The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1907-05-30
MORALS OF NATION
BETTER, SAYS ROOT
Secretary of State Tells Yale Why
the Citizens of United States
Should Be Optimists.

New Haven, Conn.-Elfhu Root
Secretary of State; delivered the last
IN the series in the William f. Dodge
course OF lectures in Yale upon '"The
responsibility of American Citizen
ship"
H~opefulness. Mr.. Root said, was
one of the plainest duties of cfti-
zenshlp. Pessimism he called 2 GRIM
n a weakness. Then he proceeded
TO show by references to the history
OF the United States why there was
no cause for any except an opti-
mfstic view of public and civic con-
ditions. He found arguments to sup
port his theory in the attitude of tho
public toward trusts, and toward the
practice of railroads of giving rebates
and manipulating securities and in
the change in the method of voting
He also gave it as his opinion that
the great mass of the labor classes
OF the country were in favor of pres
emit conditions as against socialism.
1T is impossible" said Mr.. Root.
TO read an account of the life of tho
people Of any civilized country with
finding an amazing degree of
cruelty, of oppression, of immortality,
of corruption and of class privilege
regardless of common right, which
has now been substantially done W q
with.
All railroads gave special rates
to shippers thirty year ago. That
was the existing form of competi-
ton, and competition moi only was
permitted, but it was enjoined nv
law, and any attempt TO restrain it
was, as it now is, unlawful. In re-
cent years, however, the public has
come to an appreciation of the idea
that these great public agencies,
which have had conferred upon them
the right of eminent domain and per-
petual franchises to enable them to
do public service, cannot give special
rates to some men without doing in
justice to other men. The lesson of
all this is hal the prosecutions and
convictions for violation of the Anti
Rebate laW-things which were never
heard Of thirty years ago-are not
evidence that we are growing worse,
put evidence that we are growing bet
ter; that OH government is applying
4 hlgner standard of Justice in the
control of public utilities.
This same thing is true of the
management of corporations and the
manipulation of securities, to which |
attention has recently been called
sharply by tho testimony before the |
Interstate Commerce Commission re-
sarding the reorganization Of the Chi
caSo and Alton Railroad. Thirty or
Iorty years ago, when the manage
OF the Erie Railroad and theJ
Atlantic and Great Western and the
Union Pacific Railroad attracted pub
tc attention, the things done by cor.
lorate managers were so much worse
hat the Chicago and Alton affair
would not have received any notice.
Inc railroad wrecker was a common |
.ype OF railroad manager, and the
'uIes did not go much beyond the
exclusion of ordinary forgery, larceny
fraud at common law. Now. IN
Ter a higher standard, much is prop
'rly condemned which before passed
without notice.
ut is perfectly safe to assert that
ne standard of probity and fidelity
Lmong the corporation managers of
country is higher now than it ever
las been, and yet there is more COM
'laint now than there ever. was he
'ause our citizens demand that a
nore rigid rule of morality shall be
.pplIed by statute and by the courts
nd in administrative supervision
han they formerly considered neces-
ary."
Then he spoke of the formation of
rusts, with consequent crushing OIL
Competitors, restriction of output and
Increase of prices and Of the laws
o regulate them.
On the other hand" he added,
labor organizations, designed for the
ust purpose of securing fair treat
lent as to employment, wages and
ours and conditions of work, are
n their part endeatoring to put up
rices, restrict production and drive
ut competition"