New-York tribune., 1908-02-23
should we fail to insist upon the exercise of the
power which resides in state governments

should we fail to insist upon the exercise of the
power which resides in our state governments
'COMMON WELFARE THE SUPREME LAW.
BY making institutions work In the way
in which they were intended to work, l mean
that should secure the maximum eflciencF
in both state and federal administration to the
end that every matter of national concern and
every matter of local concern shall receive oy
the appropriate exercise of the powers OF each
Jurisdiction that full consideration and neces-
sary remedial action by which wrongs, both ma
tional and local. may be completely redreSSed
What then. under these conditions. are some
of the important features of the policy which
will support our confidence and insure our Sta-
bility?
the government in city, state and nation. The
common welfare must be the supreme law The
lobbes which have been maintained in legIsla-
tive halls, the efforts to pervert administrator
by securing the service for particular interests
of those who pose the servants of the people,
the corruption of the sole means by which the
people can express their will. have been the eff
fective causes of distrust of government and
furnish the most serious pretext for assaults
upon institutions. Every attempt or TINS
sort which has proved successful has SoWn the
seeds of discomfort which argument finds it diff
ficut to allay. The people do not discriminate
They will not listen to the voice of reason if it
proceeds from the mouth of the brlber or the
bribed. They who would have sanity OF Judg-
ment and reasonable solution of difficult ques-
tions should to it that they do not stir the
people to indignation by the corruption of repre-
sentative government. They must trust the peo
ple and rely upon their good faith and sense Of
iustice In the long run they will not be dis
appointed If they themselves keep faith and re-
spect the institutions whose protection they in
woke.
But while insist upon pure administration
and the unselfsh fidelity of public officers, we
must visit deserved contempt upon those who
profit by indiscrmnate detraction of men in
public life If the people would be served faith
fully they must show their esteem of faithful
service Otherwise the holding of public office
becomes school of CyniCism. | am glad to
testify to the many whom | have met in public
life whose motives and whose actions conform
to the best standards. Our public service is far
more wholesome than many people think If
they intent upon it and just in criticism the
people can have the representation and the ad-
ministratiOn that they desire.
Wherever there are public rights in forests
In lands, in mines. in water powers, they must
be safeguarded and protected from spoliaton.
Wherever the public grants privilege it must
be upon consideration of the common benefit
a proper return for the grant. We must guard
our ranges, our coal deposits, our public lands,
our forest treasures by suitable restrictions. No
selfish interest must be permitted to seize with
covetous hand the public domain.
RAILROADS SERVANTS OF PEOPLE.
1t must also be taken to be a settled policy
supervision of railroads. l do not believe
in arbitrary action with regard these i'm
portant concerns either by Congress or by state
legislatures or by commissions. The railroads
are not the enemies, but the servants of the
people. To secure proper service they must be
subject to regulation. 1t must be taken as firm
ly established that the evils of rebating and of
unjust discrimination will not be tolerated and
that adequate and impartial service upon rea-
sonabe terms will be insisted upon There
must be machinery through which public Obli-
cations defined by law may be enforced This
can best be obtained through an administrative