The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-07-02

the Industrial and commercial world.
with access to our railways nc longer
free to all upon equal terms; with a
large body Of our people financially in
terested in the perpetuatlon of these
conditions, grave problems were raised
in the just solution of which our eco
nomic freedom was involved.
Federal Legislation.
In the solution of these problems our
Federal Government enacted an anti
trust law; created the Interstate Com
merce Commission and the Department
OF Labor and Corporations, and con-
fined the interstate transportation COM
panies TO their legitimate sphere of
carriage.
Regulation of that Is in
t~erstate marks the confines of the power
Of the Federal Government to deal with
these problems.
In so far as they are due to transac-
tons n conditions wholly Interstate
the responsibility for their solution
rests upon the several States.
We propose that this State equally
face this responsibility, that in so do
ing It hold the scales even between the
whole people and the special interests,
moving neither In passion nor with un-
intelligent bias, but in accordance with
the dictates Of intelligent judgment
based upon a careful. calm, deliberate
and thorough study of the problems.
We propose legislation IN line with
the federal legislation forbiddlng under
the penalties of the criminal law COM
binations, contracts and agreements
unreasonably In restraint of trade. and
the creation of a State Railroad Com
mission, with powers sufficiently broad
adequately to- deal with these problems.
I am told that this matter was set
tied by the creation at the present
session of a State Railroad Commits
sion. I say to you. however, that it
is not settled, for the powers of this
commission are inadequate. otherwise
what need would there be for the pas
sage at the same session of an act
regulating demurrage charges. No
question Is settled until 1t tbs settled
right.
If the creation of the proposed COM
mission would establish n body, action
by which would follow a careful and
thorough consideration, and would in
validate the only excuse that the spe-
cial interests have offered for their in
reference in political affairs and the
presence of their lobbyists in our
halls of legislation, I can see no sound
reason for their opposition, unless 1t be
that their intention in political affairs
has as its basis some reason other
than the protection of their legitimate
interests from attack.
If the creation of this commission
should terminate or even minimize the
political activity of the railroads. an
end much to be desired would be incl
dentally attained, for after all misgov-
eminent with us lis but an incident In
the history of commerce. 1t is part of
the ruthless triumph of commercial
progress"
The concentration of Industrial and
commercial enterprises and combina-
ton of the railroads, is paralleled by
the combination of local transportation
and lighting enterprises, the methods
or combination were the same; the
basis of capitalization similar; the in
tention in polite affairs even more
NAKED.
Public Utilities Commission.
To this situation we would apply a
like remedy-the creation of a public
utility commission. (.
To this. too, these companies can
have no objection unless 1t be- true that
they s-eeksomething other than a legiti-
mate end and would, therefore, main
tain the halls Of legislation as a play
ground upon which the game of spe-
cial privilege may be played and meas
ures demanded by the people be done
to death.
The contest in which we are engaged
is one to TRY mems souls" Summer
soldiers'' and sunshine patriots can
haye no place IN It. Bitter defeat has
followed triumphant victory. What the
turn Of the Jour glass will bring forth
no man can tell. Let 1t be what 1t may.
we must go forward, realizing that
those who expect to reap the blessings
of liberty must, Ike men, undergo the
fatigues of supporting it, and that
the harder the conflict the more glo-
rious the triumph
AS our ranks close let us be coun-
seled by the words of Lincoln:
we must not promise what we ought
not, lest we be called on to perform
what we cannot; we must be calm and
moderate and consider the whole diff
Guilty, and determine what is possible
and Just. We must not be led by ex-
element and passion TO do that which
our sober judgments would not ap-
prove in our cooler momentS
we have higher aims: we have mors
serious business than to daily with
temporary measures.
I'VE are here TO stand firmly for a
principle-to stand firmly for a right.
I'VE must appeal to the sober sense
and patriotism of the people. We Will
make converts day BY day; we viii