New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-17
SUFFOLK'S SONS DINE.
Congressman Cocks Speaks on
States Rights.

Good fellowship reigned supreme at the fifth
annual banquet and reunion Of the Sons Of Old
Suffolk" at the Hotel st. Denis last night when
more than four hundred residents and former
residents Of Suffolk County, Long Island, were
gathered together The main banquet room
TOO small to hold them all, and two hundred had
to dine upstairs but all came together for the
post-prandial part Of the evening.
One Of the features of the dinner was little
paper called The Long Island Diner" edited by
Jerry Wockers which was brimful of bright
sldts and personal paragraphs. On the back page
was a picture of the house at East Hampton
where John Howard Payne, author of Home,
Sweet Home" spent his boyhood days. Under
1t was the text Of the song. One of the squbs
ran: Why shouldn't dine we'll? We have
q Baker in the chair and another in control Of
the State Treasury" The reference was to
Charles D. Baker. president of the organization,
and State Treasurer julius Hauser. One of the
diners, II. NJ Payne came all the way from the
southwest corner of West Virginia 10 be pres
emit
This is one of the songs the diners sang when
they got in good voice:
Long Island, the gem o: the oshun.
The , oace Of the only Home, Sweet Home
We viii protect It's perfect ct0 welfare ever
Three cheers FOR the Long Island Feed!
Mr.. Baker, the POSTMASTER, referring to the
large number Of diners. said he believed the
time would soon come when the Hppodrome
would have TO be rented for tho annual dinner,
Back Of the speakers table was a large picture
of the late Justice Wilmot NJ Smith. of the
supreme Court, and a silent toast vas drunk
to his memory.
Congressman w. w. Cocks, Of President Roose-
,-oi+g r5fr- ~;,,+ 49,
Rights" He said in part:
We feel that the tendency to-day IS too much
toward Bureaucratic government Can 1t be
possible YOU look to your Congressman and ma
uonaI legislators 10 do your Will rather than
your AsSemblymen and State Senators? ! am
opposed 10 looking 10 the federal government
for things that should be supplied by the town.
county or state government
We have made great changes in the last year
rake the meat inspection law, wise measure.
and the pure food law. which much desired
these laws VIII take q vast amount Of money.
The thing we fear. we who are conservative is
that me vast army OF inspectors will have
chance Tor imposing on honest manufacturers as
well as bringing dishonest manufacturers to
book
Congressman Cocks referred to the fact that
he always did the best he could for his con-
stituents, but said they must remember he also
represented the State of New York was a part
Of the Congress Of the United States, and above
ing facetiousIy, Congressman Cocks said:
I said I had no boss. but If Theodore said 70
me- DO 80 and so. l should probably do
Yet have no boss. and he seldom intcrferes
Perhaps we are going faster in some directions
IMAM Is worth while. But the time has conc
when we must say to these big corporations
Thou shalt go thus far and no farther"
Ex-senator William NJ Mckinney. Of North
port, spoke on Dangerous Virtue" Referring
to the exposures Of corruption in commercial
and public life, where figures once heroic In
story thief" he said a wave OF public morals was
sweeping over the country. Because We have.
revealed so much rottenness.' he said we are
almost ready 10 pegpe,rate injustice on others.
Do we realize there are still property rights
II is just as important 20 be just 20 property
holders and place holders that we should ex-
pose mfamy and corruption. All corporations
have become hated trusts. all railroads have be
come robbers. When we have to measure re-
wards for our public servants by silence To
their records rather than by what they have
done we have come 70 a sad state.
A reform Governor OF high character ana
attachments is In the Governors chair. He has
high ideals God willing. he VIII accomplish
great things for this state. AS is his right ne
has conveyed his ideas To the Legislature. mod
estly and not arroEantly. But the Executive IN
our form Of government should-other things be-
ing equal-kcep his hands of the representatives
Of the people. We have noble executives In the
best in state and nation. But old paths are the
best paths. Let us he good IN the legal way"
Other speakers We're Samuel L. Parrish. OF
Southampton. Senator CARL S Burr, If, OF cam
mack; II. /. Fordham, OF Greenport: William a.
Prendergast Of Brooklyn; State Treasurer
Hauser, George Herman. OF Sag Harbor Captain
H. NJ. Randall OF Port Jefferson and d. 5.
Jones, Flushing