New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-02-26
SUFFOLK COUNTY DINNER
Neighbor Roosevelt Tells About
Developing Rural Life.
NEEDS GOVERNMENT AID
Regards Corruption of Ordinary
Citizen as Greater Danger than
Corruption of Legislatures.

Men from Suffolk County and their good
neighbors from all over Long Island met
la ST night at the Hotel Aston for the annual
reunion and dinner OF the Suffolk County
Association Political opponents during the
campaign last fall met on neutral ground,
where good feeling obliterated the last pos
sible recollection of political animosity. and
men from many different counties Joined In
praise OF glorious Long Island.
Theodore Roosevelt, the neighbor from
Oyster Bay. gave his views on the possibility
of developing rural life. on the need OF I'M
proving character and bringing Of a genera
ton that will possess honesty, courage and
common sense the fundamental qualities
which in his opinion can overcome corrup-
ton and lead to good government Con-
gresham elect Martin w. Llttleton vas also
among the speakers. as we're ConuoIier
Prendergast, Judge Joseph NJ Belford ana
the Rev :. Parkes Cadman.
Governor Dix arrived ut about II o'clock.
Mr.. Roosevelt had departed Immediately
after his own speech and they ala not
meet The Governor was received with
cheers lie said that we we're an extrava-
CANT people. and emphasized the need OF
economy.
"If we work out the problems Of scientific
agriculture together with the conservation
OF forests and streams. we will get on the
high road to economy. We are wasting our
hydraulic energy. This is one of the prob
/ ms that pertains 10 our welfare. we
should elevate our state so that we can COM
pete with the world for we have the popu-
| lation. the products, the energy and the
capital"
Mr. Roosevelt greeted Martin w. Little
ton most cordially, and so did ". W. Cocks.
who was the Republican candidate Tor
Congress from Nassau County and had
been strongly supported by Mr. Roosevelt
Mayor Gaynor was not present. AT a
meeting Of the officers Of the association
| il was decided not to invite him unless
( he expressed the desire TO attend the din
ner Last year he took offence when upon
his arrival at the dinner OF the Suffolk
County men at late hour the reception
committee failed to meet MN at the Gle
| vator.
1--WE have much larger numbers here this
year" said Charles d. Baker, the toast
master. in looking over the assembly oil
more than one thousand men and the gai'
leries crowded with women. but there are
many here who remember that we were
unpeasantly disappointed with one of the
speakers. So | ask our speakers tonight
particularly whether they were satisheo
with the reception accorded to them. and
they assured me that they were, and tha
they would stay to deliver their speeches
They are lust the kind of men that are
appreciated by the Suffolk County men.
Mr.. Roosevelt said his neighbors were
proud of the growth OF the great city al
long as It was not done at the expense OF
the country districts. and that In recen
years the districts Of Long Island hac
begun to share in the growth OF the city
I'VE have had in this country a mos
extraordinary industrial development M
said. and il is our duty as nation to se'
that similar development of the country
districts takes place. ! have recently mao
a tour of Long Island that showed ME hop
little attention has been paid by the people
and especially the state government, 4
rural questions. "a compared with cit!
| problems What we want TO see is that tn
! state government takes the same energeti'
and Intelligent interest in country life an'
it's needs as II does in nat of the city
Mr.. Roosevelt said that the best laws ant
the greatest enlargement # the powers o
the people would not help In destroying
corruption unless the people themselye
were Determined 10 have better conditions
II think thFt the corruption of legislato
implies greater moral turpitude than th
corruption of private citizen, but regar'
the corruption of the ordinary citizen a
tho greater danger 10 the nation, : he said
There has been too much tendency II
our country IL Defy mere smsrtness. an'
a crook rs often forgiven because he 4
successful. But honesty alone Is no
enough; we need courage. i have no ia
for the tiin'1 good man who meets ba'
man. becomes shocked and goes home. Tn
good man is not worth his salt unless IN
fights tor decency'