The sun., 1908-02-02

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Abuses have grown up which have called
Tor corrective laws. such a. rebates. dis
examinations In service, insufficient protection
OF employees and passengers and improper
Ownerships and combinations. Others will
require attention from time to time. have
always believed that with such things for
oidden and oflciAls kept out OF the tempta-
tons Of stock dealing and interest In products
Tor carriage the operation Of natural laws
may safely be trusted for good service and
fair rates. certainly with the aid Of corrective
tribunals.
But some demand more than regulation.
They wish public agencies TO take hand
In the conduct and operation OF railroads.
reducing rates on the one side and on the
other increasing expenses by requiring more
employees and equipment and improved
service. This is simply to exercise rights OF
ownership but escape its responsibilities.
an unnatural course. which is always dan
gerous
have no interest Of any sort in any railroad.
so l am mere observer. During the last
two years by virtue OF an unsought judicial
appointment l have been able to observe
closely and my Arm belief is that while regu-
latiOn may be beneficial the management
and operation of railroads must be either
private or public. An attempt to mix the
two will result in harm TO both the public
and the railroads. or lead to Government
ownership. or both. and / do not think the
public wish either.
The varied and ever growing industries
Of Ohio demand a broader commerce. She
wants her waterways improved and main
tanned. with their connection In other States.
40 that by means Of these as well as her rail
roads she may have her share in supplying
the wants Of the millions of people in South
America and the Orient who are awakening
to new commercial life.
Ohio is paying her share OF the cost OF the
Panama Canal but she will not be satisfied
to have the United States sit keeping toll
gate on the bank. She wants American ships
to ply through IL, as well as those of other
nations. She wishes to see an American
merchant feet sailing again on every sea
and no longer have the flag fly in foreign
waters on war vessels and pleasure craft
alone. She has no seaport of her own, but
Buckeye craft will not be lacking when the
peaceful snusdrons of America set sail to
carry our products to the markets Of the
world.
We ask no subsidies We need none All
we want Is freedom to ply the seas with our
own ships and seek our profits where the
people OF other countries find theirs.
After Mr.. Harmon had finished speaking,
a toast 10 the President was proposed
IL was hailed with mild enthusiasm. the
music of The Star Spangled Banner" more
than drowning any applause;
Mr.. Harmon was followed by, Senator
Foraker. who was received with hearty
cheering
Speech OF senator Foraker.
When the Senator stood up 10 speak he
received great welcome Everybody
stood up and waved handkerohiefs for sew
eral minutes. When they had seated them
selves Foraker made a smiling reference
TO his welcome.
Until few years ago. said he when
| had the misfortune to incur the displeas-
ure Of certain people used TO receive sew
eral such welcomes, but now after having
incurred that displeasure they are COM
paratively few and far between"
Without referring to his manuscript
Senator Foraker opened up on some i'm
promptu hot shot that kept the diners in
gales of laughter and cheers for ten min
utss. He said:
Il want to sayto you what you are doubt
less already painfully aware Of. that indus
trial conditions in this country are not what
they were three months ago.
The question is, Who is responsible for
these conditions. II anybody? II Ia fear
full responsibility for one man to shoulder,
IL there is one man who should shoulder il.
Il see by the papers that a distinguished
public servant in Boston the other day
ascribed the panic TO the Boer war and all
other recent wars. earthquakes, fires.
plaques and other natural causes OF eco
nOTniC WAHIHs uOu NOILh Lll6 Is an dut1-
uuate reason, but think il il better than
the one President Roosevelt gave in bis
message yesterday. loud cheers and
laughter
, Then the President in few-a very few
we'll chosen words on the hOmilies Of gov
ernment said that he was not responsible
for the panic-as IL some one had charged
him with that responsibility. He took pains
TO point out that instead OF being RESPONSE
BILE il was all due to few rich men who we're
Ill e.. -.
sake of bringing discredit and prejudice
upon one who had done nothing but mis-
whole duty toward the undesirable citizens
The Senator placed as chief OF the causes
OF the present industrial situation
Undertaking, of which. he said. magazine
articles newspaper articles. court pro-
ceedings, Official investi cations, speeches
in Congress and out Of Congress and even
official reports and documents have liter
ally abounded with the most virIlent at
ests Of the country. Railroads, insurance.
industrials have all been subjected to these
assaults; substantially nothing has been
spared that has been successful enough
to excite attention" This was the re-
suit as the Senator sees Il:
In this way a regular crusade was started
against not only the wrongdoers but the
innocent also. or course nobody so intended.
but that does not change the fact The ban Of
suspicion rested upon all. and success was no
lonRe an evidence OF integrity. skill. capacity
and energy, but only a sign OF sOms kind of
crookedness that must be uneArthed and pun
ished. The disease was infectious II spread
to Congress and all the State Legislatures:
rate bills, antitrust bills and all kinds OF
regulative measures. filed with unreasonable
restrictions and requirements. penalties and
punishments were poured into the legislative
hoppers. Most Of these proposed measures
perished on the way to enactment. but their
mere introduction and the discussion OF them
in the newspapers added to the demand for
something to be done and helped to make
what was done worse than II otherwise would
have been. In Washington and the States
statute after statute was ground out and put
into operation. The modest force of less than
200 special Government inspectors and agents
was increased 70 an army Of more than 5000
and sent in every direction TO turn on the
light" and delve and probe for facts on which
TO base indictments and prosecutions.
The Department OF Justice called for help.
and it was generously supplied In the form
OF special counsel and large appropriations
TO pay for their services
The Attorney Generals and the prosecuting
attorneys OF the different States. imbued with
the spirit Of the times set their respective
pieces OF machinery in motion.
II finally came to the point where II seemed
a. thn,, Uh the chief DnrnOaa NJ avarv n,1 hi On