The state herald., 1907-06-07

making them. IheSe agreements
should, of course, be made public in
the minutest detail, and should be sub
ject to securing the previous assent OF
the Interstate Commerce Commission
THE movement to regulate railways
by law has come to stay. The people
of this country have made up their
minds-and wisely made up their
minds-to exercise closer contro'
over all kinds of public-service corpor
ations, including railways. Every hon
estly managed railway will gain and
not lose by this policy.
THE men more anxious to manipu
late stocks than to make the manage
ment of their roads efficient and hon,
est are the only ones who have cause
to oppose II.
I'VE who believe in steady ana
healthy progress stand unalterably for
the new era of the widest publicity
and of fair dealing on the part of rail.
roads with stockholders, passengers
and shippers. We ask the consent OF
no man in carrying out this policy; but
we gladly welcome tie aid of every
man in perfecting the law in its details
and in securing its enactment and the
faithful observance of its wise provis
/ ions. We seek nothing revolutionary
| We ask for such laws as in their es.
sence now obtain in the staid old com.
monwealth of Massachusetts; such
laws as now obtain in England. The
purpose of those of us who so reso
lutely believe in the new policy, in its
| thorough carrying out and in its pro
gressive development, is in no sense
punitive or vindictive We would be
the first TO protest against any form
| OF confiscation of property, and
whether we protested or not, | may add
that the Supreme Court can be trusted
in any event to see that there should be
nothing done under the guise OF regu.
lating roads TO destroy property with,
out just compensation or without due
process of law
AS a matter of course, we shall pun,
ish any criminal whom we can convict
under the law, but we have no inter
tion of confounding the innocent
many and the guilty few by any i'll
judged and sweeping scheme of ven
geance. Our aim is primarily to pre-
vent these abuses in the future. Wher.
ever evil doers can be, they shall be
brought to Justice; and no criminal
high or low, whom we can reach will
receive immunity. But the rights OF
innocent investors should not be jeop
ardized by legislation or executive ac
ton; We sanction no legislation which
would fall heavily on them, instead Of
on the original wrongdoers or beneficl
aries of the wrong.
"There must be no such rigid laws
as will prevent the development Of the
country, and such development can
only be had " investors are offered an
ample reward for the risk they take.'
The experience OF the past winter
proves how great is our dependence on
the railroads and how serious the re
sponsibllity of those who undertake to
care for the public In the matter ol
| transportation. believe that there Is
sufficient ingenuity and executive gen
ius in the operating officials of the
roads greatly TO diminish the troubles
complained of.
"The most effective way to lessen
demands for unreasonable Legislation
is for the railroads acting individually
and collectively to remedy as many az
possible Of the abuses and shortcom
lngs for which there are remedies, and
for which remedial laws are demanded
by the shipping public.
"The admirable national legislation
of recent years, In taking away from
the railroads the power OF giving lille
gal favor. has taken AWAY from them
one of the illegitimate methods by
which they used to protect themselves
from improper attack: and II is there
fore necessary that upright public ser
wants should be as yigilant to protect
them against harm as to prevent them
from doing harm.
What we have To demand In our
selves and In our public servants Is
honesty-honesty to nll men: and II
we condone dishonesty because we
think II Is exercised In the interests at
the people, we may rest assured that
the man thus showing II lacks only tho
opportunity TO exercise Il against the
interests of the people. The man who
on occasion will corruptly do what is
wrong In the interest OF n big corpora
tion is the very man enger to black.
mail that corporation as the opportun'
| ity arises.
"The man who Is on occasion cor.
ruptionist, Is apt, when the gust OF
popular feeling blows hard against the
corporations he has corruptly served.
! TO be the loudost. most reckless and
most violent among those who de
nounoc them. Hunt such n man ont OF
public life. Hunt him out as rcmorse-
lessly II he is n blnckmailer ms II he
stands corruptly for special privilege.
Demand honcsty-absolute un,
finohing honcsty-togothcr with cour'
age and common sense. In public ser.
want and In business man alike.
let the man Of great wealth remem.
Der that. while using and enjoying IL,
he must nevertheless feel that he Is In
n sense n trustee. and that consistent
misuse. whether In acquiring or spend
lng his wealth, IL ominous OF evil TO
himself, 10 others who have wealth,
and TO the Nation ms n whole.
AS for the rest Of us. let us guard
ourselves against envy ns we ask that
others guard themselves against AFRO.