New-York tribune., 1911-04-23
SHEEHAN SEES MENACE
Sounds Warning Against Political
Control of Business.
ADDRESS AT ROCHESTER
News Writer'S Hold Annual
Roast est'-George w.
Aldridge Grilled.
fEy Telegraph 10 The Tribune.l !

| tf leieRrann 70 Ire lIlhunFsI
Rochester. April 22.-willam +. Shee-
han. who was the principal speaker at the
annual "roast fest" of the Rochester News
Writer'S Club tonight made plea against
the political control of business and indus
! try. Four hundred guests were present.
There we're roasts for every one, and then
some to spare. George w. Aldrdge re-
ceivcd several hot ones right off the bat.
! State Committeeman Thomas Fnucane got
his as well, as did also the Democratic and
Republican officials and politician. present
There were all sorts Of stunts pulled off
for tho entertainment OF the guests. big
| arship in action was feature. All OF
the speakers were at liberty 70 free their
| minds as 1t Is an unwritten law that n
verbatim report OF the affair shall not be
given. All OF the city officials were in at
tendance and were compelled TO stand for
constant grilling al the hands of the news
writer's Mr.. Sheehan said in part:
When in the closing days of recently
| sealed political chapter ] asked by
| your president 10 be your guest on this
occasion. broke through the rule of years
and accepted-primarily because / found
that conscience. truth and maniness had
guided his pen In keeping you Informed as
TO conditions at Albany: secondly, because
l wanted to see and know more Of the men
who have made and kept this city what II
is-the abiding place OF intelligent, hon
orable ana clean citizenship.
have not como here to talk party poll;
tics-about which so many OF us would
necessarily disagree. but without ella bora
ton ! want 10 leave with you a single
thought that some day will. in my opinion.
grow into an irresistible national demand
upon the two great political parties OF the
country. The time was, not many years
ago. when the great steam railway cor
porations. or some OF them, actively par
ticipated in politics and held and eXerclseI
the balance Of power even in Presidential
elections The natural consequence Of the
possession and use OF this power was tnat
the railroads obtained governmental IN
fuence which was frauSht with real dan
ger 10 the country and. when finally under,
stood. became abhorrcnt TO all thoughtful
men. So,
When the people. saw the true condition
Of things and realized the existence and
consequences OF this partnership they were
not slow in severing the chains that bound
these interests together. More rigid gov
followed. All this was iustilable upon the
theory that guasi-public corpora tons en-,
joying rights in public property and clothed
with the power OF eminent domain as to
private property were. as TO their duties
and obligations to their employees and the
public. proper and legitimate subjects OF
governmental regulation. so ions as tlia.
regulation Is conducted with intelligence
and courage. i'm spirit Of justice and far
ness. uninfuenced by public clamor on the
one hand and the Establishments OF cor.
porate influence on the other, good VIII
come to all concerned. II often happens
however. that in a process of reformation
sprnGing from popular public demand
the pendulum swings n excited hands-to
the other extreme. II II TO this ! want TO
direct your serious thought. .
For nearly ten years the business, m
dustTial and commercial interests or th's
country nave been made the football OF
marty politics Any legislation necessary
10 cure the evils that were found to exist
might have been. should have been-anh
i'm anv other civilized country in the world
would have been-prompty enacted. lnis |
nollcy however, does not seem 10 nc
popular with that class Of men in bottl
parties who thrive by agitation. or WIN
that numerically small portion OF the
public who have been taught TO believe
that the way to build ZIP is first 10 destroy |
While there is a wrong to remedy or
right To vindicate ] believe IN Whatever
citation IS necessary IN order 70 correct !
the conditions but 7 am opposed 10 agi- !
tation by agitstors In either party for the |
sole benefit of the aRitators. | am opposed |
TO the call political doctor who thrives
only Jron the open sore. and VINO "ould |
20 out Of business II the sore were healeh !
bv the application of correct ana sclcntlHc |
remedies.
n then. there 4. an actual need for ad- !
ditiopaI legislation let us have II enacted /
i'm spirit Of Intelligence, fair PLAY ana !
patriotism in order that the Manufacture |
Tho producer. the wage Garner and the /
&c pitalst may adjust themselves to the /
new order Of things and under u attempt /
IN work out our national dcstlDy ana IT. |
dividual WnllhelnG.