The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-24
LAVLESS BUSINESS TO BLAME
HADLEY OF MISSOURI TALKS or
THE EVIL AND THE CURE.
Tells Diners From His State That Cor.
porations Which Override tho Law
Are Behind the Bosses and Corrupt
PolitIcs-Praise From Julius Meyer.

arc Dtlutlu TIC AbObSNb III SOETupt
Politics Praise From Julius Meyer.
At the annual dinner last night of the
Missouri Society Of New York, which was
Given In the Aston Gallery of the Waldorf
Astoria, the guest Of honor was Attorney
General Hadley, who has in his official
capacity been making it rather uncom-
Portable recently both here and in the West
for the officials OF the Standard Oil Com
pany.
The dinner this year was not 80 large as
that Of last year, when Gov. Folk was the
guest Of honor, but there was 10 less en-
thusiasm, and Mr.. Hadley got a rousing
reception when he arose to speak. After
praising Missouri for what she had done
for the eradication OF the evils which COR
rupt public life. he said that the RESPONSE
bility for those evils must in the last
analysis rest upon those great commercial
enterprises which exist in violation Of the
common and statute law, and which in the
conduct Of their business resort to dishonest
and illegal methods to secure special
privileges and unfair advantages. Con-
tinuing, he said:
When you investigate any one of the evils
or abuses which to-day command the atten-
ton of the best thought and the best ability
which our country can produce. you Will,
in the great majority OF cases. find as the
original source or cause Of such evil, n busl-
ness enterprise illegal in its plan of organiza-
ton or unlawful In Its business methods.
Behind the political boss. sustaining him in
his power, directing his efforts for omnipo-
tence In the legislative, executive and judicial
departments of our State, county or city
governments. is the industrial boss. the
captain OF industry, who seeks to profit
thereby.
II you will search for an explanation as to
how and why IT was that the city council or
State Legislature has been bribed you will
In the great majority Of cases find that some
business interest has been seeking some
special privilege or dishonest advantage
which it could not secure by the honest judg-
ment OF the representatives OF the people.
II you find Il legislative act unfair and I'M
just In It's provisions and its purposes which
has been killed by the use Of money you will
find In the great majority Of cases that Il has
been directed against some great bushes s
enter prise whose plan Of organization or
whose method Of business Is such that it fears
TO make an open fight with the possibilities
OF resulting exposure. II you find some
one high in political or official position who
under the pretence of being a lawyer receives
q princely retainer for the practice Of his In
nuence instead of his profession in behalf
Of some business interest It will become
known sooner or later that those In charge Of
such interest have so conducted Its affairs as
70 become plrchasers OF protection and sub
jects Of blackmail.
The explanation Of the unfair railroad
freight rate, the midnight tariff. the draw
back or rebate. is that some commercial
interest represents a power and an influence
In our industrial life strong enough to de-
mand and secure such unlawful privileges.
To nv mind the vital problem that con-
fronts the American people to-day is the
question az to whether these great COM
mercial enterprises can continue, as they
have continued In the past. in open defiance
and violation of the laws of the nation and
the State.
II is a conservative statement, fully sus-
tanned nv the Investigations of those familiar
easIi.Io., -
Win our econoinio conu''rone, " soy 'nac
q large portion, If not the greater portion. of
the trade and commerce of this country ia
Swn.d hy oornorate interests which ara I'M
vrrsi ~ a. tha n,an ~ the,r organizatIon
iaWiui eiIhei III ~ pin. ", 80
or In the method In whlch their business Is
conducted.
The corruptIng influence of such condl-
,;ona lie manifest today in the great Tues-
tlons which such conditions have produced.
| do not believe that such conditions can
continue TO exist in our national life. 1 do
'on'inuo W 80 us..inI 49,
not believe that our lhuustrial ana com
merrlai eI' dn W. hoI,ovs that Sofa ,isn,
etfoyeu, l w nov 80 oointion
or government o"hei'h,p :"
or a remedy. but ! 10 peneFe tha' u
industrial system cannon CONTINUE 10 eflst
half lawful. hall unlawful
| believe that the American people, with
that capacity Of rising equal to every emer-
gency that they have displayed in the past.
will see to it that the unlawful shall cease
and conform to the laws which represent
the experience Of CENTURIES and the moral
Judgment of eighty millions of people. And
believe that his result will be accomplished
rot nv INV leeerdemain or trick of finance,
w y. =, az rodinoi denartnre from the hpaton
nv oS II 'au,eaa - IaaisIottyo aotior
pains anu puIpose ~ "a III
1t VIII De accoiaplsheu as we result o ! an
aroused puolic sehtinent anu coISctence.
mnGn wv re9 snnc sl hle mnst he HONEST that
those wSo would be respected bv Others must
respect the rights of others; which will re-
quire that lawyers cease to be accessories to
violations of the law and be true to the prin-
ciples and the traditions OF thelr procession:
M rIann Tt' rr req ho WA tbs snb6sttanna and tho
meth tHe ab n the ripbt, Which viii require
that every public oficer charged with the
enforcement of the law shall unhesitatln gly.
unrelentingly and uncompromisingly, prose
sHaIl Tec% nS tb sh ric ann and tbs wea Ih a nd t the