The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-11-14

Hartford, Conn, Nov. 14-"Justice is in
| deed blind when she can be led To hold
! up the largest business enterprise I'm New
| England that blackmail may be eNtort-
! ed
| President Charles s. Melen of the New
| York, New Haven and Hartford railroad
made this assertion before great audi
ence I'm this city last night
| Don't misunderstood me-" he prompt
| ~ said i'm explanation OF the utterance.
| II don't think nor charge that any gov
! ernment official is knowingly party to any
| blackmailing scheme In this investigation,
but / believe II has been instlgated large
| iy by parties not interested so much in the
administration of justice as in securing a
beneficial result to themselves through
exacting a price for their stock and that
il is less expensive TO do the work and
pay the bills in this way than 1t would
be otherwise"
The public meeting at which Mr.. Mellen
spoke was held at Foot Guard hall In con-
nection with the convention OF the Nation
al Grange which opened here yesterday
Men prominent in state and municipal
government industry and agriculture
from all parts of the country were pres
ent.
Mr.. Melen was introduced as "one OF
the best railroad presidents OF the coun-
try" and received a greeting worthy of
the compliment mat was paid nm. lie
said
DEMAGOGUES AT WORK.
THE prejudice excited by demagogues
and politicians against corporations has
now reached a stage when others are suf-
, fering. In other words, the burden which
has rested SO heavily upon corporations
and those charged with their affairs SO
long is being distributed. Other oxen are
being gored and the community will soon
have its own troubles TO worry about.
This country has been having the time
of its life. We have been chasing the cor
porations. until it has got on our nerves
We are tired of the life we have been
leading and we have got TO rest. When
we awake IL will appear to have been
costly dream When we have mended the
smashed furniture, the broken crockery,
we viii lay by for time and accumu-
late the wherewithal to repair the waste
of our debauch.
I'VE may not think quite so well Of our
selves for some time. our leaders will not
look quite so large i'm our eyes again, but
We forget quickly, and II we can only for
get the whole miserable business after we
have paid the bill and have we'll learned
our lesson, there will be measure of
compensation not without its value
The sale OF transportation was In the
early days like the sale OF any other COM
v.
| i'm price. the same concessions TO the
| wholesale customer and the same dis
ordinations between individuals you now
| find in Industrial, mercantile and CONNER
| cal life.
"The railroad men OF the days Of the
| rebate now so unpopular. were OF the
| character OF the times in which they lived
| and did business. They did the best they
| could under the conditions surrounding
| them and, up To the time OF the practice
| being forbidden by law, are as little de-
| serving the harsh criticism OF the present
dav as we ourselves shall be OF that of
! the generation which will I'm turn succeed
| us and doubtless wonder that supposed
| lv sensible man should have known so lit
| tie of the proper course to pursue.
| .rReformation by hat has been painful
| and unstable since the beginning OF time
a nd has caused moro suterlns ana loss
| than the evils sought 10 be cured. Re
formers generally are much more com
| nanionable and engaging after the lapse
| Of a few hundred years, when the seeds
1 Of their sowing have had time In whlch
| to germiuate and the ground IN Which
| they are sown is better prepared TO pro-
| duce its crops. - -....,. .,,
COST MORE THAN CIVIL WAR
s"rhe losses I'm value, credit. fortune IN
| this country since the beginnns OF tlls
year have been greater than occurred as
| n result of the Civil war. Many are IN
| distress who thought themselves but "a
/ short time since with competence.
I --t,ogf- -y-irr,--tlA- -haNe-a- competence are
| in distress through lack or credit 10 OBJ
| tat,, money 20 carry on work SO necessary
| M such a time. 20 give employment 10
| tbose who must otherwise feel the pinch
.Tbis Is not 2 rich mans panic. n r.
/ widespread distress rapidly cNu'uohs
J itself Co the faTthost sections Of the coun-