The sun., 1907-08-28
HUGHES ASKS FOR BROAD VIEW.
OFFICIALS SHOULD IGNORE SPE-
CTiL INTERESTS.


county Fair ~ "the Next President"
Hits special Legislation --sselitsh
Politicians are Doomed, Hc says.
SANDY HILL. N. ", Aug. p. Gov. Hughes
rame up from Albany this noon to open
,ho Washington county fair. This county
wss the Governors childhood home and
hc made the visit an occasion for renew
ing old acquaintance. Upon his arrival
~ Fort Edward he was met by a committee
cf the citizens of the town and driven to
'l.o home in Sandy Hill Of Marcus G. Allen.
IN aid friend Of the family.
he Governor was accompanied by his
sou, Charles z. Hughes. Jr.. and Col. Tread
we'll. his military secretary. After lunch
ron the Governor attended a reception at
the Hotel Cunningham. He went to the
iar grounds at ? o'clock and received a
warm welcome from the big crowd. He
vas introduced as the next President Of
the United States and at this the crowd
rose and shouted itself almost hoarse.
The Governor emphasized che statement
that we are all one people, and said that
the real responsibility OF all government
hegns at home. Then he urged the people
to discontinue looking for special legisla-
ton. because the principle was entirely
wrong He said
Il have been sitting there in Albany
irving to maintain few principles OF our
,lemocratic government and I have been
appalled, at the enormous mass OF local
special Legislation which I had to sign
simply because Of other special legislation
which had preceded it, When ono attempts
To draw a line between these bills IL is
found to be almost impossible to distinguish
between meritorious and other measures.
u gets so that Governors along toward the
last Of the session have been willing to
sign almost anything in this line. We want
rules that apply TO all the people. not to
any particular person or class"
Speaking Of the recent Legislative ses-
zion the Governor said:
I'VE had legislation Of great importance
during the session touching the vital in
terests Of the people Of the State. l believe
that IL would be hard to find a session OF
the Legislature in which so much general
legislation Of great Importance was en-
acted. We had, for example, the great
question. Of the control Of the operation OF
our public service corporations. IL is a
question OF great Importance to the people
and one Of the great questions or the day.
Now there are some who would have passed
these bills upon the general theory that you
quicker you do something the better
Now I believe that the way to deai
with these matters is 70 understand them
The way 60 make the Government and it's
administration supreme ia to show the
people Of the State that there is no cor
porafe power OF financial power that has
any strength to defy the will OF the people
that they are going to have a fair under
standing Of the facts and compel Just
exercise OF public franchises. That ID
what we stand for. We want to see great
extension OF our transportation facilities.
We want better railroad facilities and we
want to see our goods moved. We are
bound to get this.
we are not going to be fooled by any
Of these people who tell ms that they cant
do these things and live under fair regu-
lation On the other hand We are not goin9
TO prevent their doing these things by
making absurd and impossible rules. Inc
people of this country are perfectly fail
and square in this matter. The great
difficulty is that the problem Is 30 intricate
in many Of it's phases that some say: What
is the use7 You can never understand II.
Now. 1 say that the Government shotld
he perfectly contented to find out the facts
and to enforce the regulations under which
franchises should be managed and to see
that every citizen of the State interested
in our transportation problem gets gooc
service at reasonable rates. That 10 what
we have been trying to provide govern
mental machinery for in this State.
Il believe that we have accomplished q
great deal in that direction. we have
men devoting themselves exclusively e
the understanding of these problems. We
are going to have things done right ana III
thoroughly fair way and as the people
want them done. In recognition OF the
obligations of these corporations to tnt
State. as I have said, the great thing is "a
provide machinery 30 that the people vii
feel that they are represented, and that
they are not held down; that they can ge'
At things: that a complaint can be heard
With the approval OF the people OF the
State from one end to the other We have
got that machinery and we are going to
see that it works well and that everything
h done to protect the people that can be
done. But on the other hand the state
being all the individuals together. mus
see that no one individual gets oppor-
tunity at the unjust expense OF his neigh
bor and that these matters that can be
taken care OF only by concerted action
shall be taken care OF in way which VII
defend the interests of all.
-In connection with all matters relating
10 the public health and commerce the
STATE must interfere AMI by strong hano
protect the people. ] shall not attempt "a
20 over the various steps takensat the last
session in this direction. Let me say thi'
= in conclusion: You can't do anything pJ
rnutiplving these efforts OF the admins
trstion unless you get the men 10 Tur
The machinery who can be depenoet
upon TO take the State view against that o.
their own interests.
we cant do anything in regulating cor
porate business; we cant do anything "
attempting to protect public health, &c
rncourage agriculture. TO make industry
/, safe and prosperous: we can't do anything
Unless the human character. which enter
INTO all Administrations. is Of such k,no
,idelitv and honesty and the development
Of the character OF those in Office depends
in turn upon the standards Of communities
g,Ist like this What will you tolerate W
public life? Whom do you allow to repre-
sent the people?
Let MS have IL thorou ghly understooc
that a man walks TO his political dooI
Who thinks Of anything else but the public
Welfare in conn ection with public ofice.'
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