The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-02-22
In Speech Before Union League
Club He Declares in Favor of
Promoting Competitive Sys
tenn in Business World.

Chicago, Feb. %. - Governor
Hughes. OF New York, addressing tn,
Union League meeting, commemorate
ing Washington's birthday, declared
himself in favor of a governmental
lpolicy thst would prevent discriminat
ing rates or allowances, which pre-
lclude equal access TO markets, for al
engaged in any industry, and agains
Icrushing OF smaller industries by mis-
use of large aggregations of capital ii
unfair competition.
He said in part
I'VE venerate Washington because
in supreme test he indicated man.
hood. The standards of liberty were
unsullied in his hands. Whether amid
the hardships of long and discourage
Ing campaigns or in the hours of tri-
umph, whether as burden-bearer OF
idol of the people, he invariably ex-
hibited the same purity of motive, the
same patriotic devotion. Against all
that Is sordid and mean. against all
that is petty and unworthy, against
the ignoble contrivances and manipu
lations of the cunning and the artful,
against the graspings of avarice and
the Screenings of selfishness, against
every effort to make power and Office
contribute to personal gain, against
all that is or has been hateful and
harmful in our political life, stands
In majestic contrast the character of
Washington,-an example and ben
ediction, a treasury of memory and a
security of hope,-a character, the
revelation of which ennobled human
ity and enriched the world.
at is a lesson we must all take to
heart If we are to realize American
ideals. 1t is the lesson of the suprem-
acy of duty. II is the lesson of honor,
of fidelity to trust. 1t must be en-
forced in executive chambers. In leg
islative halls, in courts of justice, in
newspaper Offices, in banks, in trust
and insurance companies, in profess
sional and commercial life, in the
marts of trade, in the counting-room,
and in the shop, by employer and en-
ployed.
There is no legislative road to
character. If the spirit of Washing
ton could permeate our public and
private life we should neither need
nor seek government panacea. And
| It is only in so far as in fact this
spirit imbues administration that the
government of free people can per-
form its function. We shall largely
lose the value of the celebrations of
this day If we give our thought ex-
clusively to the questions of govern
mental policy and omit TO emphasize
the moral sources from which a just
government must derive its strength.
Never Sought Office.
washington did not seek power or
preferment. The sense of RESPONSE
bllity outweighed the appreciation of
distinction.
with tenacity of purpose that has
never been excelled, and an uncon-
querable spirit, he addressed himself
to his task and when, after years of
struggle, victory was won, he scorned
the temptations of power and yearned
for peaceful retirement.
Intelligent comparison of the con-
ditions of this day with those in
times past cannot fail to cause gratifi-
cation and to beget confidence. The
evils which we lament should not
blind us to the progress which has
been made and is being made.
I'm the throes of the revolutionary
that the supreme cause of liberty and
the valor and sacrifices of great lead
ers would inflame all hearts with
patriotic ardor, Washington in an out
burst of Indignation at the indiffer-
ence and venality which in fact were
exhibited. thus described the times in
a letter to Benjamin Harrison in De-
cember, 1878: "If | was to be called
upon to draw a picture of the times
and of Men. from what / have seen,
and heard. and in part know, should
In one word say that idleness, dissi-
patton & extravaganza seems to have
laid fast hold of most of them. That
-peculation-and an in
satiable thirst for riches seems to
have got the better of every other
consideration and almost of every or
der of Men,, And about a year later
he exclaimed. but alas, virtue and
patriotism are almost kicked out!
Stock jobbing, speculation, engross-
ing, etc, ETC., seems to be the great
business of the day & of the multi
tude, whilst a vlrtuous few struggle,
lament G. suffer in silence, tho | hope
not In vain
Conditions Today.
"The country is morally sound. Its
standards of business were never high
ler. In this land of industry with un-
exampled opportunities for production
and exchange. with an area and pop
ulation enjoying advantages of dis
tribution free from artificial barriers
Of intercourse such as The world has