The Washington herald., 1910-03-05
SENATOR GORDON
IS CLUBS GUEST
Business Men Hear Story OF
Mississippian's Life.
APPLAUSE GREETs COL. RANDLE
His Speech Makes Deep Impression.
Talks TO Commercial Organization
ON Corporations-E. c. Graham
PreSides-MusIe Feature-Lunch-
con Is Served in the Grill Room.

With q speech from Senator James
Gordon. which deeply moved his auditors.
with a short talk on corporations by Col.
A. Z. RandIe. and with stirring music
by members OF the Washington Symphony
Orchestra, the Commercial Club had a
most enjoyable evening last night at its
quarters in jackson place. Senator Cor
don was the guest OF the club at dinner,
and the speechmaking and music were
accessories during the latter part OF the
evening in the assembly room. A large
number Of the members of the club were
present.
The evenings programme was IN the
capable hands of a committee composed
Of Paul c. Patterson, Fred. S. Lincoln,
and Z. c. Graham.
President e. c. Graham said that it was
a little out of his province 10 introduce
the speaker of the evening, in the absence
Of the chairman OF the house committee,
and he delegated that task to Col. Ran
die, who had extended the invitation
OF the club TO Senator Gordon.
Talks on Corporations.
Col. Randie said:
Corporations are the axies upon which
the wheels of progress turn, and too
much hammering on that axle will make
It hot and the wheel Will stop and a
panic will be the result
Ninety five per cent OF the volume OF
business done IN this country Is done by
corporations in which widows and Or
phans' money Is invested. so the great
octopus. represented IN the foreground
with horns, followed to the background
will find the widows and orphans, keep
ing their flreside bright and their homes
cheerful by dividends received from in
vestments in corporations. There has
been so much said against corporations
that the prejudice Is so great that I
believe it is time for the government to
stop and ponder.
Il heard an eminent statesman say not
long ago that the feeling against cor
porations was so intense among the IN
thinking mass that only good crops stand
between US and communism. There IS
no doubt that il we had hard times. such
as We had in IS. when the poor were
compelled to go 10 soup houses to secure
food, then indeed the great prejudice
aroused In the hearts of the masses
against corporations would be dangerous
20 the extreme.
Price of OH Moderate.
when 1 was boy the poor laboring
man could hardly spare enough of his
earnings to buy oil TO light his humble
home To-day, by Roekefeller's organiza-
ton, the laboring man can not only light
his home, but can cook and heat that
home. owing TO the moderate price Of oil.
Mr.. Rockefeller has been, in this respect,
the working mans greatest benefaetor."
Senator Gordon. being introduced, after
reference was made TO his defense of cor
porations in the Senate, told the members
OF the club that his speech was merely an
accident brought out from feeling heart
when subjects akin to 1t were under dis
cussion. If it cut across the popular idea
of corporations, he said, he could not
help It.
Senator Gordon Speaks.
Senator Gordon said he was by descent
2 ScOtchman and a Presbyterian. He
loved truth and was bound to tell Il al
ways and everywhere The greater part
OF Senator Gordon's speech was a re-
hearsal OF how he had passed from in
herited millions TO poverty, back again
TO comfortable affuence, into politics. and
to the United States Senate It was a
most interesting story, enlivened by keen
humor and many homeiy touches of
pathos that held his audience speIIbound.
The address was a vivid picture Of life in
Mississippi among the common people
with their peculiar struggles and prob
lens 1t was recital that will be long
remembered. The picture OF man in
advanced life losing all, driven to the
stern necessity to work. and meeting the
issue with courage optimism. and s11c-