT.
CAPITAL AND LABOR.
II remodelled it anyhow purely in the
exercise OF my executive functions: and
made UP my mind this time that I was
not going TO make the slightest effort TO
represent different sections OF the coun-
try on that canal; I was going TO try to
have the whole country represented and
put the best man could get in any given
position without the slightest regard 10
where he came from. believe that sooner
or later it witt pc found that the great
bulk OF our people agree with what am
about 10 saw
Among the most vital questions that
have come ug for solution. because Of the
extraordinary industrial development OF
this country, as Of all tho modern world
are the questions OF capital and labor.
and the questions resulting from the effect
unon the public OF the orga MIA ton into
great masses of both capital and labor
II believe thoroughly in each kind of
organization. but 7 recognize that IL either
kind OF organiza tion does, what is wrong
the increase In it's power for efficiency
that has resulted from the combination
means the increase in its power to do
harm. and that. therefore. corporation
that is, organized capital. and union, that
is organized labor, must alike he held TO a
peculiar responsibility TO the public at
large. and that from each alike we have
tho right TO demand not only obedience
TO the law, but services TO the public.
TRANSPORTATION PROBLEM.
when this nation was created. such a
thing as a modern corporation not only
did not exist but could not he imagined
That is especially true OF tho great mod
ern corporations engaged in interstate
commerce
"a century ago the highways of COM
merce were exactly such as they had been
from the DAYS Of the dawn OF civilization
on the banks OF the Nile and In Mesopota-
mia. We now have tho great highways OF
commerce OF an entirely different kind.
Now, gentlemen. lot me in the first
place insist upon the fact that the men
who have built up the great systems OF
this country like the other mon who have
built up the great industries of this couu-
try. have, as a rule made their fortunes
as Incidents 20 benehting and not To
harming the country.
AS rule, benefit and not harm has
come from their efforts, and in making
fortunes for themselves they have done
good 10 all ~ us
Personally 7 believe that the Federal
government must take an Increasing con-
troll over corpors tiors trust there will
be no halt In the steady process 80 as