Daily Kennebec journal., 1912-04-25
National Assn. of Cotton
Manufacturers, at Boston.
Franklin ". Hobbs Delivers Ad-
dress 10 The Association.
One Of the Subjects Considered Is
Wave Of RadicaIism."

Boston, April 24-The wave of
radicalsm" was one of the topics
considered by Franklin w. Hobbs OF
the National Association of cotton
Manufacturers in his annual address
delivered before the opening session
of that organization in Paul Revere
hall, today. The convention was
largely attended. President Hobbs
said:
I'VE may well pause a moment 10
consider some phases of the way in
which radicalism has swept over the
country, In fact, / may say over the
world. for 1t does not seem limited
to any country or any people. In our
own country there has been so much
talk and SO much denunciation of the
established order that one naturally
begins to wonder If. after ALL this
nation and its form of government are
failures.
1T is now claimed by some thar
the people can never do wrong, and
that their opinion, often expressed
under stress of excitement or swayed
by the Misrepresentation of dema
gogues. shall prevail regardless OF
law, and that il the courts decide
that such an expression is illegal, so
much the worse for the courts, for
it is now proposed to make the de-
cisions of the courts amenable to
popular clamor. IL such things come
10 pass of what value are the princi-
pies of justice embodied in our COM
mon laws for the protection of ALL
and why have a written constitution
saeredly agreed TO by the representa-
tives of all the people in order to
safeguard the rights of the minority
as well as the rights of those tenn
porarily in a majority?"
1T seems clear TO me that as a
result of this talk, criticism and de-
nanciation on the part of the poll
ticians and demagogues there has fol-
lowed quite naturally the growth of
Socialistie IDEAS and socialism
Throughout the country The agita-
tors have shown discomfort and dis
satisfaction and the country is reap
ing socialism and anarchism.
sAs manufacturers and public
spirited citizens. ! believe it our duty
to take heed and to do our part 10
lead the people back TO their old
mornings and see that confidence is
returned in the old leaders. When
that has been done, we shall have in
dustrial and political peace, and pros
perity will be With us as before
President Hobbs advocated the for
nation of representative national
body of cotton manufacturers The
National Association represents the
mill men of the north, and the Amer
ican Cotton Manufacturers Associa-
TONS membership is confined mostly
to the Southern states. Mr.. Hobbs
thought that a joint meeting of the
two bodies would be unwieldy and
unwise, but favored the organization
of small central council which
would represent both associations, the
council to have power to act for the
two bodies where their interests are
Identical The American Cotton Man
ufacturers'3 Association has already
agreed to the plan. President Hobbs,
in reviewing the textile situation. ex-
pressed the belief that the long Pc
riod of depression is at an end and
hat the outlook for the immediate
future is encouraging.
The delegates We're welcomed by
Mayor John f. Fitzgerald, to whose
remarks, William A. irwin of West
Durham. N. c., replied. Aside from
President Hobbs address, the feature
of the opening session was paper
by Congressman l.. 7. Padgeft OF
Columbia, Tenn, on Banking Prob
lens in Cotton Manufacture
The association will elect officers at
the closing session, tomorrow.