The Washington herald., 1907-08-28

DO anything IN regulating corporate busi-
ness; We can't do anything in attempt
ing to protect public health. to encourage
agriculture. 10 make industry safe and
prosperous-we can't do anything. unless
human character, which enters into ali
administrations, is the character upon
which you can depend as citizens for
fidelity and honesty; and the 6evelop-
ment Of thai character depends in turn
upon the standards OF communities just
Ike this. What will you tolerate in pub
lie life, when you allow any one to rep
resent your Let US have It thoroughly
understood that a man walks to his
political doom who thinks Of anything
else but the public welfare in connee-
ton with public Office"
In this paragraph Gov. Hughes. at the
Washington County fair. to-day summed
up the need Of the public service in an
address in which he discussed his fight
to purify the political and corporate at
.mosphere Of this State.
In His BOyhOOd Home.
Gov. Hughes came Up from Albany at
noon TO open the fair. This couI ty was
the governors childhood home, and he
MADE the visit an occasion for renewing
old acquaintances and meeting Hundreds
OF his old friends.
Upon his arrival at Fort Edward he
was met by q committee Of the citizens
and driven to the home OF Marcus C.
Allen. IN Sandy Hill. an old friend OF the
family. The governor was accompanied
by his son, Charles Hughes. IT.. and Col
TrcadwelL
After luncheon the governor received an
ovation at the Hotel Cunningham At
the fair grounds al O'Clock, Mr.. Durkee
introduced the governor as the next
President Of the United States. and the
crowd rose en- masse and shouted Itself
hoarse.
The governor urged the people to dis
continue looking for special legislation.
ior. be said, the principle was entirely
wrong.
BridIinE the Corporations.
Referring to the last Iegisle-ive session,
Mr.. Hughes said:
We have had legislation Of great I'M
portance during the session touching the
vital interests of the people Of the state.
I believe that Il would be hard to find
session OF the legislature in which so
much general legislation Of great impor-
tance has been enacted
I'VE have. for example, the great ques-
ton OF the control OF the operation Of our
public service corporations Il is a aues-
tiOn or great Importance 70 the people.
and Of the great questions Of the day now
there are some who would have. this pass.
upon the general view that you don't
understand them, and the quicker you do
something the better Now, believe that
the way to deal with these matters is to
understand them. Is the government and
its administration supreme? We must
show the peorle Of the State that there
is no corporate power or financial power
that has any strength 10 defy the will of
the people, and they are going to have an
understanding of the facts ana compel a
just exercise Of public franchises.
THAT is what we stand for. We want
to see a great extension Of our transpor-
tation facilities. We want better sta
tons. We want TO see our goods moved;
we are bound TO get it. We are not go
ing to be fooled by any Of these people
who tell US they can't do these things
and live under fair regulation.
No Impossible Rules.
"On the other hand, we are not going
to prevent their doing these things BIZ
absurd and impossible rules. The people
Of this country are perfectly fair and
square nj this matter. The great difficulty
is that the problem is so intricate in
many Of its phases that some say. .sWhat
is the use? You can never understand if
Now, say that the government is per
fectly contented to find out the facts. TO
secure good treatment to enforce the
under which these fran
chises should be conducted, and to see
that every citizen of the state in con-
nection with our transportation problem
gets good service at reasonable rates.
ard that is what we have been trying to
provide governmental machinery for in
this State
Il believe that we have accomplished a
great deal in that direction We have had
men devoting themselves exclusively to
the understanding Of these problems. We
are going to have things done right. /
thoroughly fair. and as the people want
them done. in recognition Of the obliga-
tons Of these corporations to the State.
We are going to see that everything is
done to protect the people that can be
done.
Concerted Action Needed.
But. on the other hand, the State. be-
ing all the individuals together, must see
that no one Individual gets an opportun-
ity at the unjust expense Of his neigh
Dor, and that these matters that can only
be taken care of by cOncertedf action.
shall be taken care Of in a way which viii
defend the interests of all, and see that
We have It.
In connection with ali matters relat-
iHg to the public health and commerce, |
the State must interfere, and, by a strong
hand. protect the people. shall not at |
tempt to 90 over the various steps taken
at the last session in this direction
'Let me say this in conclusion: You
can't d. anything by multiplying these ef- |
forts Of the administration, unless you |
get 5i.s men TO run the machinery. who |
can be depended upon to take the State
view against their own interests"