Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-19
GOV. HUGHES ON PROGRESS
ovERSTRAIN ONE DANGER OF
RAPID GROWTH OF COUNTRY.
New York Executive Speaks at Ban
quet at Buffalo-Railroad Mag
mates Express Their Views.

BUFFALO, April 19.-Gov. Hughes spoke
at the banquet of the chamber Of COM
merce, held at the Ellicott Club last night
to mark the formal opening of the cham
bers new thirteen-story building. The
heads of the railroad trunk lines entering
Bunalo heard the speech unmoved There
was nothing in it to agitate them. The
transportation problem was handled in sim
| liar manner by the presidents and vice
presidents OF the various railroads repre-
Sented All OF them. admitted that their
| lines We're unable to move promptly the
trafhc offered them. but there was con-
spiracy In restraint of trade. They uni
tormly deprecated the public agitation to-
! ward legislation inimical to railroad devel-
opment and declared that the credit OF
American systems being ruined not
only In the United States, but in Europe.
william &. Brown. vice president of the
New York Central. handled his subject
without gloves. Henry ]. Pierce, local trac-
ton magnate. advocated an extra session
OF the legislature of the various states to be
devoted exclusively to the investigation of
charges against public service corporations.
He practically pledged the Buffalo chamber
this end and said other cities would be
asked to take similar action. AS president
of the international railroad he declared
that until there was restoration Of public
confidence In railroads projected improve
ments on his line. which would involve an
expenditure Of $2,OOO0OO. would be held
up. This sentiment found favor to a mark
ed degree among the heads Of steam lines.
The Governors Speech.
]. n. Scratched, the POSTMASTER. intro
duced Gov. Hughes, who was greeted with
enthusiastic cheers Gov. Hughes said:
We have met tonight to commemorate
commercial enterprise and Industrial
achievement You unroll the record Of the
successes of fifty years to find inspiration
and promise for the future. And in the
building you have set apart today for your
chamber Of commerce you have at once
monument and prophecy. The haf-cen-
fury that has passed since your organiZa-
ton has witnessed the development of the
national consciousness which has rendered
the Union secure against Acknowledgement
and has prepared the way for the realiza-
ton upon the largest scale the world has
ever known Of the ideals of democracy and
the blessings which, through equality of
opportunity under a free government, may
come to a united and an Industrious people
For government-and free government-is
not an end. but means. And it's object
is to secure the broadcast diffusion Of pros
perity and the widest scope of individual
opportunity consistent with the welfare Of
Let us on this day Of congratulation will
ingly recognize all the forces that have
contributed to the development of this
great city, and read Alright the lesson OF
mutual dependence and community Of in
terest.
We sometimes hear voiced feeling Of re-
sentiment. against the assertion of public
rights upon the ground that It is an attack
upon the business interests Of the country
sulen and defiant attitude toward pub
lie opinion Ill becomes an American citi-
zen. Both unprincipled attempts to cor
rupt 1T and despotic efforts to defy it must.
in this land Of sound common sense, in
evitably fall
Growing Too Fast.
One of tha dapparS of tho ronidif,y o,r
development is overstrain. Brain and nerve
have never been subjected to such tests as
are now imposed upon those who are
charged with the responsibilities of success,
either In commercial, Industrial or profess
sional life. A railroad man told me the
other day that for the purpose of secur-
Ing necessary assistants in the enlargement
Of his railroad facilities he had sent to one
Of the largest railroad corporations in the
country for list Of available men. He
had received the names of considerable
number between thirty-five and forty-fve
many who had won distinction for their
abilities, and against all was the note
broken down." That 1 suppose was the
reason why they were available"
Now, in q situation like this where eXecu-
tive ability is crowded to the utmost and
the demands of the day are multiplied,
while the hours of the day remain mex
orably fixed, there Is danger of an undue
tenseness and of a tendency to disorganiza-
ton. If l were to put In a phrase the
special demand of the hour upon all those
engaged in the discussion of public and
economic questions affecting the business
interests Of the country. should say. Let
these questions be upon your conscience
and upon your heart, but not upon your
nerves"
The prevailing sentiment in this country
Is wholesome and just; 1t is idealstic; 1t
rejoices in the extension of commerce and
the development of industry; 1t takes pride
in the ability that invents, in the talent
that can organize effort and make co-opera-
ton productive; 1t honors honest toll Of
hand or brain; it prizes sagacity and thrift;
it extols prudence; it reverences achieve
ment. But it also demands honesty. 1t
also eXacts fidelity both to private and to
public obligation. 1t believes in freedom of
opportunity. not that few may exploit
the many, but that each. working according
to his talent may receive just return
and that the rights of all in their COM
munity relayons shall be paramount to the
selfish interest of any one.