The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-09-04
AUTHORIZATIONS
is HEARST THEME
Speaks to Trades Assembly at
Syracuse
PROGRAMME NOT RADICAL
Favors Public Ownership of Utilities,
But First Qualification Is Honesty
In Office and independ-
ence In Voting.
NOT RADICAL

Syracuse. N. 7, September 8-W. r.
Hearst as the guest of the local Trades
assembly addressed nearly 800 persons
here today. In the course of his speech
Mr.. Hearst said:
1.-THE producing classes should stand
shoulder to shoulder in the struggle
against the exploiting corporations. have
been a member of the labor committee
in the House of Representatives and I
know the attitude of the corporations on
the wage question.
1.-THE insincerity of these corporation at
torneys before the committee has been
made clear to me in several ways. I have
seen attorneys for protected interests APP
pear before the labor committee and ask
for cheap labor in order to compete sue
cessfully in foreign markets, and l have
seen these same attorneys for the same
interests on the same day step right
across the hall to the committee on ways
and means and ask for higher protection
in order to pay higher wages
1.-The Erie railroad has just increased
its earnings but the talk In financial CEN
tiers is not increasing in proportion the
in proportion the freight rates to the
farmers. The talk is simply how much
more watered stock can the Erie issue and
pay interest on2
Made to Favor Corporations.
THE laws are made to favor the corpor-
atoms and they are largely made by at
torneys for the corporations Judge Parker
to a tvnipa1 cornora+iOn attorney and
says there are enough laws, and that
the people do not need or desire any
more. l say there are more than enough
of the wrong kind of laws, but not enough
of the right kind of laws. l do not adj
voeate a strictly labor union party. | do
not urge class distinction. but the abolish
ment of 1t.
My programme is not socialism or rad
icalism or extreme of any kind. call 1t
Americanlsm And to my mind 1t is sim
ply a plan to put into practical operation
the American theory of government.
II believe in the retention by the peo-
pie of the public franchises. l believe in
public ownership of public utilities. But
the first qualification for public ownership
Is honesty in office and independence In
voting.
Protection Has Been Abused.
Il believe that the protective principle
is valuable in itself, but has been UNI
reasonably extended and outrageously
abused. | believe in protection for infant
Industries. l believe in protection for
American labor. But believe American
labor should be protected against the high
protectionists who use the protective tariff
to build up monoplies and use those mo-
nopoies to increase the cost of living
and to control the demand for labor and
the rate of wages
IT believe American labor should be
protected against Chinese labor and
against the entering wedge of oriental
conditions, If American men were able
to fight In the tropics they are able to
work in the tropics If properly paid, and
properly cared for.
II believe the tariff should be modi-
fed and public ownership inaugurated, but
that both should be done cautiously and
conservatively. | believe in the restraint
and regulation of Trusts and monopolles
by law. ! believe in the prison penalty
for the responsible representative of GRIM
inal combinations.
IT believe in the direct responsibility OF
all representatives of the people and In
terms so that this responsibility will never
be forgotten"