The Washington herald., 1909-02-28

Oscar s. Straus. Secretary Of Com
merce and Labor, was the principal
speaker last evening at the annual ban
auet OF the Tariff Club Of Philadelphia
His subject was Commercial Ideals"
Mr.. Straus said;
1T was Cleveland who gave expression
to that statement which has become IA
nous, that Public Office is public
trust With the approach OF the 4ta
Of March and the change Of an admins
tration, We are reminded also that pub
lie Office IS not private franchise
Speaking as Cabinet officer, would
impress upon those who have ambition
in that direction-and there may be
some even in this great city Of Phila-
delphia. which has always E good sup
ply Of official timbeT-that 10 one should
enter the Cabinet who does not possess
the qualifications 70 retire the-efrom with
eCuaniuaity and with grace. Of course
he may feel that the government viii not
run as well without him. but he should
have the good sense OF hiding that con
viction from the most scrutinizing OBJ
servers
Commerce Expands Fast.
The last ten years have witnessed a
far greater entension OF our commerce
and industries than any previous period
in our history Our foreign commerce.
which Is now in round numbers abort
three thousand millions. IS but a com
paTatively small index OF that extension
We are now for the frs time beginning
vigorously 20 compete in the marts %
the world with nations which have lcns
held a monopoly of foreign markets.
The great industrial captains. which
our new era Of commerce has developed.
and who deserve credit f0r their energy.
capacity. and their conquesJs. have won
their way by fxedness of purpose. n
tensity Of occupation. and by the spirit
that actustes courageous explorers Many
Of the attributes 4 general must pcs
sess TO win victory upon the field %
battle are necessary for the Industrial
captain 10 Srin success against the forces
] Of commercial competition. and. Just as n
the one field 50 IN The ether. there aTs
~ictories which viewed n the light q
an entire. campaign, betoken defeat rather
I
than success.
Must Care for His Men
a great general must never lose sigh:
Of the welfare Of his men The lack %
that humane consideration brought ulti-
mate defeat 10 France under the mO=-
/ brilliant captain IN the annals OF waT-
! There IS something more important for
/ a nation than the growth OF its aggre-
gate wealth and the increase OF its con-
modities. # that growth IS attained al
/ the expense Of its ethical standards or
/ in the Iessening OF the opportunities for
/ the individual. then It IS not q growth
/ il is a decay
The department OF the government
I over which I preside is charged with the
administration OF commerce and labor
( The establishment Of this department is
due TO the farsighted statesmanship o.
/ President Roosevelt Il Is but natural
/ that as head Of this department my point
OF view has been limited neither 70
capital nor to labor. but 70 their dualis-
( tic interests and mutual welfare. I fee
I justified in saying. without any intention
OF offending either. that the point OF view
OF capital and the point Of view Of Ia
/ Dor are both too selfish and too narrow,
and the problem o. our day is 70 enlarge
their views and mutualizs their interests.
Praise for Roosevelt.
/ no man has ever occupied the Presi-
dental chair who united a clearer fore
sight Of the future with a greater knowi-
/ edge OF the past than President Roose-
veIr: his leading measures have been d.
rected to redressing the justified griev-
/ auces of the snasses. while a. the same
( time guarding the best interests Of capi-
tai
! A generation CT more ago the indus
/ trial and commercial interests OF oUT
| country. while much smaller n extent,
were sectionaHzed. The South produced
agricultural staples. New England was
almost exclusively devoted 70 manuf9C-
/ turing. while the cities OF NsE York
/ and Philadelphia we're even IN a more
I emphatic sense than now the CONNER
cial marts. All this has largely changed
The South IS no longer exclusively
J agricultural; manufacturers are 10 Longer
/ confined 70 single section, and on:
F.. industrial and comercial interests hsvs
/ become nationalize6. and are growing
more and more so every year.
LR
Tt IS very important that our national
legislators. who are apt TO confne theiI
interest within the limits Of their dis
tricts. should enlarge their point Of
view, and aequaInt themselves with the
requirements OF the country. for thi:
naturalization of commercial interest.
emphasizes that what IS best for tht
country IS in the long run best for tht
several Congressional districts.
For this reason have brought abOu
& The organization Of the National COunci
Of Commerce. which az present consist!
of more than fifty OF the leading com
mercisl organizations of the country
with q bureau in Washington. whereby
tie commercial interests can be in dali.
touch with the various departments o.
the government having 20 DO with com
merce. and also with our legislators. wh,
can through this bureau acouaint them
selves in a direct and practical wa
with the wants and requirements OF Tn
commerce and Industries OF the countr,
, at large.
Due 10 Narrow Point of View.
The conflicts between the TWO grea
Industrial forces. capital and labor. ar
more largely due 20 their separate dis
! tinct- and narrow points OF view. and Il
the misunderstanding that arise there
from. than 70 any. and perhaps al
: other causes. When I first took ehsrg
= Of the Department Of Commerce and La
Dor. I found that very few labor ne
came 10 the department. There SCENE