Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-02-22
Governor HUGHES
NVAD[S The West
Speaks at Washington Anniver-
sary Celebration Before Union
League Club, Chicago
DISCUSSES LAW ENFORCEMENT
Presents Ideas in Line With Progress
sive Thought Of Today-Supervis'on
of Railroads and Other Corporations
-Choate Speaks at Philadelphia.


of Railroads and Other Corporations
-Choate Speaks at Philadelphia.
Chicago, Feb 22.-Washington's
birthday was generally celebrated
thruout the city today, the banks and
business houses being closed. me
principal feature of the celeoratlon
was held under the auspices of the Un-
ion League club, and the chief orator
OF the day was Gov. Hughes. OF New
York, who spoke at the Auditorium
this morning on various phases OF the
character OF washington.
In the afternoon Benjamin lde
Wheeler, president of the University or
California, delivered an address, deVot-
ing his remarks to the desirabillty or
the establishment of a national uni
versity at Washington, D. c., in ac-
cordance with the expressed wish OF
Washington during his life. and In his
will.
Gov. Hughes drew deductions from
the life and time of Washington ana
the lessons of government we have
since learned, and incidentally enuncl-
ated platform of principles on which
he will stand as a presidential candl-
date He said in part:
1--WE venerate Washington because in
supreme test, he vindicated manhood.
The standards Of liberty were unsullied
il, his hands, We must all take to
heart the lesson of his life if we are
to realize American ideals. 1t is the
lesson of the supremacy of duty. 1t Is
the lesson of honor, of fidelity. 1t
must be enforced in executive cham
hers, legislative halls, in courts OF JUS
tlce, in newspaper offices, In banks, in
trusts and insurance companies, ana
pro fessional and commercial life in the
marks of trade, in the counting room,
and in the shop by employer and en-
plcyed.
"There is no legislative road to char
octer. If the spirit of Washington
could permeate our public and private
life, we should neither need nor seek
governmental panacea. And it only in so
far as in fact this spirit imbues ad-
ministration that the government of a
free people can perform it's function
"The country is morally sound. Its
standards Of business were never high
er. Making all allowance for the ex-
,-SfS f0, I,n
,nwholesome spectacles of exploitation
and infidelity to trusts, without blink
ing any evil or CLOSING over any
wrongs, the fact remains that the bus
mess men of the country are for the
most part honest men, representing
fairly the moral standards of the peo-
pie. And never more than today have
they, taken as a whole, earnestly de-
sired that abuses shall be stopped, that
and unfair practices, that gambling
shall not parade in business livery, and
that American industry and trade shall
have free scope for development and
extension along the lines of honorable
rivalry and with Justice to stockhold
ers, to employees, and to the people at
large.
"Pessimists and cynics can not de-
velop this country. We must have
confidence in the stability of our insti-
tutions, in the sanity of the people,
and in their realization of what UNDER
lies our prosperity.
Development Only Begun.
Eve have only begun to develop the
commerce of this country. We take
just pride in our present enterprise and
achievements but we may believe that
the commerce of the future will as far
exceed that Of the present as the var
led production, the vast extent of COM
communication of today, transcend the
hopes and even the dreams of Wash
ington.
This is no time for Encouragement
or halting, but for appreciation of
American opportunity, and for that in
telligent and united effort by which
alone we can avail of it and deserve
the blessings of posterity.
ITO support this confidence and to
gain these ends we must have a settled
governmental policy. And it must be
right policy.
1T must be policy consistent with
the genius of our institutions. The peo-
pie of this country do not desire So
cialism even as an experiment They
do not propose to pass thru a dreadful
quarter of an hour of revolutionary
changes to satisfy themselves of those
imperfections of human nature Of
which they are already well apprised,
and which n AXE impossible the con-
stitution of society in accordance with
socialistic theory. We must make pro-
gress, and it must be steady and con-
sistent, conse rving what is good and
safeguarding the opportunities for
honest effort. Otherwise, gains will be
offset by unnecessary losses and eN-
pert accountants may search in vain
for credit balance. We may accom-
p!ish needed reforms by making our
institutions work as they were intend
ed to work. and by effecting. in the
light of the benefits thus secured. such
changes as experience may commend
and deliberate judgment may approve.
TT must be policy consistent with
our constitutional limitations and dis
tribution Of powers. BY making our in