New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-02
PRESIDENT, UNCHANGED
Continued from FIRST page.


tne commission any suspicion that certain rail-
roads are in any shape or way giving rebates OF
penaVins improperly, wish the commission %
nave power as matter of right, not as mat
Ter or favor, to make a full and exhaustive in
vesugation Of the receipts and expenditures Of
tne railroad, so that any violation or evasion of
tne law may be detected This is not revOlu-
Gohary proposal on my part, for / only wish
tne same power given In reference to railroads
that Is now exercised as a matter Of course by
tAe national bank examiners as regards national
banks. My object in giving these additional
powers 10 the administrative body representing
the eoVernment-the Interstate Commerce Conn
MISSION or whatever it may be-is primarily 80
secure real and not a sham control to tine
government representatives The American pe9-
PIE amor q sham, and with this adherence
corolally sympathize. Nothing is more injurious
IRON every standpoint than a law which Is
merely sound and fury. merely pretence and not
capaote or working out tangible results. hope
10 see all the power that I think IL ought to
nave granted 70 the government; but would
1ar F9tner see only Of it granted, but really
granted. than see a pretence Of granting all in
some shape that really amounts to nothing.
Al, ~ must be understood. a matter Of course.
clsed with wisdom and caution and self-re-
stralnt The Interstate Commerce Commissioner
or other government official who failed TO pro-
tect railroad that was in the right against any
clanor. no matter how violent, the part of
the public would be guilty Of as gross a wrong
as u ne corruptly rendered an improper service
TO the railroad at the expense Of the public.
When say square deal. mean square
deal; exactly as much a square deal for the
rich man as for the poor man, but no more.
Let each stand on his merits, receive what is
due him and be judged according to his deserts.
FOR JUSTICE TO ALL
In his address to the delegation of railway
employees orders in this city November ii, 1905,
the President said:
There has been comparatively little complaint
10 me OF tne railroad rates being. as whole,
700 hlgh The most serious complaints that
have been made to me have been Of improper
discrimination in railroad rates. For instance.
the complaints that have been made to me
nave been that they are too low regards GER
tam Dig shippers the complaint in both these
cases is about the dtrerential, the difference OF
treatment Of two sets Of users Of the railroads.
the difference in favor Of set OF shippers as
against another set Of shippers.
II you will look at my Raleigh speech and my
other recent utterances you will see my princi.
pies clearly set forth. have said again and
again that l would not tolerate for mo-
ment any injustice TO railroad any more than
l would tolerate any injustice by a railroad.
have said again and again that would remove
a public official who improperly yielded TO any
public clamor against railroad, matter how
popular that clamor might be, just as quickly
as would remove q public official who rene
dered improper service TO the railroad at
the expense of the public But convinced
that there must be an increased regulatory ana
supervisory power exercised by the government
over the railways. Indeed, l would like IL eX-
ercised TO much greater extent than have
any idea OF pressing at the moment. For In
stance, I would greatly like TO have IL eXer-
cised In the matter Of overcapitalizatiOn- am
larger IL there was no fictitious capital upon
which dividends had to be paid. need hardly
say that this does not mean hostility TO wealth.
If you gentlemen here. In whom believe so
strongly, all a unit In demanding that
some improper action should be taken against
certain men Of wealth, then. no matter whether
I did or did not like those same men OF wealth.
I would defend them against yOu no matter now
much l cared for you; and In so doing 1 wouI9
really be acting in your own interest would
be false 20 your interest II failed TO DO justice
to the capitalist much as TO the wage worker
But shall act against the abuses or wea4tn
fust as against ell other abuses All
want In any rate legislation Is to give the gov
eminent an efficient supervisory power whicn
shall be exercised as scrupulously 20 prevent In
Justice 20 the railroads as 70 prevent their DONG
Injustice to the public. Our endeavor Is 70 see
who are not responsive 20 the demands Of JUS
tice are required 20 do what their fellows who
are responsive 20 the demands OF justice would
be glad TO do OF their own accord
LAWS MUST BENEFIT ALL
In his message TO Congress at the beginning
OF the first session OF the 59th Congress Decenl-
Der 5. 1905. the President said:
The people OF this country continue 70 enjoy
great prosperity. Undoubtedly there will be ebb
and flow in such prosperity, and this ebb and
flow will DO felt more or less by all members OK
the community both by the deserving and the
undeserving A panic brought on by
the speculative folly OF part Of the business COM
munity would hurt the whole business COM
munity But such stoppage OF welfare. thoush
II might be severe, would not be lasting.
Something can be done by legislation 10 help
the general prosperity. but no such help OK
permanently beneficial character can be given
90 the less able and less fortunate, save as the
results OF q policy which shall inure to the adj
vantage Of all industrious and efficient people
who act decently; and this is only announcer way
OF saying that any benefit which comes 20 the
less able and less fortunate must OF necessity
come even more 20 the more able ana more
fortunate. If. therefore, the less fortunate man
is moved by envy of his more fortunate DrOther
TO strike at the conditions under which they
have both, though unequaly, prospered, the re-
suit Will assuredly be that, while damage may
come to the struck at. II Will visit with an
even heavier load the one who strikes the blow.
Taken whole. we must all go up or go down
together.
ing upon this 1t is also true that where there is
no government restraint or supervision. some of
the exceptional men use their energies not IN
WAYS that are for the common good, but in ways
which tell against this common good. The fort
unes amasSed through corporate organization
are now so large, and vest such power In those
that WELD them, TO make IL matter OF ne
cessity to give TO the soverelgn-that Is, to the
povernment which represents the people as q
wholesome effective power Of supervision over
their corporate In order to insure healthy
social and Industrial life, every big corporation
should be held responsible by and be account
able to some sovereign strong enough to
troll it's conduct. / am in no sense hostile to
poratiOns. This is an age OF combinations and
anv effort to prevent all combination will be not
only useless, but in the end vicious. because of
the contempt for law which the failure to en-
force law inevitably produces. We should, more
over recognize in cordial and ample fashion the
immense good effected by corporate agencies in
a country such as ours. and the wealth Of intel
ect energy and fidelity devoted to their service,
and therefore normally 70 the service OF the pub
lie by their officers and directors. The cOrpO-
ration has come 70 stay; JUST as Ihe trade union
has come to stay. Each can do and has done
great good Each should be favored so long
il does good. But each should be sharply
checked where IL acts against law and justice.
Experience has shown conclusively that
II is useless to try to get any adequate regula-
ton and supervision of these great corporations
~ SUCh regulation and